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 attendants of the Knights Hospitallers for administrative purposes on their 

estates." Barrow Camera was in the hamlet of Arleston in the parish of Barrow upon Trent in 

Derbyshire, the Camera's position in Derbyshire is confirmed by connections with other religious 

institutions in Derbyshire. Robert de Bakepuze donated the church and some land at Barrow upon Trent 

to the Knights Hospitaller of Yeaveley Preceptory, this donation was confirmed by Robert's son. Mass 

was sung for Robert's soul in the Preceptory chapel every Sunday By 1338 the camera is recorded as 

having a bailiff and an income of 30, the camera was formally annexed to Yeaveley Preceptory.

I checked for a leyline and sure enough there is one running from North South directly through the main 

entrance to the church.