Is there a Shakespearean connection at All Saints' Church, Billesley?

Set prettily in a wooded churchyard, deep in what was once the Forest of Arden, is the church of All Saints', Billesley.

The quiet surrounds and demure appearance belie a connection to one of the most famous men that has ever lived - William Shakespeare.

Photo above by Sarah McCarthy. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Barely 4 miles from Stratford and a mile or so down the road from Mary Arden's Farm - Shakespeare's mother’s birthplace - the famous playwrite would undoubtedly have known the area – walked it, observed it and breathed its air.

The origins of this Grade 1 listed church go back as far as the 11th-century when there was once a thriving village here. The church we see today is not the very same church of Shakespeare’s time since it was radically altered at the end of the 17th-century; but vestiges of the building remain and it is a magical place steeped in history.

Find out more about All Saints', Billesley

Could Shakespeare have married Anne Hathaway at All Saints' Church?

Whether or not Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at Billesley is unlikely ever to be proved since the evidence has long since perished. Or maybe not. Maybe there are documents yet to be discovered, records to be revealed. In the meantime, we can but surmise, look at the facts before us - and imagine.

And thereby hangs a tale...

The opportunity to search out historical fact from fiction was made possible by a grant of £47,600 to The Churches Conservation Trust from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In September this year, and to coincide with the World Shakespeare Festival 2012, we are launching a touring exhibition focused on the mystery of where Shakespeare was married.

Find out more about the touring exhibition

Working with a number of regional partners, including the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the exhibition ‘And thereby hangs a tale’ explores the theme of historical interpretation and shows how fact and fiction, myth and legend feed into our understanding of the world today.

All five main churches cited as contenders for the wedding church are being considered as part of this project: St Martin’s Church, Worcester; Temple Grafton Church; All Saints’ Chapel, Luddington; Holy Trinity, Stratford and All Saints’ Church, Billesley. Audiences will be encouraged to analyse the sources for themselves and invited to draw their own conclusions based on the evidence available.

The tour was launched at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage near Stratford in September 2011. You can read some of the press coverage of what happened during the launch here:

Coverage on ITV Central

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire radio interview (go to 1.45.58)

Coverage on BBC website

The exhibition will travel to some of the major heritage sites in the West Midlands including Worcester Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford and Coughton Court. There will be an associated programme of events and activities so keep an eye out for updates on this exciting project.

More about the project

Working with local residents, school children and amenity societies, we are also creating a heritage trail leaflet and two outdoor interpretation boards featuring All Saints'.

The trail leaflet will guide visitors on a 4-5 mile walk using local footpaths and lanes to investigate nearby landmarks, whilst the boards will focus on the church’s history, its Shakespearean associations and the nearby deserted Medieval village.

This is an exciting initiative for the Churches Conservation Trust and one that will help to promote our work to a wider audience. Together we seek to build a supporter community who care about the future of this special little church.

Read more news about the project and find out more about All Saints' Church