This magnificent twin-towered Abbey can be found hidden away in the busy market town of Wymondham.
The Parish Church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, more commonly know as Wymondham Abbey, was first established in 1107 as part of a Norman monastic foundation. It was after the Norman conquest in 1066 that the land was passed to the d’Aubigny family from Normandy. In 1107 William d’Aubigny founded a Benedictine monastery in Wymondham.
The church originally served a dual purpose, both used by the local monks and also the parishioners of the town. However, in 1249 the Pope ruled that the church be clearly divided to stop the dispute between the two groups of residents.
Over time, many changes have been made to the building. The main change being the destruction of the Monk’s eastern half of the church in 1538. This was due to King Henry VIII becoming head of the Church of England and closing all the monasteries in the land. Today only the parish church services.
Wymondham Abbey is one of the most magnificent religious buildings in the region. Its tall twin towers are an iconic landmark for the surrounding area. Today it’s used as a place of worship, as well as the host of many events and activities, welcoming around 20,000 visitors through its doors every year.
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