Historical intrigue

It’s only a few yards from the M27 motorway, north of Southampton, yet this tiny church hides a wealth of historical charm.
 
The church of St Boniface in the village of Nursling, dates from the 13th century, but according to the historians can take its links back even further to the lifetime of St Boniface himself.
 
That  was in the seventh and eighth century when St Boniface, according to the historians,  became an evangelist and teacher, it is thought at a monastery, probably on the site of the present church. It is thought he spent many years at Nursling until he was ordained at the age of 30, when he set out to continue his evangelical work in northern Holland, but was ultimately persecuted and became a martyr when he was 75, and through being credited with having spread the Christian word throughout much of northern Europe, was ultimately made a Saint .
 
According to the history books he founded a monastery at Fulda on the River Rhine in Germany, where he was buried.
 

You can’t miss the church on the northern side of the motorway as you drive between Junction 2 and 3 of the M27. It lies not far from Junction 3.