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All the United Kingdom England Stow-on-the-Wold St Edward's Church

St Edward's Church

This medieval sanctuary's tree-framed door looks like a portal to a mythical realm.

Stow-on-the-Wold, England

Added By
Kerry Wolfe
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CAPTION
The enchanting north door.   Danita Delimont/Getty Images
St Edward’s Church door.   Martyn Gorman/cc by-sa 2.0
St Edward’s Church door.   Bs0u10e01/cc by-sa 4.0
The church and churchyard.   Rebecca C./cc by 2.0
St Edward’s Church.   Philip Halling/cc by-sa 2.0
  shemmer926 / Atlas Obscura User
  ariadnemaze / Atlas Obscura User
  ariadnemaze / Atlas Obscura User
  ariadnemaze / Atlas Obscura User
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  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Bound by two ancient yew trees, this door looks more like a portal to a fairy realm than a church entrance. The arched wooden opening, capped by colorful stained glass windows, beckons visitors to unleash their imaginations and fantasize about the magical worlds that may be hiding on the other side.

Given the entry’s enchanting appearance, there’s little wonder why local lore says it inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Doors of Durin. Like this door, those elven entrances were flanked by two magnificent trees.

People speculate the writer came across the door during one of his many visits to the Cotswolds. But as exciting as the legendary connection is, there’s no proof that the link between the English church and Tolkien’s creations is true, making the theory just as fantastical as the author’s stories.

Even without a concrete Tolkien connection, St Edward’s Church is well worth visiting. The structure was built in the Middle Ages and is now a medley of fixtures from various centuries. Explore the building and you’ll find fragments dating from the 1000s through the 1600s, as well as pieces installed during Victorian-era restorations. Its tree-framed north door was constructed during the 13th century.

Related Tags

Churches Architecture Medieval Fantasy Locations Fantasy Literature Sacred Spaces

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The church is open daily and entrance is free.

Community Contributors

Added By

Kerry Wolfe

Edited By

ariadnemaze, Collector of Experiences, rbenn250, shemmer926

  • ariadnemaze
  • Collector of Experiences
  • rbenn250
  • shemmer926

Published

March 22, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/03/28/st-edwards-church-stow-on-the-wold/
  • https://middle-earth.xenite.org/tolkien-inspired-door-st-edwards-church-gloucestershire/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Edward%27s_Church,_Stow-on-the-Wold
  • https://www.gocotswolds.co.uk/blog/lord-of-the-rings-in-the-cotswolds/
St Edward's Church
2 Crossways House the Square
Stow-on-the-Wold, England, GL54 1AB
United Kingdom
51.929997, -1.72379
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