MINSTER-IN-SHEPPEY

'Minster' is a small town on the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, England, east of Sheerness.
The name comes from the Latin ''monasterium'' and denotes the site of an abbey, an abbey church, a monastery ''et al.''.

Contents

Religious life

Other notes

External links

Religious life

In about AD 670 the widowed Kentish queen, Seaxburh of Ely, built the monastery here - one of the first in Kent. In AD 835 the Danes overran Sheppey and made it their base camp. They remained there until the Norman conquest. In AD 670 another monarch - King Ecgberht of Kent gave land for his mother to establish a Benedictine nunnery at Minster. At the Reformation Sir Thomas Cheyney was given possession of the site.
Today the remains of the old Abbey gatehouse is a museum and the remaining tower is being restored.
Minster has a fine parish church, which includes Norman work with Roman tiles, and 15th Century choir stalls.

Other notes

The coast here consists of London Clay. and many fossil remains can be found along the beach after the waves have brought down the cliffs.
In the early 20th century the island was hit by speculative builders and Minster suffered equally with Sheerness. After World War II the population of the village had swollen "from about 250 people in 100 homes to 5500 people in 1800 homes". (''taken from the external link'')
Minster Cricket Club, founded in 1930, will be playing in the Shepherd Neame Kent League Division 4 in the 2007 season.

External links

★ Notes on Minster Selection box for notes

★ Abbey notes

★ For more information on local cricket go to Minster Cricket Club