St Kenelm, Upton Snodsbury, Worcestershire, England
N 52° 11.247 W 002° 05.068
30U E 562588 N 5782282
St Kenelm, Church Lane, Upton Snodsbury
Waymark Code: WM109JV
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/27/2019
Views: 1
From the (
visit link) website:-
"Early English to late Perpendicular. C14 chancel. Cl6 clerestoried nave and south aisle and south porch. C15 west embattled tower. C14 glass. C15 font, Much restored in 1873."
From the church website:-
"Story of St Kenelm – Legend or Truth? Kenulf, King of Mercia (an ancient kingdom which included this part of England), died in 819 A.D. He had a seven year old son, Kenelm, and two daughters, Quendryda and Burenhilda. The young prince was entrusted to the guardianship of Quendryda, his elder sister. She was an avaricious person and soon after the King's death she, and her lover, Ascobert, murdered Kenelm at a place called Cowbach whilst on a hunting trip in the Clent Hills (about 16 miles/26 kilometres North of here) so that she could claim the throne. When the hunting party returned to Winchcombe, which was the family seat, Quendryda announced that Kenelm had disappeared without trace. This was treated with great suspicion. The Pope became aware of the affair and despatched messengers to Wilfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, to investigate. The boy's body was eventually found alongside a bloodstained sword which had been used to decapitate him. Once the body had been disturbed a great fountain gushed forth and for centuries afterwards pilgrims celebrated this as a Holy Well where many miracles were performed. The boy's body and search party rested at this Church overnight during their journey back to Winchcombe. When they entered Winchcombe it was reported that Quendryda's eyes fell from their sockets and she died soon afterwards. Kenelm's body is buried alongside his father in Winchcombe Abbey."