SPRING EQUINOX 2021
At the entrance was a plaque stating that the church is dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon Saint St. Winifred and that it was gifted to the medieval Knights Hospitallers in 1165. What led me to the church was that a “Nationally significant” effigy had been found in the church. A 650 years old sculpture had been found while work was being done. The work using Heritage Fund was to create a community space inside while the church outside was to remain the same. The effigy’s head is cradled by angels with a dog at its feet. It may be the priest John de Belton who died in 1350. It is the earliest known alabaster effigy of a priest and has now been encased in protective glass. After tests on the medieval paintwork, it was found to be the oldest in existence with pure gold and samples of azurite, red, green and black paint. I was also interested in the “Barrow Camera”. A camera in this case is "A residence used during short visits by an official and at...