Bridlington Priory

Foundation Bridlington Priory was founded around 1113 by Walter de Gant, for Augustinian Canons Regular, one of the earliest Augustinian houses in England, with an adjoining convent. Its foundation was confirmed in charters by King Henry I of England The site had formerly been a Saxon church and nunnery. Henry IV appropriated the rectory of Scarborough to the priory which was later confirmed by Henry V, Henry VI and Edward IV. The Church was more than 390 feet in length, surrounded by the Chapter House, Treasury, Cloister, Prior's Hall, Infirmary. The quire of the mediaeval church contained woodwork by the celebrated William Brownflete (or Bromflete) who had made the stalls in Beverley Minster, Manchester Cathedral and Ripon Cathedral, and a number of churches under the patronage of Lady Margaret Beaufort, including Gresford and Mold churches, and the chapel of St John's College, Cambridge. All the priory buildings were destroyed except the nave, which became the parish church, and the gatehouse, which is now the Bayle Museum. Some of the stones from the old priory were used in the construction of the piers at Bridlington. The last Prior, William Wode, was executed at Tyburn for his part in the Pilgrimage of Grace. Around 1874 the church employed Sir George Gilbert Scott to completely refurbish the church as it is today. The total cost of the restoration was about £27,000 (). ==Organ==

In 1834 John Lowrey presented a pipe organ which had been built by John Parkin of York. It was enlarged in 1838 by Robert Postill of York and subjected to further additions by Forster and Andrews in 1851 and then it was moved in 1857 by the same firm. The organ left the church in 1889 when it was moved to Mr Grindall's Music Room, Holderness Road, Hull and in 1911 to Emmanuel Church, Bridlington. A new organ was built in 1889 by the Belgian organ builder Charles Anneessens. Various adjustments were made in the 20th century, before it was restored and enlarged between 2004 and 2006 by Nicholson. It has been recorded a number of times and is played by Daniel Moult in the film and recording Virtuoso! Music for Organ. Organists • George Fox • William Turner 1857 – 1861 (formerly organist at Pocklington) • J. W. Wilson 1862–1869 • T. S. Partridge 1870–1885 • J. E. W. Lord 1889–1892 (afterwards organist of St Mary's Church, Harrogate) • Arthur Edgar Perry 1892–1895 • Arthur Charles Edwards 1896–1901 • George Pattman 1901–1904 (later organist of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow) • Bernard Johnson 1904–1909 (afterwards organist of Albert Hall, Nottingham) • Arthur Percy Stephenson 1909-ca. 1913 • Sydney Weale 1914–1916 (formerly organist of Londonderry Cathedral) • Arthur Robinson 1919 –1947 • Eric John Fairclough 1947–1950 • Mervyn John Byers 1952–1957 (afterwards organist of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney) • Raymond Sunderland 1957–1977 • Geoffrey Pearce 1984–1987 (afterwards organist at Selby Abbey) • Michael Smith 1987–2019 • Paul Dewhurst 2020– Organ Scholars • Charlie Leeson 2012 – 2017 • Christopher Too 2012 – 2013 • Jake Leach 2017–2019 ==Bells==

The tower contains a ring of eight bells cast in 1902 by Taylor of Loughborough. The tenor weight is and the bells ring in the key of D. ==Clock==

The tower clock was manufactured by Gillett, Bland and Co of Croydon London. It was constructed to strike the hours on a bell of and to chime the Cambridge Quarters on four other bells. The time was shown on three skeleton iron dials, each in diameter with ornamental centres, the figures, minutes and hands being gilt. The main clock frame was of cast iron. The clock was fitted with a double three-legged Gravity escapement, and the pendulum compensated for temperature changes with a combination of zinc and iron tubes. It was set going on 4 November 1880 by Miss Blakeney, the eldest daughter of the vicar. ==People connected to the Priory==

• St John of Bridlington, English saint • Peter Langtoft, who wrote a history of England in Anglo-Norman verse • Robert of Bridlington, fourth prior and theologian • Sir George Ripley, 15th-century English alchemist • Ginger Lacey, Battle of Britain fighter ace (memorial plaque in the Priory) ==See also==