Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society . of the 17thcentury. The fine tapestries of late 17th century in the bedrooms werealso inspected and admired. On the proposition of Alderman Fox, seconded by the Bishop ofBristol, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lippincott for his hospitality. A drive through the pleasant country brought the party to the churchof Westbury-on-Trym, which is not only one of the most beautiful in theshire as regards its fabric, but is without doubt the most interesting of allour Gloucestershire parish churches, if we consider the history o
Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society . of the 17thcentury. The fine tapestries of late 17th century in the bedrooms werealso inspected and admired. On the proposition of Alderman Fox, seconded by the Bishop ofBristol, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lippincott for his hospitality. A drive through the pleasant country brought the party to the churchof Westbury-on-Trym, which is not only one of the most beautiful in theshire as regards its fabric, but is without doubt the most interesting of allour Gloucestershire parish churches, if we consider the history of itsfoundation and the subsequent changes of ecclesiastical status throughwhich it has passed. It has a longer continuous history than anyGloucestershire church, except the cathedral at Gloucester; it was acathedral before the churches of Gloucester and Bristol; it was amonastery before Deerhurst or Tewkesbury or Winchcombe; it was theearliest Benedictine monastery in England, the house which othersfollowed. It has been during the eleven centuries of its existence a. 24 Transactions for the Year 1901. missionary centre, a house of canons of the old English fashion, a Bene-dictine monastery, a house of secular canons, for a short time a bishopssee, and, finally, a plain parish church such as we see it now, sadlyimpoverished with regard to worldly wealth, but rich in an inheritance ofnoble memories, such as no parish church in our shire, and very few inall England, can claim. The charter still exists by which Offa, c. 793-796,granted fifty-five cassates at Westbury to his thegn Ethelmund; it waswitnessed by Hygebert, Archbishop of Lichfield, and Ethelheard ofCanterbury, the former name coming first. But we first hear of a churchat Westbury in 804, when Ethelric, son of Ethelmund, left his land atWestminster and Stoke to his mother, Ciolborga, for her life, with rever-sion to the cathedral at Worcester. Probably, however, the church hadbeen in existence for nearly a century ; for
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