Altar Stone

This must be the the oldest and most valuable artefact in the whole church. It is the original Altar Stone used before the dedication and up to the time of the dissolution of monasteries, but its preservation was due to the cunning of the incumbent at the time (referred to in another illustration). He had the Communion Table modified in such a way, that the stone was placed between the table's legs and then hidden from view by the Altar Cloth. It stayed in this situation for many years until the incumbency of a certain clerk (unknown), who discovered the truth and had the stone cast into the churchyard where it lay until being recovered by the Harding family, Masons of Burnham. They fashioned and dressed it for use as their family grave headstone in the churchyard. This situation prevailed for several years until it was re-discovered and its importance fully realised. It was removed from the churchyard, cleaned up and fixed in the position it now occupies in the St Nicholas Chapel. Close examination of the stone reveals the interesting three Celtic crosses, forming three corners of a square but the fourth not being visible. The side of the Altar Stone nearest the wall was inscribed by the Harding family.