Europe, British Isles, South-Central England, Oxfordshire, Dorchester on Thames, Dorchester Abbey [Map]
Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire is in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire [Map].
In 634 Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map] was the seat of a Saxon Bishopric when Pope Honorius I had sent Saint Birinus, its first bishop, to found it.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 635. This year King Cynegils was baptized by Bishop Birinus at Dorchester [Map]; and Oswald (age 31), king of the Northumbrians, was his sponsor.
In 635 Bishop Birinus of Dorchester was given permission to preach by King Cynegils of Wessex. He baptised King Cynegils of Wessex who then gave him Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map] for his episcopal see.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 636. This year King Cwichelm was baptized at Dorchester [Map], and died the same year. Bishop Felix also preached to the East-Angles the belief of Christ.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 639. This year Birinus baptized King Cuthred at Dorchester [Map], and received him as his son.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 954. This year the Northumbrians expelled Eric; and King Edred took to the government of the Northumbrians. This year also Archbishop Wulfstan received a bishopric again at Dorchester [Map].
John of Worcester. 1067. Wulfwi, bishop of Dorchester, died at Winchester, but was buried at Dorchester [Map].
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1067. This year came the king (age 39) back again to England on St. Nicholas's day; and the same day was burned the church of Christ at Canterbury [Map]. Bishop Wulfwy also died, and is buried at his see in Dorchester [Map].
Florence of Worcester. On Monday the nones [05 Apr 1092] of April, Osmund, bishop of Salisbury, assisted by Walkelin, bishop of Winchester, and John, bishop of Bath, consecrated the church which he had built in the castle of Sarum. Remi, who by license from William the Elder had transferred the seat of his bishopric from Dorchester [Map] to Lincoln, was desirous of consecrating the church which he had built at Lincoln, worthy indeed to be the cathedral of a bishop's see1, because he felt that the day of his death was at hand; but Thomas, archbishop of York, opposed him, asserting that the church was built within his diocese. However, king William the younger, for a sum of money paid to him by Remi, summoned nearly all the bishops of England to assemble together on the twentieth of the ides [the 9th] of May, and dedicate the church ; but two days before the time fixed, by the mysterious providence of God, bishop Remi himself departed from the world, and in consequence the consecration of the church was deferred. After this the king went into Northumbria, and restored tlie city wliicli is called in the British tongue Cairleii, and in Latin Lugubalia (Carlisle [Map]), and built a castle there; for this city, like some others in that quarter, had been laid in ruins by the heathen Danes two hundred years before, and had been uninhabited up to this time.
Note 1. Cf. Henry of Huntingdon, pp. 219, 220, Antiq. Lib.
After 17 Jun 1282 William "The Younger" Valence was buried at Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map]. His. Monument Early Medieval Period with Right Leg over Left. A particularly fine effigy with some remnants of its original colouring.
William "The Younger" Valence: he was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke.
Around 1387 Hugh Segrave Lord Treasurer (age 91) was buried at Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map]. His. Monument of the Camail and Jupon Period.
After 1799. The sad story of Sarah Fletcher. Having waited years for her husband to return from sea she discovered him in the process of marrying another woman, bigamously, driving her to suicide. The church agreed she had 'Died a Martyr to Excessive Sensibility' allowing her to be buried in consecrated ground. Her ghost is said to haunt their family home Courtiers House, Clifton Hampden near Oxford. Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map].
General Photos of Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map].