St
Wulfran
Number 1005 in the series St Wulfran in Ovingdean
The 'little church' at Ovingdean was first mentioned in the
Domesday Book . Essentially it’s an early Norman building
which has been restored and altered many times in its history.
It’s now a Grade A listed building. There is only one other
church in England dedicated to St. Wulfran and thats in Grantham,
Lincolnshire. The date of the dedication is not known; it could
have been anytime between the 7th century (when he lived) and 1512
when it is first mentioned in records. St. Wulfran was born in
about 650 AD in a village near Paris, his father was a wealthy
nobleman. Much to his father's disappointment he decided to be a
priest rather than a soldier. In about 693 he was made archbishop
at Sens but three years later resigned and became a missionary. He
spent his life converting pagans and performing miracles; he died
in 720 at Fontenelle Abbey where he was buried. In 1058 his body
was moved to Abbeyville, Normandy where it remains to this day.
Although we can only speculate on the reasons for the church being
dedicated to this particular saint, it is possible that it was
through the auspices of the Warenne family who owned land in both
Ovingdean and Grantham. Based on interpretation of historical
sources and visual evidence we can suggest that the nave and
chancel are probably 1066-86; the tower is c1216 and contains c1430
bell. The porch is probably c1805, the chapel is definitely 1907
and the vestry is definitely 1983. Of course there have been many
changes over the years. .
A straight forward micro which may be disguised a bit.
If any body
would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask
that you could let me know first so I can keep track of the Church
numbers and names to avoid duplication
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