St Mary's Church
Location
OS Ref: SU 153 188
Last Visited: 2014

St Mary's, Breamore
St Maryʼs Breamore is a very old church dating back to around 980 AD, possibly by King Ethelred II, known as 'The Unready'. It is very unusual, as it a rare example of an Anglo-Saxon Turriform church.
These churches owe their basic ground plan to the Byzantine tradition of Eastern Europe.
Byzantine churches have a large central domed tower, the ground floor of which serves as the nave, and two or more small extensions or porticus. The Anglo-Saxons dispensed with the dome and built a tower, then added a large nave to the west side to accommodate the basilican style of worship.
Of the three small porticus or chapels, only that on the south side survives, although the roof lines of the others can be seen in the external stonework of the tower. The current chancel which replaced the eastern porticus dates from the early 14th century as does the east window.
External Links and References
External Links
- Church of St Mary, Breamore, Hampshire
Lots more on the architecture of the church from the Anglo-Saxon Churches site.
http://www.anglo-saxon-churches.co.uk/breamore.pdf - St Mary's, Breamore
Service times from the official parish site.
http://www.avp-benefice.org.uk/churches/breamore/ - Breamore
More on the history of the church from the Great English Churches site
http://greatenglishchurches.co.uk/html/breamore.html
- Church of St Mary, Breamore, Hampshire
Recommended Books
-
England's Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins
A bit dull, or should I say worthy, but packed full of information.
-
England's Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins
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