On Tuesday 23rd July 2013, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Bridlington Priory for the 900th anniversary of its foundation. We were delighted to share the past and present of our fascinating church with the royal couple in this very special year.
The royal couple were greeted at the Priory’s entrance by Priory 900 co-ordinator Penelope Weston, Archdeacon David Butterfield, the Revd John Wardle (a former rector at Bridlington Priory), Simon Cunliffe-Lister and Mrs Susan Cunliffe-Lister, the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire. They were also introduced to the Councillor Terry Dixon and Mrs Sheena Dixon, Mayor and Mayoress of Bridlington, and Councillor Claude Mole, Chairman of the East Riding Council.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were then taken on a special tour of the Priory, in which they were shown the scale model of the building as it was before the Dissolution in the 16th century, the St John of Bridlington exhibition, the north porch with its sculptured head of Henry III, and the cloister arches (the oldest part of the Priory). They were also shown the appliqued panels/tapestries depicting various events in the Priory’s history by the ladies who created them.
The royal couple were keen to chat with the public and with the invited guests, including the Priory 900 committee, local children (a posy was presented to the Duchess by members of the Junior Church) and members of the Bridlington Priory choir, who performed several items during the visit. It was a fantastic, uplifting day for the whole community.
Please click on the photos below to enlarge them. All photos courtesy of Julie Folds, Priory 900 Official Photographer.
