Where is the Abbey?

This is a question many people ask when they come to Rosedale; the abbey doesn’t seem to exist. The truth is that there really was an abbey – or rather a nuns’ priory - and if you were reading this in the church, then you would be standing in the area that was the ancient priory chapel.
The Parish Church of St Lawrence was built on the foundations of the priory chapel, and if you look carefully, you will see signs of the old building. Walk up to the altar rail, look on the floor on the left, and you will see a memorial tablet inscribed with a cross above which the name MARIA (one of the nuns) is just visible. If you look to the other side of the rail, you will see one of the old stone seats from the abbey; this is now the bishop’s chair.