Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill, Medieval church on a limestone hill in Breedon on the Hill, England
The Church of St Mary and St Hardulph is a medieval place of worship on a limestone hill in Breedon on the Hill, featuring Gothic architectural elements and prominent window groupings. The building occupies the highest point of the hill and offers views across the surrounding landscape from that elevated location.
The building was constructed in 1150, replacing an earlier monastic settlement that had been founded in 675 as an Augustinian house. This foundation was part of early Christianity spreading across England and endured until the dissolution of monasteries in the 16th century.
The church houses a notable collection of Anglo-Saxon stone carvings from the 8th century that visitors encounter while moving through the spaces. These early medieval works display the craftsmanship and religious devotion of that distant era.
The building is reached on foot via a path from parking areas at the base of the hill. Visitors should expect slopes and wear sturdy shoes to manage the climb comfortably.
Inside are Renaissance tombs of the Shirley family, including a life-sized alabaster skeleton representing medieval preoccupation with mortality. This unusual artwork shows how wealthy families expressed their anxiety about death.
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