Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Medieval church in Bygrave, England
The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is a medieval place of worship built with walls of clunch, brick, and flint rubble, finished with plaster both inside and outside. The chancel was constructed as a separate section distinct from the nave, each representing different phases of building work.
Construction started in January 1101 with the nave as the oldest section, while craftspeople completed the chancel in the late 14th century. The long gap between these two building phases shows how the structure expanded across several generations.
The frames of the chancel windows display carvings of the game nine men's morris made by medieval artisans, while fragments of 14th-century wall paintings survive on the west and north walls. These details reveal how craftspeople combined practical games and sacred decoration within the same sacred space.
The building opens regularly on weekends, and visitors can contact the churchwardens for access at other times. It helps to check beforehand to avoid disappointment, especially if traveling from some distance.
The baptismal font rests on a square base carved with scenes from the Passion of Christ, while nearby sits an ancient stone coffin missing its lid. These two objects show different aspects of religious practice and burial customs from separate periods.
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