Alfred the Great, King of the Saxons (849 - 26th October 899) |
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The church nearest to Athelney was at nearby Aller. It is very likely that Alfred would have gone there to pray and ask for God's help at this time when all seemed lost. Meanwhile Saxon swordsmiths were working to make new weapons, and new plans were being made. Seven weeks after Easter, King Alfred rode out to a rendezvous at the edge of Selwood, where men from Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire gathered to form a new army. They fought the Danes on the Wiltshire downs, near Edington and won a great victory. |
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The church at Aller |
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Guthrum fled to Chippenham where he surrendered and agreed an unusual peace treaty. The Danes would leave and settle in the North-East of England, an area known as the Danelaw. In return Guthrum and some of his leading followers offered to accept the Christian faith and be baptised. Alfred and Guthrum travelled back together to the little church at Aller, where the baptism took place - perhaps, the locals say, in this very font. Alfred himself stood sponsor (Godparent) for Guthrum and Guthrum received the noble Saxon name of Athelstan. Had Guthrum won, Alfred would have died by the Viking ritual torture of "Bloodeagle". Curiously this unusual peace treaty held. Was it that the personality of Alfred had so impressed Guthrum - his courage, nobility and faith? In time, monks spread the Christian faith throughout the Danelaw and Alfred's successors eventually united the whole of England into a single kingdom. |
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The ancient font in the church at Aller |
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