All Saints, Brixworth

Though obviously much restored and refurbished, it is claimed that All Saints, Brixworth, is the largest surviving Anglo-Saxon building – let alone church – in Britain. It has been a place of Christian worship for something like 1300 years. It is also known that a monastery was founded on the site toward the end of the 7th century. The present church dates from the late 8th or early 9th century, either by the great King Offa of Mercia, or his successor, Coenwulf. The Saxon builders re-used Roman bricks when constructing their arches. The church includes Norman features, too, an 11th century round tower and a 15th century spire. It is also famous for the Brixworth Relic – a human throat bone that possibly once belonged to St Boniface; what more could you want?