Church of St Mary the Virgin, Walkern

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin in Walkern, Hertfordshire, dates from before the Norman Conquest and has been altered in the succeeding centuries. The nave retains at least one Anglo-Saxon wall.

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Walkern
Map
51°55′22″N 0°07′17″W / 51.92264°N 0.12142°W / 51.92264; -0.12142
LocationWalkern, Hertfordshire
CountryEngland
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseSt Albans

Interior edit

There is an Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the south aisle over what was the original doorway to the church.[1]

There is a Purbeck marble effigy of a knight with crossed legs. The cross-legged attitude in tomb sculpture was fashionable in the British Isles in the 13th century. It has been suggested that the sculpture represents William de Lanvalei, lord of Walkern in the early 13th century, and one of the men designated as enforcers of Magna Carta.[2]

Administration edit

The parish is part of a united benefice with Ardeley, Benington, Cottered, and Throcking.[3]

Conservation edit

The building was listed Grade I in 1966.[1] It is within a conservation area on the edge of the village near the River Beane.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Parish Church of St Mary (1101384)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Effigy of William". Walkern History Society. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Walkern". achurchnearyou.
  4. ^ "Walkern Conservation Area" (PDF).