| There are two good examples
in England of small Saxon churches that haven't changed much since they
were built. This is St. Laurence's Church at Bradford-on-Avon in
Wiltshire. The other is Escomb Church in County Durham.
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|
Chancel
(Notice the Decoration)
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|
Later
church behind
Porticus (There was another
on the other side)
|
- Experts argue about
whether the church may have been built in the 7th or the 10th
century.
- It is built of stone.
- It is tall and narrow.
- It has a nave (body), a
chancel (sanctuary) and two portici (side chapels - although
one has been pulled down).
- It has a door in one
porticus. There was probably a second in the other.
- It has only a few small
windows.
- It is decorated on the
outside with 'arcading' (arches) above 'pilaster' strips. The
arcading may have once been painted.
- This decoration is
unusual and shows it was quite a posh church. It was owned by
the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey (Dorset) and they may have kept
some relics of St. Edward the Martyr there.
- Activity
Sheet available.
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|
Why
not Take a
look inside the Saxon Church.
|
