SAT
13/9
2025
10am to 2pm
The Anglo-Saxon Story:
Uncovering the Legends, Norman Rule, and Legacy of St Elphin’s Church.
A free Heritage Open Days event at St Elphin’s Church, Warrington.
details
Date
Saturday 13th September 2025
Time
10am – 2pm
Location
St Elphin’s Church, 129 Church St, Warrington WA1 2TL
Event Organiser
AVimmerse / Warrington Castle Project
Event summary
Uncover the mysterious origins of one of Warrington’s most iconic landmarks in this immersive exploration of St Elphin’s Church.
Combining legend, oral storytelling, and archaeological interpretation, this free event dives into the rich tapestry of Anglo-Saxon and Norman influence on the church and surrounding landscape.
What do the myths say about its founding?
What does the stonework reveal?
Join us as we journey through fact and folklore to find out.
How do walls speak?
What does a window,
arch or spire reveal
about the time it
was built?
This immersive Heritage Open Days event explores the architectural evolution of St Elphin’s Church, and the hidden stories its stones still hold.
From its possible Anglo-Saxon beginnings to Norman dominance and Victorian revival, the church reflects over a thousand years of power, belief, and design.
We invite visitors into a deeper understanding of St Elphin’s Church, not just as a place of worship but as a living document of Warrington’s Anglo-Saxon and Norman past.
Explore the Architecture,
Discover the Stories
• Architecture as Power
Learn how shifting architectural styles mirrored changes in political and spiritual control, from Saxon sacred simplicity to Norman assertion and beyond.• Mini Talks & Guided Moments
Join short, drop-in sessions throughout the day where local historians and interpreters unpack themes like:
◦ Anglo-Saxon building traditions
◦ Norman ecclesiastical design
◦ Symbolism in medieval architecture
◦ Victorian reinterpretation of the medieval past
• Drone & Digital Display
Step inside a visual exploration of the site’s long history. Using drone footage and 3D reconstructions by AVimmerse, we’ll bring to life the lost Norman motte-and-bailey nearby, theorised Saxon structures, and the evolving footprint of the church.
• Legends in the Walls
Was St Elphin a real figure? Did an earlier church stand here? Discover how myth and architecture shape our understanding of the past, and each other.
• Fact vs Folklore Trail
Follow a self-guided path through the church, guessing which features are backed by historical evidence, and which might belong more to legend.• Support the Story
Learn about the Warrington Castle Collective, a community-led supporter scheme. Optional donations help sustain future events.
Join the Warrington Castle Collective
Help shape future events and storytelling in Warrington.
By joining the Collective, you’ll receive early event invites, project updates, and opportunities to get involved in bringing our history to life.Get early invites, supporter recognition, community connection.
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