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Alton Priors
Re: Circles under churches
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I go for "dominance" and quote this as justification:

"In 601 AD, Pope Gregory instructed missionaries to the English that "the temples of the idols in England should not on any account be destroyed. Augustine should smash the idols, but the temples should be sprinkled with holy water and turned into churches". This tells us that many Saxon churches were built on the sites of pagan temples. Furthermore, in 625 AD, Pope Boniface wrote to King Edwin condemning idol worship - saying "How can such stocks and STONES have power to assist you when they are made from perishable materials by the labour of your own subjects?"

It seems that stones were venerated by the pagan Saxons, but that stone worship was specifically rejected by the church and not absorbed into Christianity. But I would say that, wouldn't I as I am also unconvinced that green men and sheelas are pagan survivals. Now if you want real pagan survivals - holy wells seem to fit the bill.


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PeterH
Posted by PeterH
19th August 2005ce
04:44

In reply to:

Re: Circles under churches (Littlestone)

1 reply:

Just one thing to add ... (FourWinds)

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