Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha, Broadway

The Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha in Broadway, Somerset, England dates from the 13th century, and has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.[1]

Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha
LocationBroadway, Somerset, England
Coordinates50°56′19″N 2°57′16″W
Built13th century
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated4 February 1958[1]
Reference no.264065
Location of Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha in Somerset

The dedication is unusual. St Aldhelm (c. 639-25 May 709), was Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, Bishop of Sherborne, Latin poet and Anglo-Saxon literature scholar, was born before the middle of the 7th century.

According to the Historic England website, the other dedication is to St. Eadburh of Winchester, granddaughter of King Alfred.[1] Most other churches dedicated to her are in the vicinity of Pershore Abbey, Worcestershire, where some of her remains were transferred after her death: a cult grew up around her veneration.[2] The second dedication to St Eadburgha may be relatively modern: A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848) lists it as being dedicated to St. Aldelme (sic) only.[3]

Old English and Medieval spellings are found in various forms, and St. Eadburgha is probably not to be confused with Edburga of Bicester, an English saint from the 7th century and a daughter of King Penda of Mercia. There are thought to be only two churches dedicated to her, in Bicester and Stratton Audley, both in Oxfordshire.

The church's isolated position away from the village is thought to be because of an outbreak of the plague.[4]

The churchyard cross is also from the 13th century.[5]

The church also still houses the original wooden bier used at funerals over a century ago.[6]

See also

Media related to Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha, Broadway at Wikimedia Commons

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Aldhelm and St Eadburgha (1248192)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  2. Farmer, David (2011). "Edburga of Winchester". The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, 5th ed revised, Oxford University Press, p. 134. ISBN 9780199596607
  3. 'Braodheath - Brockhall', in A Topographical Dictionary of England, ed. Samuel Lewis (London, 1848), pp. 389-392. British History Online [accessed 1 December 2019].
  4. Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. p. 46. ISBN 1-874336-26-1.
  5. Historic England. "Churchyard Cross (1057005)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  6. Hall, Colin (2010). Dropped In It. Kindle ebooks at Amazon. ASIN B0047O2F0S.
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