Trifter

All Saints church in the Northamptonshire village of Brixworth is, without doubt, one of the oldest and most impressive Saxon churches to be found throughout the whole of England.  Built around 640 AD (some date it at 680 AD) on high ground above the village, this ancient church has changed very little throughout the centuries.  It looks much the same today as it did when it first began life as a place of worship.

Passing through the old churchyard towards the south door of the church, it is noticeable that the ground surface has risen above the level of the path.  This feature, common to many old churches, gives a tantalizing glimpse into the story of the church and the Saxon and medieval communities that it once served. 

Although there a number of old gravestones to be seen, the true story of this burial place lies deep beneath its grassy surface. 

In generations past only the wealthy could afford the luxury of a gravestone to commemorate their passing; the poor were simply buried without a grave marker of any kind.  Often, as the centuries passed, bodies were laid one on top of the other causing the soil to be dispersed, thereby raising the level of the churchyard.  One wonders what secrets from over a thousand years ago lay buried deep within this ancient churchyard.

At the western end of Brixworth church stands the solidly-built Saxon tower.  When viewed closely it can be seen that Roman tiles have been used at sometime to build or repair the fabric of the building.  There is also evidence of a blocked up doorway on the north side of tower .  The magnificent rounded stair-turret, added to the main tower in the 10th century, is a rarity well worth seeing as there are only four such examples in the country.  And the tall church spire, noticeable from miles around, dates from 1350.

The south doorway arch, put in by the Normans around the 12th century, is decorated by plain stone pillars on either side of the same date.  What is unusual about the doorway however is the presence of a number of Roman tiles in the archway above.  Perhaps they were inserted to strengthen the arch or used as a repair at some time.  Many more identical tiles can also be seen in a number of the window arches in the outer wall of the church.  Immediately inside the church, on the left of the door, is an amazing piece of Norman masonry work; an 8th or 9th century stone carving of an eagle’s head.

The impressive ‘Great Arch’ above the wooden pews in the nave was put in around 1400 to replace an earlier three-arched arrangement, the Lady Chapel containing a piscina that once held holy water was built during the 13th century, and the font, which is undated, is believed to be of Norman origin.

Near to the pulpit is an ancient artefact that was nearly lost forever.  It is the lower part of a late-Saxon stone cross dating from around the 10th century.  The piece of cross was found purely by accident one day in the garden of the nearby vicarage, where it is believed it may have used as a door jamb.  Whether the object actually came from the church will probably never be known.  It is perhaps the remains of an early preaching cross.

One other interesting item that still remains a mystery in the church follows the discovery in 1821 of a small, human larynx bone dating from around 750 AD, wrapped in fabric and placed in a wooden box.  Many theories exist as to the owner of the bone, but the consensus of opinion is that it could well be part of the remains of St. Boniface.  St. Boniface was born in Crediton, Devon, and was one of the first English Missionaries to visit Europe.  And as Brixworth church was a popular destination for pilgrims, it is quite possible that the theory may be true.  The bone, mounted in a silver and crystal container, is on display in a small cage beside the pulpit.

In conclusion, mention should be made regarding the origin of the Roman tiles to be seen in the fabric of the church.  In recent times a Roman villa was excavated half a mile from the church, and it was generally believed that the tiles used in the church were robbed from the abandoned villa after the Romans left Britain.  However, it appears that the tiles unearthed at the site do not match exactly those used in the church. 

Is there another robbed out villa buried somewhere in the Brixworth area?  If so, such a discovery could finally solve this Saxon ‘mystery of the tiles’.  Only time will tell.

Other village churches in the series include: Charwelton(Northamptonshire), Cheriton (Hampshire), Clifton Hampden(Oxfordshire), Selborne (Hampshire), (more to follow).

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