Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha, Broadway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha |
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| Location | Broadway, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 4 February 1958 |
| Reference no. | 264065 |
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The Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha is a very old and special church located in Broadway, Somerset, England. It was built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! Because it's so old and important, English Heritage has given it a special status called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
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Who Were St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha?
The church is named after two interesting saints, which is quite unusual.
St Aldhelm
One of the saints is St Aldhelm. He lived a long time ago, from about 639 to 709 AD. He was a very important person in early English history. St Aldhelm was the Abbot (leader) of Malmesbury Abbey. He also became the Bishop of Sherborne. Besides his church roles, he was a talented Latin poet and a scholar of Anglo-Saxon literature.
St Eadburgha
The other saint the church is dedicated to is St. Eadburh of Winchester. She was the granddaughter of a famous king, King Alfred the Great. Many other churches named after her are found near Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire. This is because some of her remains were moved there after she died, and people started to honor her greatly.
It's thought that the dedication to St Eadburgha might be more recent. An old book from 1848 only mentions the church being dedicated to St. Aldhelm.
Not to Be Confused With Other Saints
There were a few saints with similar names. St. Eadburgha of Broadway is probably not the same as Edburga of Bicester. Edburga of Bicester was an English saint from the 7th century and the daughter of King Penda of Mercia. Only two churches are believed to be dedicated to her, in Bicester and Stratton Audley, both in Oxfordshire.
Interesting Facts About the Church
Its Isolated Location
The church stands a little way from the main village of Broadway. People believe this is because of an outbreak of the plague a long time ago. Moving the church away from the village might have been a way to keep people safe.
Ancient Features
The church has some very old parts. The cross in the churchyard, where people are buried, is also from the 13th century, just like the church itself.
Inside the church, you can still see the original wooden bier. A bier is a special frame used to carry coffins during funerals. This one has been used for over a hundred years!
