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Back to Claverley Flower Festival page
During the flower festival, when the church is full of people, we pause each hour for a few moments during which visitors are requested to be silent and, should they wish, join in prayer. The oldest parts of the building date from the Norman period, probably the first half of the 12th century, but the site has probably been a place of worship since before Christianity came to Britain. The yew tree outside the north east corner of the church is over 2,500 years old (authenticated by David Bellamy) and such trees were commonly planted in sacred places. The massive foundations under the chancel are likely to be of Roman origin. The restoration in 1902 unearthed three skeletons of a man, child and small animal laid north-south which indicates a pre-Christian burial.
More information about the legend and the church is available in a colour leaflet available in the church for 50p. The cost of maintaining this church is £1,000 per week. The principal fund-raising activity is the annual flower festival. |
All
Saints Church Claverley is a grade 1 listed building of great historic and architectural
interest. It has a very special atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
The
church is particularly noted for the frieze of wall paintings which are of international
significance. The paintings are of a similar style to the Bayeux tapestry and
date from about 1220. The latest theory is that the paintings depict the Legend
of the True Cross, a medieval myth linking the tree of knowledge from the Garden
of Eden with the wood of the cross on which Christ is crucified.