HistoryIn the reign of Henry 1 (1100-1135) or Stephen (1135-1154) William de Gresley founded a Priory of Canons Regular of St Augustine and the Church formed part of the monastic buildings. It was endowed with the lands, chiefly in this parish, valued at the Dissolution at less than £40. Worship has gone on through the ages – from Norman times, through the medieval period, the terrible Black Death to the Reformation and since, and still goes on. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act of 1536 the whole fabric of the priory fell into decay with the exception of the nave of the priory Church which became the Parish Church of Gresley. At the subversion of the priory many of the monuments perished and the reformers swept away furnishings and decoration which they considered to be signs of idolatry. It was no doubt the fact that the people of Gresley and district, which embraced a wide area at the time, had nowhere else to worship which saved the whole church from becoming a ruin. The chancel, essentially in those days for the chanting of the canons, was demolished leaving the nave which belonged to the people.
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Ground plan of The Church of St. George and St. Mary and The Priory of St. George
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Available in church at £2.50 or by post to UK address £3.48 (includes p&p). Overseas please email for price steviepaynebaby@o2.co.uk
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