Corhampton Church, Saxon church in Corhampton, England.
Corhampton Church is a stone building rising from a raised mound near the River Meon and preserves original features from the Saxon period. The structure displays characteristic details such as pilaster strips and long-short quoins at the corners, along with an original chancel arch and a stone altar bearing five consecration crosses.
Construction took place around 1020 during King Canute's reign, representing an early period of church architecture in England. The building retained its original form and stands as one of the few examples from this time that has survived largely unchanged to the present day.
The medieval wall paintings inside show scenes from the life of Saint Swithun, including the story of him mending broken eggs. These artworks give insight into the religious beliefs of that time and reveal which holy stories mattered to people.
The church is located on Warnford Road in Corhampton and can be reached with relative ease, even though the surroundings are rural. A visit requires no special preparation, though sturdy shoes are recommended and it is wise to check opening times in advance.
Embedded in the outer wall near the south entrance is an original Saxon sundial divided into eight tides rather than twelve hours. This rare relic shows how people at that time understood and organized time differently than we do today.
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