St Peters Church

St Peter’s church, Barton-upon-Humber is cared for by English Heritage as it’s become one of the most important churches in terms of architecture in England.

From 1978 and 1985 the church was completely excavated and the standing structure recorded. The reason for all the interest is that it is one of the best Anglo-Saxon buildings still standing and has a full exhibition inside about its history so visitors can learn more about it.

During excavations exciting finds were made like the pagan Saxon cemetery within the remains of an old hall which is apparently where people of high status were buried with the earliest graves dating back to the 9^th century!

There are over 2 800 people buried in this church yard dating from Anglo Saxon to Victorian times and the exhibition takes you through reasons for deaths, medieval disease, burial practices and medical issues faced in those times.

There is also a great reconstruction skeletons exhibition and the architecture of the church itself is highly unusual.

One of the unusual aspects of this cemetery is that it seems that graves were relocated when foundations were laid.  This was not usual of the time.

This church is dedicated to St Peter and served as the parish church of Barton from Medieval times up to around 1970.