Editing Anglo-Saxon architecture (section)

== 7th century ==
[[File:St John's Church ,Escomb.jpg|thumb|[[Escomb Church]], [[County Durham]], c. 680]]
[[File:Reculver.jpg|thumb|Triple arch opening separating the nave and apse in the 7th-century [[St Mary's Church, Reculver]], Kent (now largely destroyed)]]

In contrast to secular buildings, stone was used from very early on to build churches, although a single wooden example has survived at [[Greensted Church]], which is now thought to be from the end of the period. Bede makes it clear in both his Ecclesiastical History and his Historiam Abbatum that the masonry construction of churches, including his own at Jarrow, was undertaken ''morem Romanorum'', "in the manner of the Romans", in explicit contrast to existing traditions of timber construction. Even at Canterbury, Bede believed that St Augustine's first cathedral had been 'repaired' or 'recovered' (recuperavit) from an existing Roman church, when in fact it had been newly constructed from Roman materials. The belief was "the Christian Church was Roman therefore a masonry church was a Roman building".

The earliest surviving Anglo-Saxon architecture dates from the 7th century, essentially beginning with [[Augustine of Canterbury]] in Kent from 597; for this he probably imported workmen from [[Francia|Frankish Gaul]].  The [[Canterbury Cathedral|cathedral and abbey in Canterbury]], together with churches in Kent at [[Minster, Swale|Minster in Sheppey]] (c.664) and [[St Mary's Church, Reculver|Reculver]] (669), and in Essex at the [[Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall]] at [[Bradwell-on-Sea]] (where only the nave survives), define the earliest type in southeast England. A simple [[nave]] without [[aisle]]s provided the setting for the main altar; east of this a chancel arch, perhaps a triple arch opening as at Reculver, separated off the [[apse]] for use by the clergy. However, there is no surviving complete 7th-century church with an [[apse]].  Flanking the apse and east end of the nave were side chambers serving as sacristies; further [[porticus]] might continue along the nave to provide for burials and other purposes. Exceptions to this include the Old Minster, Winchester.

Church designs at the time differed between the [[North of England]], which are narrow with square ended chancels, rather than the apses of the south.  In Northumbria the early development of Christianity was influenced by the Irish mission, important churches being built in timber. Masonry churches became prominent from the late 7th century with the foundations of [[Wilfrid]] at [[Ripon]] and [[Hexham]], and of [[Benedict Biscop]] at Monkwearmouth-Jarrow. These buildings had long naves and small rectangular chancels; porticus sometimes surrounded the naves. Elaborate crypts are a feature of Wilfrid's buildings. The best preserved early Northumbrian church is [[Escomb Church]].<ref name="Wilkinson, David John 1964">Wilkinson, David John, and Alan McWhirr. Cirencester Anglo-Saxon Church and Medieval Abbey: Excavations Directed by JS Wacher (1964), AD McWhirr (1965) and PDC Brown (1965–6). Cotswold Archaeological Trust, 1998.</ref>

*[[All Saints' Church, Brixworth]], [[Northamptonshire]]
*[[St Martin's Church, Canterbury]] (7th century nave with parts of possible earlier origin)
*[[Old Minster, Winchester]] (648) (only foundations remain, but are marked out)
*[[St Peter-on-the-Wall]], [[Bradwell-on-Sea]], [[Essex]] (''c.'' 654, on the site of a Roman fort, with reused materials<ref>Morris, Richard, ''Churches in the Landscape'' (Phoenix paperback edition, 1997, p. 120)</ref>)
*[[Ripon Cathedral]] crypt (''c.'' 670)
*[[Hexham Abbey]] crypt (674)
*[[Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory]], [[Northumberland]] (''c.'' 675)
*[[Escomb Church]], [[County Durham]] (''c.'' 680)

<gallery widths="150" heights="150">
File:St Peter-on-the-Wall ext.jpg|St Peter's on the Wall, [[Bradwell-on-Sea]], [[Essex]].
File:Prittlewell church door.JPG|7th-century archway at [[Prittlewell]] parish church in [[Southend-on-Sea]], [[Essex]].
</gallery>