Editing Minster-in-Thanet

{{Short description|Village in Kent, England}}
{{distinguish|Minster, Swale}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country                  = England
|official_name            = Minster
|civil_parish             = Minster
|coordinates              = {{coord|51.334|1.315|display=inline,title}}
|label_position           = left
|static_image_name        = St Mary the Virgin Minster-in-Thanet 1.jpg
|static_image_caption     = Church of St Mary the Virgin, Minster-in-Thanet
|population               = 3,569
|population_ref           = (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126608&c=CT12+4AP&d=16&e=62&g=6439286&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1443866356079&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=3 October 2015|archive-date=7 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007023640/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126608&c=CT12+4AP&d=16&e=62&g=6439286&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1443866356079&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|shire_district           = [[Thanet District|Thanet]]
|shire_county             = [[Kent]]
|region                   = South East England
|constituency_westminster = [[Herne Bay and Sandwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Herne Bay and Sandwich]]
|post_town                = RAMSGATE
|postcode_district        = CT12
|postcode_area            = CT
|dial_code                = 01843
|os_grid_reference        = TR308645
|module                   = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=250|frame-long=1.365|frame-lat=51.35|zoom=11|raw=
[
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]|text=Minster with {{legend-line|#adf8f5 solid 5px|Cursus Cerve (St Mildred’s Lynch)<ref name=MappaThanetiInsule/>|inline=yes}}<!--Acknowledgement to Sara Trillo who did a modern mapping in 2018 which gave me the idea--->
}}
}}
'''Minster''', also known as '''Minster-in-Thanet''', is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Thanet District|Thanet]] District of  [[Kent]], England. It is the site of [[Minster in Thanet Priory]]. The village is west of [[Ramsgate]] (which is the [[post town]]) and to the north east of [[Canterbury]]; it lies just south west of [[Manston Airport]] and just north of the [[River Stour, Kent|River Stour]]. Minster is also the "ancient capital of Thanet".<ref name=FF>[http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/kent/minster-in-thanet/ Minster-In-Thanet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410084718/http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/kent/minster-in-thanet/ |date=10 April 2008 }}; retrieved on 22 May 2008</ref> At the 2011 Census the hamlet of [[Ebbsfleet, Thanet|Ebbsfleet]] was included.

==Toponymy==
The name ultimately comes from the [[Medieval Latin]] ''monasterium'', denoting the historical presence of an [[abbey]] or [[monastery]]; such names are common in England and indeed throughout [[Europe]].

==History==
{{further|Isle of Thanet#History}}
[[Archaeology]] has shown a [[Bronze Age]] settlement at Minster-in-Thanet.<ref>Jessup, Frank W., ''Kent History Illustrated'' (Kent County Council, 1966) {{ISBN|9780900947063}}</ref> The area became part of the [[Roman Empire]] under the [[Roman Emperor|emperor]] [[Claudius]]. Around 450AD, the [[Jutes]] arrived in the Minster area and established a settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.minster-in-thanet.org.uk/villagehistory.shtml |title="History", Minster-in-Thanet |access-date=15 January 2020 |archive-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115061157/http://www.minster-in-thanet.org.uk/villagehistory.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Anglo-Saxon===
In 597 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] is said, by the [[Bede|Venerable Bede]], to have landed with 40 men at nearby [[Ebbsfleet, Thanet|Ebbsfleet]], in the parish of Minster-in-Thanet, before founding a [[monastery]] in [[Canterbury]]; a cross marks the spot of his landing.

Minster itself originally started as a [[Monastery|monastic]] settlement in 670 AD. The buildings are still used as nunneries today.<ref name=FF/> The first abbey in the village was founded by St [[Domneva]], a widowed noblewoman, whose daughter St [[Mildrith|Mildred]], is taken as the first [[abbess]]. The tradition is that Domneva was granted as much land as a hind could run over in a day, the hind remains the village emblem, see also [[Kentish Royal Legend]]. The boundary defined by the hind was known as Cursus Cerve or St Mildred’s Lynch.<ref name=MappaThanetiInsule>{{cite web|url =https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TRINITYHALL-00001/90 |access-date =15 September 2024|title=Mappa Thaneti Insule from Historia Monasterii S Augustini Cantuariensis|author =Thomas of Elmham|date =1907|publisher =Trinity Hall|location =Cambridge, England|orig-date =15th Century}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Delineations Historical and Topographical, of the Isle of Thanet and the Cinque Ports|year=1817|last =Brayley|first =E.W.|volume =1|publisher =Sherwood, Neely, and Jones|location =London, England|pages =1–192}}{{rp|p=15}}</ref> The abbey was extinguished by [[Viking]] raiding. The next abbess after St Mildred was [[Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet|St Edburga]] daughter of King [[Centwine of the West Saxons]].<ref>{{cite web  | url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/boniface-letters.html  | title=Medieval Sourcebook: The Correspondence of St. Boniface  | access-date=13 September 2008  | archive-date=19 September 2008  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919230621/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/boniface-letters.html  | url-status=live  }}</ref>

The third known abbess was Sigeburh, who was active<ref>[[William George Searle]], onomasticon ([[Cambridge University Press]] Archive, 1879) [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q788AAAAIAAJ&dq=Sigeburh+of+Thanet&pg=PA418 page 418].</ref> around 762 [[Anno Domini|AD]] and is known from the [[Secgan]] [[hagiography]] and from [[Royal charter]]s.<ref>[[David Rollason]], ‘[[Mildrith]] (fl. 716–c. 733)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', ([[Oxford University Press]],[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18697 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123221259/https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-18697;jsessionid=A9972AA64EB717EE116F52ECEA943C18 |date=23 January 2021 }}).</ref> In 761AD [[Offa]], king of the [[Mercia]]ns, granted Sigeburh a toll-exemption which king [[Æthelbald of Mercia|Æthelbald]] had previously granted to [[Abbess]] [[Mildrith]]. Again in about 763 [[Anno Domini|AD]] [[Eadberht II]], [[king of Kent]], granted the remission of toll on two ships at [[Sarre, Kent|Sarre]] and on a third at [[Fordwich]].<ref>''Charters of the St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury, and Minster-in-Thanet'', ed. S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon [[Charter]]s 4 ([[Oxford]]: Published for The British Academy by [[Oxford University Press]], 1995), p. 179.</ref> It has been stated that in gaining these privileges, she may have been taking advantage of Æthelbald's political weakness.<ref>Johannes Hoops, ''Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde'', Vol. 24 (Walter de Gruyter, 1968) [https://books.google.com/books?id=yL99vdKCUhkC&q=Sigeburh+&pg=PA298 page 298].</ref>

Vikings attacked the surrounding area in 850 AD.<ref>A. Forte, R. Oram, and F. Pederson. ''Viking Empires''. 1st. ed. (Cambridge: [[Cambridge University Press]], 2005), [https://books.google.com/books?id=_vEd859jvk0C&q=Thanet page 67].</ref>

===Norman===
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2024}}
The parish church of [[St Mary]]-the-Virgin is largely [[Norman architecture|Norman]] but with significant traces of earlier work, the problems of which are unresolved. The [[nave]] is impressive with five [[bay (architecture)|bay]]s, and the [[crossing (architecture)|crossing]] has an ancient chalk block [[Vault (architecture)|vaulting]]. The [[chancel]] is Early English with later [[flying buttress]]es intended to halt the very obvious spread of the upper walls. There is a fine set of [[misericord]]s reliably dated around 1400. The tower has a curious turret at its southeast corner that is locally referred to as a [[Saxon]] watch tower but is built at least partly from [[Caen]] stone; it may be that it dates from the time of the conquest but is built in an antique style sometimes called Saxo-Norman. A doorway in the turret opens out some two metres above the present roof line.

The [[church building|church]] was used by both the brethren of the second [[abbey]], a dependency of [[St Augustine's Abbey|St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury]], and as a [[parish church]]. Socket holes in the piers of the crossing suggest that, as well as a [[rood screen]], there was a further screen dividing [[nave]] and [[transept|crossing]], such as still exists at [[Dunster]] in [[Somerset]]. This abbey surrendered during the [[dissolution of the monasteries|dissolution]] in 1534.

===Nineteenth century===
The 1876 [[Ordnance Survey Great Britain County Series]] map<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordnance Survey, Kent XXXVII (includes: Ash; Minster; Ramsgate; Sandwich; Worth.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102343543 |website=maps.nls.uk |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> shows a [[Wesleyan Church|Methodist (Wesleyan)]] chapel in St Mildred's Road; on the 1898 OS map<ref>{{cite web |title=Ordnance Survey, Kent XXXVII.NW (includes: Ash; Minster; Monkton.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/101429274 |website=maps.nls.uk |publisher=National Library of Scotland |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> it has become [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and been renamed "St Mildred's R.C. chapel", also being referred to as "St Mildred's church and [[clergy house|presbytery]]". It later closed but as permission to demolish it and build houses on the site was denied in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fray |first1=Pam |title=Geograph:: St. Mildred's church and presbytery |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4881254 |website=www.geograph.org.uk |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref> it was converted into a private residence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kessler |first1=P. L. |title=Gallery: Churches of Kent |url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/ChurchesBritain/SouthEast/Kent_Thanet18.htm |website=The History Files |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

===Twentieth century===
[[Minster in Thanet Priory|Minster Abbey]] is a house incorporating remains of the [[Anglo-Saxon]] abbey and alleged to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in England. It now houses the village's third religious community, a [[priory]] of [[Roman Catholic]] [[Benedictine]] sisters that is a daughter community of St. Walburg, [[Eichstätt]] in [[Bavaria]]. It was settled in 1937 by [[refugee]]s fleeing [[Nazi Germany]] and continues to flourish as an international community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minsterabbeynuns.org/history-modern.html |title=Minster Abbey |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907205105/http://www.minsterabbeynuns.org/history-modern.html |archive-date=7 September 2008 }}</ref> The Priory has the care of a relic of St Mildred that had been in the care of a church in [[Deventer]] in the [[Netherlands]] since the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://monasticmatrix.usc.edu/monasticon/?function=detail&id=963 |title=Monasticon: Community: Minster in Thanet |work=Monastic Matrix |publisher=[[University of Southern California]] |access-date=14 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927174045/http://monasticmatrix.usc.edu/monasticon/?function=detail&id=963 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref>

==Landscape==
[[File:Fred C Palmer 020.jpg|thumb|right|The [[forge|smithy]] ca.1903, by [[Frederick Christian Palmer|Fred C. Palmer]]]]
Generally a flat landscape, the area's main features include [[marsh]]es, [[farm]]s and [[river]]s. [[Thanet District Council]] has, however, assessed Minster Marshes, south of the village, as being unstable,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planet-thanet.fsnet.co.uk/local_plan/thanet_plan_13.htm |title=Thanet Plan 13 |access-date=22 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011500/http://www.planet-thanet.fsnet.co.uk/local_plan/thanet_plan_13.htm |archive-date=14 May 2008 }}</ref> and some areas of Minster, particularly in the south of the village, have suffered from flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thanet.gov.uk/pdf/LocalplanOct06v3.pdf |title=Thanet Local Plan 2006 |access-date=22 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716142939/http://www.thanet.gov.uk/pdf/LocalplanOct06v3.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

[[Land reclamation]] has had a strong history in Minster and Monkton, where the original reclamation was done by the monks themselves.<ref>[http://www.thanetarch.co.uk/Virtual%20Museum/2_Galleries/G8%20Content/Virtual_Museum_Gallery_8.html Curators Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100645/http://www.thanetarch.co.uk/Virtual%20Museum/2_Galleries/G8%20Content/Virtual_Museum_Gallery_8.html |date=4 March 2016 }}; retrieved on 22 May 2008</ref>

==Education==
The [[Primary School]] is called "Minster Church of England Primary School", which caters for the village's population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minster-ramsgate.kent.sch.uk/keyinfo_detail.asp?Section=3&Ref=10 |title=Minster CE Primary School |access-date=21 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203125053/http://minster-ramsgate.kent.sch.uk/keyinfo_detail.asp?Section=3&Ref=10 |archive-date=3 February 2009 }}</ref> As of 2022, there are 383 pupils attending the school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schools.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_07.pl?Mode=Z&No=8863182&Type=P&Num=p420&Phase=p&Year=07&Base=v |title=Minster Church of England Primary School |publisher=[[Department for Children, Schools and Families]] |access-date=21 June 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Minster railway station]] lies to the south of the village, on the line from [[Canterbury West railway station|Canterbury West]] to [[Ramsgate railway station|Ramsgate]] and on the junction to the [[Kent Coast Line]].

Bus services are provided by [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]].

==Military==
Minster has a war memorial dedicated to those lost in World War I and World War II and this is located in St Mary's church.

In 2013, Minster hosted a memorial for [[Jean de Selys Longchamps]], a Belgian fighter pilot who is buried in Minster cemetery. This event was hosted by Minster & Monkton Royal British Legion in conjunction with Minster Parish Council and was attended by such dignitaries as The Lord Lieutenant of Kent and the Chief of the Belgian Air Defense.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

==Notable residents==
*St [[Augustine of Canterbury]] is said by the Venerable [[Bede]] to have landed with 40 men at [[Ebbsfleet, Thanet|Ebbsfleet]], within the [[parish]] of Minster, before beginning his mission in [[Canterbury]], commemorated by [[St Augustine's Cross]] near [[Cliffsend]].
*[[Richard Culmer]], the infamous Puritan minister known locally as Blue Dick Culmer, was presented to the living but the people rejected him and his name - to this day - is still omitted from the role of incumbents in the church porch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentresources.co.uk/bdick1.htm |title=Blue Dick Culmer |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327104050/http://www.kentresources.co.uk/bdick1.htm |archive-date=27 March 2010 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Minster in Thanet|Minster}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201130172029/http://minster-in-thanet.org.uk/index.shtml Village website] (archive)

{{Thanet}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minster-In-Thanet}}
[[Category:Villages in Kent]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Kent]]