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<< Our Photo Pages >> St Gregory's Church (Bedale) - Early Christian Sculptured Stone in England in Yorkshire (North)

Submitted by Sunny100 on Wednesday, 18 August 2010  Page Views: 7792

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: St Gregory's Church (Bedale) Alternative Name: The Bedale Viking Stones, Wayland's Stone
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 5.1 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Yorkshire (North) Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone
Nearest Town: Bedale
Map Ref: SE266885
Latitude: 54.291437N  Longitude: 1.592853W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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Anne T visited on 11th May 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Anglo-Danish stones, St. Gregory's, Bedale: We’d been to St. Gregory’s a long time ago, but the stone fragments had just been moved into the crypt at the advice of North Yorkshire Police because one stone had been stolen. So as not to be disappointed this time, I’d been corresponding with ‘Rev Robb’ (Rev. Ian Robinson) to make an appointment to get into the crypt. At the time I’d last contacted him, it was just before Easter. He offered the date of 27th May, when a group was also visiting. I elected to leave it until he returned from holiday, and arranged 11th May, with us attending Holy Communion at 10am, staying on to look round the church and be shown the stones. The parishioners made us very welcome indeed. After the service, Rev. Robinson came and introduced us and took us round to the crypt (which is on the outside of the church – I’d had visions of climbing down dusty, steep steps!), with a step down into the crypt, which is built under the altar in the sanctuary (note: later exploring the church, climbing up the steps to this altar, you are at least 6 to 8 feet above the congregation; it would not be good if you missed one of the steps!). I gave Rev. Robinson a printout of the Portal page with the drawings. First of all he told me that since he’d been vicar here (for 6 years) there had only been the two stones – one had ‘gone missing’ and weren’t sure of it’s location (possibly Durham Cathedral?). He helped me identify the half torso. Because of the story associated with this stone, he was torn between keeping the stone because of it’s non-Christian origins vs being part of the church’s history. The church guide says “A Viking myth tells of a man called Weland (pronounced Wayland), a highly skilled smith. He is captured by a king, who has his hamstrings cut to prevent him from escaping; but he escapes on a flying machine he has made. The caring on the stone …. Shows part of Welland on his machine. You can make out the fan shaped tail and one of the wings as well as his feet, legs and body bound together by Celtic knots. On the ned of the tombstone are the remains of a nativity scene ….. this is part of a hogback tombstone dating from the 10th century. In 2003 it was rediscovered in the crypt and has been identified as the Weland stone of which there are only three known examples in this country. The others are in Leeds Parish church and Sherburn Church, near Filey.” The other stone “was part of a column or pillar, (and) is a good example of Anglian knotwork.” Also in the crypt is a curious staircase which leads up to the side of the altar. We were told this was for the Chantry monks to go straight up to the main body of the church. There was also a small ‘arms column’ locked with three enormous, hand-made padlocks. In the vestry, there were numerous examples of chests locked with three keys (each needing a different key). There are five effigies; four at the west end of the nave, one in the vestry. The staircase to the bell tower had a portcullis (you can still see where it used to be raised up), and looking up into the tower there is a hatch; above this, the Reverend told us there was a room with a guard-robe and a fireplace.

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : The Weland stone, on which you can see "the fan-shaped tail and one of the wings as well as his feet, legs and body bound together by celtic knots." (see visit report 11th May 2017 for full story) (Vote or comment on this photo)
Early Christian Sculptured Stone in Yorkshire (North)

St Gregory's Church at Bedale, near Northallerton, stands on an Anglo-Saxon site though the present church is 13th century. Kept under lock and key in the crypt under the chancel are two of the four Saxon/Norse stone fragments which remain. These stones used to be kept in the church, but one was stolen and North Yorkshire Police recommended moving them to the crypt.

One stone (now missing, perhaps in Durham Cathedral's collection?) has two serpents with their tongues forming the interlacing, while a figure, possibly Christ, looks on at the side with his hand raised. Another stone (still displayed) has a figure intertwined amongst interlacing. This figure, or half a figure, has a double circle at the top of the torso - forming a round aperture. The figure could be the mythical Norse character Wayland the Smith. These two stones may have been part of a Saxon/Viking cross or a gravestone, dating from the 8th-10th century.

The other two arched-shaped stones may have come from the ends of an hogsback tombstone, again about the 9th century. One (now missing) has what is probably a crucifixion scene, with Christ and two figures at either side, perhaps the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist. Or could this, in fact, be a depiction of The Tree of Life. At the far left-hand side an odd-shaped dove of peace with a human face. The second stone, also arched-shaped, has what could be diamond shapes or chevrons and below that some swirls.

For access to the crypt, contact the vicar (currently Rev. Ian Robinson) or the parish office - details can be found on 'A Church Near You' web site; see the entry for St. Gregory's, Bedale).
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St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : The other side of the second Anglo-Danish stone in St Gregory's crypt. The knotwork is still crisp and well defined. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : The second Anglo-Danish stone in St Gregory's crypt, showing some really crisp knotwork. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : Carvings on the other narrow side of the Weland stone (side facing the western side of the crypt). (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : More carvings on the narrow side of the Weland stone (side facing the eastern side of the crypt). (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Anne T : The wider face of the Weland stone, which the church guide says "shows the remains of nativity scene". There are carvings on this face, but they are very heavily damaged. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Sunny100 : Arched-shaped fragment of a 9th century Viking hogsback tombstone in the crypt of St Gregory's church, Bedale. The carving could depict Christ's crucifixion, or it could be The Tree of Life.

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Sunny100 : Fragment of an arched-shaped stone, of the 9th century, in the crypt of St Gregory's Church, Bedale. This has diamond shapes or chevrons, and cold have been part of an hogsback tombstone.

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Sunny100 : Fragment of a Saxon/Norse cross or gravestone from the 8th-10th century in the crypt of St Gregory's church, Bedale. Two serpents with their tongues forming the interlacing and, at the side, a figure that could be Christ.

St Gregory's Church (Bedale)
St Gregory's Church (Bedale) submitted by Sunny100 : Fragment of a Saxon/Norse cross or gravestone in the crypt of St Gregory's church, dating from the 8th-10th century. Carved on it is a half human figure with a round aperture at the top of the torso.

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"St Gregory's Church (Bedale)" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: St Gregory's Church (Bedale) by Anne T on Thursday, 23 July 2015
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We planned to visit this church this afternoon on our way down to Ripon so I telephoned the Parish Office to find out if we could get access to the crypt to see the stones. The lady who answered said they had in the last 2-3 weeks been moved into the crypt for safekeeping on the advice of the police, following thefts from other churches in the area.
She also told me that the vicar was currently away and they didn't know what the arrangements for viewing by the public would be in future. A quick revision of our plans was hastily made. I'll post an update when I find out, for anyone who is interested in visiting.
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