Bridlington - Priory

Bridlington Priory Church is a parish church on the site of an Augustinian priory founded in 1113 which was dissolved during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The priory was supported by the nobility and owned estates throughout Yorkshire. The canons founded Newburgh Priory in 1145. King Stephen granted the priory the right to receive the property of offenders and fugitives in the town as well as revenue from the harbour. In 1200 King John granted the priory the right to hold a market in the town once a year.

Bridglinton Priory was abolished in 1538 as part of the dissolution of the English monasteries initiated by King Henry VIII. The last prior was executed for his participation in the "Pilgrimage of Grace". Almost all the buildings were destroyed, only the church survived as a parish church and the former gatehouse.

For three centuries the nave continued to be used as the parish church and only a third of the building was actually used by the congregation. From 1846 the parish began to raise funds to restore the church and it was partially re-roofed. From around 1874 on the church got finally refurbished as it is today.

Today's church is much shorter than the former priory church. The priory church was around 120 metres long. The transept and choir have been lost, as the parish church ends where the transept was.