This church is forever intertwined with the Spencer family of nearby Althorp Park.Many generations of the Spencer family are buried inside the church.
The church dates back to the 12th century,and stands on the site of an earlier timber church which was burned down.There was major rebuilding in the 14th and 15th centuries,and in 1522 John Spencer of Althorp had the chancel and north chapel rebuilt,to provide a suitable place for family tombs.
Of interest for American visitors,is a worn grave slab in the chancel.It commemorates Lawrence Washington(d 1616),a direct ancestor of George Washington.The heraldic shield on the grave shows a coat of arms with alternating rows of stars and stripes,the model later used by George Washington for the American flag.
Persistent,unsubstantiated,rumours relate to the burial of Princess Diana.Officially,she is buried on an island in Althorp Park.However,there is another version of the princess's burial,which suggests that she was secretly cremated and her ashes interred in the family chapel of the church.
Conspiracy theorists point to an area of wet concrete,which appeared in the chapel at the time of her burial,and a siting of smoke,in the middle of the night,from a local crematorium.This siting has been rejected,and an explanation for the concrete is that the original plan was to bury Diana with her ancestors,but the Earl changed his mind and decided on the island burial.Even local people are divided over which version of the story is true.
I'd like to think she's with her family and not alone on that island.
Fabulous portrayal and photograph ! a fav My M-I-L followed all of the Princess Di stuff. She would have loved this conspiracy theory and would have agreed with your sentiment. I'm of the notion that once our spirit has left us, it doesn't matter where our body lays. It's only for the living to memorialize......
The Washington information is interesting too......
I love the effect you get here, Carol! A beautiful church so well captured and processed! Such interesting info too! Which processing tool do you use? Fav
St.Mary's has very some interesting history, thank you for the info.
The Washington information is interesting too......