Porlock Hikes Trip, DAY 4 Part VII,'St Beuno's Church of Culbone' by Sheila, September 27th 2018
Channel: semw52
Date: 2018-10-21

In 1280 the local vicar murdered a Albert Ash with an axe--once a leper colony here as well because of it remoteness----mentioned in the Doomsday Book and the Guinness Book of records---the smallest complete parish church in the country apparently in a wooded combe above wild Exmoor and perched  400 feet up.Possibly a Celtic religious site before the Normans arrived as St Beuno was a famous Welsh saint born in the 6th c. who rescued St Winifred from King Caradog---St Dubricius of Porlock was also a Celtic Missionary. A stone lined burial chamber was found  near Culbone hill here of an important person about 1800 BC ... Yes this little church has become a place of pilgrimage over the centuries and dedicated to St Beuno---the  site became a safe haven during  the brutal times of conquering peoples from across the seas.It has so many interesting features like the 1000 year old  small window in the north side of the chancel carved from a single piece of sandstone--the roof dates from the 15th century in the wagon style--the little font is reported to be 800 years old---no doubt the Red Family were baptized  here, married and certainly buried here as shown by the many graves in their memory-------So many  graves  outside to this family equaled  by the Irving family as well...the Gate house outside was supposed to have been designed by Lady Lovelace of Ashley Combe Mansion--daughter of Lord Byron...A really beautiful little church with a deep peace felt here --a solemn peace that makes you think  deeply about what Peace actually means to yourself and others---A special place and well worth the visit--I would walk here again for sure.....