Saint Mary the Virgin, Tilty

Pretty little church close to the site of Tilty Abbey with fine views over the remains.
The church is open for visitors.

Open daily this church is beautiful and well worth a visit

Situated very near the ruins of a medieval Cistercian Abbey, the Church of St Mary the Virgin was constructed by the monks outside the abbey grounds as a location for women and children to pray as they were not allowed in the abbey itself.
The church building is rather strange. The 14th century chancel is stuck on to the Georgian nave as if two completely separate churches has collided.
The chancel is very medieval looking and the wonderful East window is a reminder of the wealth of the abbey before it was dissolved in 1536.
The nave is plastered and the high roof timbers and tiles give it a barn-like air. Some of the roof timbers date back to the 12th century. The small font is also Norman, painted and complete with a painted 17th century lid. The stunning pulpit with sounding board features inlays of birds in flight and dates to the Georgian additions to the church.
On Christmas day, 1215 King John's soldiers ransacked the abbey and church during mass. The very worn grave slabs of the monks who were killed are in the North Wall of the sanctuary, along with a plethora of other interesting brasses and memorials.no

Pretty little church with a nice seat where you can sit, relax and view the remins of the Abbey

Great interesting find well worth a visit

Worth a visit for a church service and then look at the ruins of the abbey