The community gathered in the presbytery every day to celebrate divine service.
Their daily devotions were structured around the Offices, seven services which fell at almost regular intervals throughout the day and night. In addition Mass would have been celebrated before the whole community each day on the high altar at the far end of the building. The monks would have sat in wooden stalls that faced across the interior of the church.
As first constructed in the 12th century, the presbytery was a shorter structure than appears today. Its high altar stood in a semi-circular recess, or apse, which projected from the tall finger of stone that survives to the right of the interior. In the 13th century, the presbytery was enlarged and squared-off. At the same time a new Lady Chapel was constructed on the far side of the presbytery to house a miracle-working statue of the Virgin.
Between 1507 and 1510 a mason called Thomas Aldrych reconstructed the gable behind the high altar with a great window.
Before the high altar there lay the tombs of many patrons of the priory. At the dissolution in 1540 some were moved to Framlingham, where they can still be seen.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
