1000-YEAR-OLD CROSS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26605, 15 December 1951, Page 7

1000-YEAR-OLD CROSS

FIND IN HISTORIC CHURCH

LONDON. December 13. During reconstruction work after bomb damage of the nave of the historic church. All Hallows, Barking-by-the-Tower, excavators have discovered part of a Saxon gravestone cross of the time of King Canute. After being buried nearly 1000 years it still bore a trace of the colours with which the ancient craftsmen ornamented it. The first foundation of All Hallows dates from 675 A.D. It is the official Toe H Church, of which the Rev. P. B. Clayton, founder of the movement, has been vicar for 29 years. Originally, the cross, with its shaft, would have been about 4ft high and 2ft wide. Experts say it probably dates to the early eleventh century when King Canute carried out much church restoration. The sculptor, Mr Cecil Thomas, who examined the cross, said: “It must have been brilliantly painted. It is fascinating to think that after being buried for centuries it should still bear traces of paint—orange, crimson and blue.” Earlier excavation at All Hallows unearthed fragments of’a large ceremonial Saxon cross which apparently stood in the parish churchyard.