The Wirksworth Stone - carved stone Anglo Saxon sarcophagus lid found in crypt of St. Mary's Church, Wirksworth village, Derbyshire, England
The Wirksworth Stone is built into the north wall of the nave and is oblong-shaped and chunky; it measures 5 feet x 3 feet but is probably not as long as it originally was (as can be seen at the western edge) – due to damage over the centuries. This richly sculptured stone-slab, which is in fact a coffin lid [from a sarcophagus], is adorned with scenes and figures from the Bible, most of which depict the ‘Life of Christ’. There are numerous angels, apostles, disciples and members of the holy family. Yet these figures look ‘almost’ as if they had been carved yesterday! They were probably carved in 800 AD. The stone was discovered lying upside-down beneath the chancel floor, quite close to the altar, in 1820. The first church on this site was apparently founded by the Northumbrian monk and missionary, St Betti, in c 653 AD. So, could the sculptured stone be from his tomb? by sunbright57 Journal of Antiquities.
Size: 7015px × 4960px
Location: St Mary's, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England.
Photo credit: © suzan vagoose / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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