The Church and the Nave

The abbey church at Thornton was a magnificent building laid out on a cruciform plan.

The nave as it might have appeared in the 15th century. (Drawing by Jill Atherton) © English Heritage The nave of the church was accessible to the public and was divided off from the remainder of the interior by the rood screen. This took its name from the rood – an image of Christ on the cross – suspended above it. Beneath the rood was an altar dedicated to the Holy Cross and beyond it was the choir and presbytery with the high altar, where the canons observed their regular devotions.

The church was built in two principal stages. In 1261 plans were drawn up for a completely new building including a nave with only one aisle to the north. Work focussed on the liturgically important choir, however, which was completed in around 1315. Attention then turned to the nave, the design of which was altered to incorporate two aisles.

Work to the nave progressed steadily through the 14th century under the direction of Stephen the mason. In 1391 a timber vault was built over the interior by the master carpenter William of Riping. It was paved and painted two years later.