St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst, Anglo-Saxon church in Deerhurst, England
St Mary's Priory Church in Deerhurst is a stone church featuring Anglo-Saxon architectural elements including a tall nave, semi-circular apse, and side chapels. The building displays the characteristic simple, solid construction typical of that architectural style from around 800 AD.
The church was founded during the Anglo-Saxon period and stands as one of England's oldest surviving Christian structures from that era. It gained historical importance when King Edmund Ironside and Cnut signed a peace treaty here in 1016.
The church preserves traces of its Anglo-Saxon past through stonework and simple design that reveal the craftsmanship of that era. Visitors can notice these old techniques in details like the ninth-century font with its carved patterns.
Access to the church is through a door on the west side of the building dating from the fourteenth century. The building remains in active use for regular religious services, so visitors should check opening times before arriving.
The church houses an unusual sculpture of the Virgin with Child that depicts Mary as pregnant, a rare artistic choice in medieval religious art. This representation was an exceptional decision for the period and makes the work particularly memorable for visitors.
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