The Church of St Cross

… ‘a Norman cathedral in miniature’
Simon Jenkins, England’s Thousand Best Churches

The fine Norman church is all that remains of the original 12th century Hospital. Building began in 1135 at the east end with the north porch added nearly 200 years later. The walls are over one metre thick and built from stone brought from as far afield as Caen (in Normandy), Dorset and the Isle of Wight, as well as some flint taken from the local chalk pits.

On a column on the north aisle is carved the cross of St Cross. In the window nearest to the eastern side of the north transept, the stone surround is strangely angled. Sunlight from the window falls on the cross only on 3rd May (the day in the church calendar of the Invention of the Cross) and 14th September (Holy Cross Day).

Welcome

Harvest Festival

The Church of St Cross

The Church of St Cross

The Church of St Cross

16 Comments CherryPie on Dec 8th 2016

16 Responses to “The Church of St Cross”

  1. Ginnie says:

    Lovely images, Cherry, of yet another place to visit! :)

  2. lisl says:

    That was pretty clever angling of the architectures for the sun to fall on the St. Cross cross on the two most appropriate days, Cherie

  3. Lovely images of a very beautiful and interesting church :) I have the Simon Jenkins book which is very good although I haven’t visited that many of his suggestions. But I always check an area before we go on holiday or out for the day.

    • CherryPie says:

      I have that book too and also his book on 100 best houses. I also have his book on Welsh Churches and Houses.

      I used the books last time we went to London and found several places we had not been before.

  4. Alan says:

    Happy memories for me here. I was the first meet with some of the others from Shutterchance,

  5. ....peter:) says:

    i am very impressed with your presentation of this ancient church Cherie… i’m sure that the builders placed the windows and the cross to line up with these two dates….peter:)

  6. Debbie says:

    pretty images of the beautiful place!!

  7. Ayush says:

    excellent images, CP. i like the sturdy, solid feel about this place. one meter thick walls indeed.

  8. Wendy says:

    A lovely selection of photos and some interesting information. It’s fascinating how the window has been aligned to catch the sun on those important dates.