ANGLO-SAXON CHURCHES in England.

British and Anglo-Saxon architecture between the end of the Roman period and 1066, with particular reference to church fabric, both extant and from excavation.

In celebration and recognition of the diverse skill of the church builders in Anglo-Saxon days, and remembering those who lived and worked and built the buildings we see today.

More photo pages will be added to this site as 2012 progresses. Click for photos of Saxon church buildings, with explanatory text. Various churches are also discussed including methods of building, the materials used (and re-used) and the changing styles of building through the period. Early and mid-Saxon work has many facets, and certainly the last 80 years or so before the conquest is almost a study in itself, and in that particularly difficult as the prime Saxon buildings in the kingdom, the Cathedrals and Minsters, Monasteries and greater churches have been much rebuilt, or perished with the Dissolution.

Here are your links to ALL pages - click here for MAIN MENU.
Most visitors download the 400 plus Saxon church database covering all England, your comprehensive guide to the known Saxon churches.
Searching for photos of a particular church? Click on the small photo below left.

Scroll down for more information. If you have logged on to this site before then hit the refresh button to see latest uploads.
I have often thought how "scattered" information is on the net when trying to locate information on church buildings relating to the Saxon period, and how nice it would be if it could be found in one site. I don't pretend that you will find everything you wish to know here, but as I add to this site I hope that it may be useful and answer at least some of the questions you may have in mind. If you have visited this site previously then please refresh your browser to view any updates on pages (I make additions and update various pages every month) Any new pages will be noted below. If you have a specific query and can't find the answer then simply email me and I'll get back to you. This site has been loaded (autumn 2010) onto the Oxford University Woruldhord Project. Since then there have been many additional pages.

Some comments from researchers:
"What a wonderful resource base you have created."
"Thanks very much indeed for your incredibly detailed thoughts and analysis (about our church). They are absolutely fascinating." Paul. Reed, Herts.

I gladly acknowledge, and will frequently refer to, the indispensible and prime work "Anglo-Saxon Architecture", published in 3 volumes (1965 & 1978), by H.M.Taylor and Joan Taylor. I also draw your attention to Thomas Rickman, born at Maidenhead 8th June 1776 into a Quaker family, became an architect and through his careful study of churches and their periods of building he conceived labelling the main periods - Norman, Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular. It was Rickman who first recognised the Anglo-Saxon work in the tower at St.Peters, Barton-upon-Humber, and importantly deduced why it must be Saxon. Also Professor Banister Fletcher, the author of that sterling 19th century work "A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method".

New pages under construction for 2012 will explore essential features in detail - painted decoration, roods, carved capitals, and other work such as standing stones and coffin lids, doorways and other salient features of fabric. Click to view towers, also windows & belfry openings and quoin types (new). Some pictures added in 2011 include the church of St. Martin Canterbury, possibly (partly) of Roman date. Also new are St. Marys, Reculver, and St. Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea. The standing cross at. Bewcastle is ofr particular interest. The latest page to be added is of Reed church. Newly expanded (April) is the photo page on Stow-in-Lindsey Saxon Minster. A specific (updated) page explores the arguments for the Anglo-Saxon Abbey Church of Sherborne. An updated page covers Wareham Lady St. Mary church, Dorset.. Click here for a full index of photo pages.
Over 400 Saxon churches listed - an invaluable listing/database (additions 02/2011), a downloadable table, unique to this site, giving information of the known Anglo-Saxon churches in England exhibiting Saxon features and fabric and with details of those features, a comprehensive listing noted by place name, county, and grid reference; wholly based on H.Taylor's three sterling volumes, "Anglo-Saxon Architecture". It should be noted that this reflects the information given in Taylors work completed in 1978; newer discoveries will be added in soon (and see news below).
Do please bookmark this page and return at regular intervals to watch progress. I intend this site to be a useful source of reference to the subject and where all elements of known Anglo-Saxon work found in churches, minsters and the major cathedrals & Abbeys in England may be easily accessed via database tables. I hope you will find this web site useful.

Frank Parsons

Other information & news (these links will exit this site).
Go to BBC News to read about the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold discovered beneath a field in Staffordshire (in 2009). In the region of 1,500 gold and silver pieces, possibly dating to the 7th century.
Go to BBC York & North Yorkshire to read about the recent discovery of a Saxon church, at Scrayingham, near Stamford Bridge, York. And see page 9 of windows file for pictures .
Click on link to go to the Woruldhord Project, from Oxford University. http://projects.oucs.ox.ac.uk/woruldhord/

Photos and images this page, from top.
Ink sketch - Wimborne Minster church, Dorset; as it may have looked in the late 10th century.
Small inset photograph - window in nave/tower, Deerhurst church, Glos.
Ink drawing - early 11th century Sherborne Abbey
Photo of south arcade - Great Paxton church, Huntingdonshire.
Background photograph: Saxon tower, Earls Barton church.

Site last updated 5th January, 2012 (includes new pages/pictures). First created August 2008.
Website designed and constructed by F.J.Parsons

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