Roman fort to feature in BBC Songs of Praise
AROMAN fort in Northumberland with Christian links stretching back 1,600 years is to feature in BBC TV’s Songs of Praise on Sunday.
The remains of five church-like buildings, dating from around the Fifth to the Ninth centuries, have been found during recent excavations at Vindolanda fort.
Also uncovered has been a lead chalice inscribed with Christian symbols. There is growing evidence for the continuation of activity and occupation at Vindolanda after the end of Roman rule in Britain.
“It appears it is the site on Hadrian’s Wall with the best preserved and most recently excavated evidence for Christian occupation,” said director of excavations Andrew Birley. “The remarkable cluster of church-like buildings alongside finds-based evidence for Christianity suggests that Vindolanda could have been a hitherto under-appreciated centre for early Christianity in the region.”
The first church building was constructed in the courtyard of the abandoned commanding officer’s house, using large sandstone block
foundations almost certainly recycled from early Third century fort buildings. A large flagstone immediately inside the entrance of the newly erected church was a Roman altar placed face down and reused as a paving stone.
“The congregation would have walked over the old and now defunct
gods on their route to worship and pray to a new god,” said Andrew.
The first church was followed by a larger, similar-style version, with a later building adopting a different “rocket” style shape.
During her visit to Vindolanda, Songs of Praise presenter the Rev Kate Bottley examined the fort’s project to create 1,900 pieces of flag bunting, to which many volunteers have contributed, to mark the 1,900th anniversary year of the building of Hadrian’s Wall and which will be displayed in October.
She said: “I also dig for clues about the early Christians that lived here.”
Songs of Praise will also feature music from St Andrew’s Church in Corbridge, and will be broadcast on Sunday at 1.15pm.