The church of St. Michael and All angels at Guiting Power in Gloucestershire is of interest on several counts. It is of course the name of a hymn tune set to the words 'Christ Triumphant'. Historically its roots go back to Anglo-Saxon times if not earlier. There is a tiny Saxon sarcophagus in the church and a 'barrow' in the parkland just to the north-east of the present church building. There are remains of the Norman / Early English church incorporated into the present building. Alongside the 'barrow' are the foundations of a tiny Saxon chapel and an ancient trackway runs over the field to the eastern boundary of the churchyard.
A book called 'Church and Manor' by S. A. Addey (published in 1913) talks of the foundation of Saxon churches alongside the THING-VOLLR or Moot Hill. The Tinwald Hill, the home of the Isle of Man parliament is about 130 yards west of the small chapel of St. John. The ancient records of Iceland show the Great Moot or Al-thing joined by a fenced path to the circular Law Court to the east. A little to the south of the Law Court is an oblong church.
Is it possible that, as Addy suggests, we have here at Guiting Power an ancient Norse settlement, adapted over the years into a Christian Manor and church?
The so-called 'Barrow' is to the north of the tiny Saxon church. The flat top to the 'barrow' does suggest that it could have been used for a village / district 'parliament'.
A beautifully carved Romanesque (Norman) doorway.
The tiny Saxon sarcophagus, one of the smallest found in the U.K.
Remains of Saxon chapel/church
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