History of Corhampton Saxon Church

Corhampton Saxon Church is situated on the banks of the River Meon which runs from East Meon on the South Downs, through the Meon Valley to the Solent at Titchfield Haven. The Church, which was built in 1020, when Cnut was King of Wessex and England, has been a place of Christian worship for over 1000 years. The River Meon formed the boundary between the West Saxons (Wessex) and the South Saxons (Sussex). It gave its name, which derives from a Celtic word meaning 'swift one', to the Meonwara (or Meonsæte) the people of Jutish origin who colonised the East bank of the River in the 5th & 6th century Corhampton Church, which is on the long-distance walk, the South Downs Way, is just a few hundred yards from a Saxon cemetery and village discovered at Shavards Farm, Meonstoke in the 1980s. It is also just a mile from a Jutish cemetery discovered when the cuttings for the Meon Valley railway line were dug in 1900. The Friends of Corhampton Church, working with local schools and a Saxon heritage organisations, held the first Saxon festival for over 1000 years in July 2010. (see separate submission) Additional information about Corhampton Church and the 1000 year old Yew Tree in the graveyard can be found at www.bridgechurches.org.uk. You can also sign-up at this website to become a 'Friend' to ensure the future of this Saxon icon and to support & participate in future festivals, education and exploratory activities