Isle of Sheppey, Minster Abbey

Sheppey is the end point of the Two Islands Pilgrimage Way

Island monasteries tend to be remote coastal outposts of early Christianity. Minster Abbey ticks only one of those boxes now, an ancient Christian foundation that has evolved into a town-centre church.

This has been an important Christian site since 664, when St Sexburga founded her nunnery. Rebuilding over the centuries has left the church in two parallel sections, divided by a series of arches. The northern section is the oldest part, containing fabric from the original building. It is now dedicated as the Chapel of St Sexburga. The southern section is the regular parish church, added during the 12th century.

Highlights

Saxon remains of St Sexburga’s monastery

Enough Saxon architecture and stone niches remain in the north wall to indicate a substantial building, much larger than many of England’s surviving Saxon chapels. It was badly damaged by Viking raids in the 9th century. An unusual Christian sculpture of the Virgin with Child, dated to around 1180, was once housed here but has found its way to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The abbey gatehouse survives, just outside the church to the west.

A royal abbess, St Sexburga became a nun on the death of her husband King Erconbert. She founded this minster on the Isle of Sheppey and served here for 15 years. Her sister is the famous St Etheldreda, founder and abbess of Ely (page 119). St Sexburga moved to Ely and became abbess after her sister died. She was buried there in or about the year 700 on 6 July, her saint’s day.

A new pilgrim route, the Shepherds’ Isle Camino, also now visits this stalwart church.

Directions

Minster Abbey of St Mary and St Sexburga, Union Road, Minster-in-Sheppey ME12 2HW

www.minsterabbey.org.uk

W3W: fries.quiz.vessel

GPS: 51.4223N 0.8119E

The church is just off the High Street (the B2008), part of a short one-way system. From the western starting point of this gyratory, head up Waterloo Hill and immediately take the first right, Union Road, where there is parking in front of the church. The community works hard to keep it open daily 10am–4pm, but visitors are advised to contactthe abbey first; see website. The pilgrim route is in Two Islands Pilgrimage Way by John Merrill.