Church Curiosities: Strange Objects and Bizarre Legends

by David Castleton

Overview

A guide to the eccentric and rare objects, tales, and legends that lie hidden behind the doors of Britain's churches.

Why does Frensham Church contain a cauldron said to have belonged to fairies? What stories lurk behind Lincoln Cathedral's imp, Westminster Abbey's macabre royal effigies, and Salisbury Cathedral's 'boy bishop' statue? Why do Britain's churches contain dragon-slaying spears, monstrous cows' ribs, pagan Roman altars, reindeer horns, and archbishops' mummified skulls? David Castleton takes you on a journey through the fascinating world of lepers' squints, sanctuary knockers, virgins' garlands, and pancake bells, forever altering your view of Britain's churches and cathedrals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784424442
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/18/2021
Series:	Shire Library
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	6.41(w) x 8.31(h) x 0.22(d)

About the Author

David Castleton is an author, poet, blogger, and freelance journalist, best known for his novel The Standing Water. He has always had an interest in poking around ruined castles and abbeys and absorbing spooky old wive's tales and has taught English and creative writing at the University of Manchester.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Standing Stones, Runes and Pagan Altars 7

Legendary Skulls, Strange Remains and Weird Repositories 21

Giants' Graves, Odd Epitaphs and Resurrection Men 31

Mysterious Crypts, Secret Tunnels and Macabre Effigies 47

Holy Wells, Sacred Eels and Saints' Skulls 59

Odd Artefacts and Strange Ceremonies 67

An Emporium of Oddities 79

Further Reading 92

Places to Visit 93

Index 95

Editorial Reviews

04/05/2021

Novelist Castleton (The Standing Water) makes a convincing case in this enjoyable guide that British churches are delightfully weird. Digging into the structures and contents of church buildings—as well as the churchyards, labyrinths, tunnels, and crypts that surround them—Castleton explores many unexpected items, including holy eels, mummified hearts, and the grave of the first woman in England to be killed by a tiger. The introduction emphasizes how difficult it can be to differentiate pagan and Christian objects and designs—and each chapter successfully broadens and complicates that argument. The sites and building materials for many churches draw on a range of “pagan” pasts—including Neolithic earthworks, salvaged Roman masonry, and Norse carvings—many of which have been reimagined by successive generations of Christians. Explorations of the churchyards and crypts reveal a complicated set of Christian beliefs and cultures. For instance, Oliver Cromwell’s skull, disinterred by King Charles II in 1660 as a postmortem revenge, first served as a church artifact before being stolen, passed through private collectors, used briefly as a comic prop, and finally buried within the chapel of Sidney College Sussex in 1962. With colorful stories and gorgeous photographs, this enjoyable reference is a refreshing reminder of Britain’s eclectic religious history. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Novelist Castleton (The Standing Water) makes a convincing case in this enjoyable guide that British churches are delightfully weird ... With colorful stories and gorgeous photographs, this enjoyable reference is a refreshing reminder of Britain's eclectic religious history.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher