Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
15 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
16 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
16 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
18 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Shere Cell of the Anchoress of Shere

Cell of the Anchoress of Shere

In 1329, Christine Carpenter entered this small stone cell in the hopes of becoming a living saint.

Shere, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Cell of the Anchoress of Shere   BabelStone / CC BY-SA 4.0
Cell of the Anchoress of Shere   BabelStone / CC BY-SA 4.0
  SuzanneKn
  Colin Smith
  Colin Smith
  Michael Garlick
St James Church   Hassocks5489 / Public Domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Outside St. James Church in Shere, you will find a metal plaque marking the site of the cell of Christine Carpenter, Anchoress of Shere 1329. Inside the church, close to the altar, you will find further evidence of the anchoress.

An anchoress was a person who would withdraw from common life to dedicate themselves to God and bind themselves to the church by living the rest of their earthly life within a small cell. Much like many anchorite abodes, or anchorages, Christine’s small cell was attached to the church and installed with a quatrefoil opening through which she would receive food, and a squint window into the church that allowed her to participate in services.

Christine’s life as an anchoress began, as detailed on the plaque, in 1329. She explained to the Bishop of Winchester that she wished to be removed from the world's distractions so as to lead a more pious life. This request was granted following enquires into Christine's moral qualities and chastity, and she was sealed into the cell in July of the same year. As she began her lifelong vow of seclusion, a burial service was read for she was considered dead to the sinful world, the cell being her symbolic tomb.

Despite her oaths and stone, Christine broke out of the anchorage after almost three years and attempted to rejoin society. Having broken her holy vow, Christine was threatened with ex-communication. It is perhaps this threat that led Christine to return to seclusion and isolation. By October of 1332, she had called on the Pope to pardon her sin on the condition she return to her anchorage. This she did, and there she remained for the rest of her mortal life.

Related Tags

Religion Medieval Churches

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

September 30, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Cell of the Anchoress of Shere
The Square
Shere, England, GU5 9HQ
United Kingdom
51.219145, -0.462962
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Silent Pool

Albury, England

miles away

Guildford Spike

Guildford, England

miles away

The Chestnuts

Guildford, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

Nearby Places

Silent Pool

Albury, England

miles away

Guildford Spike

Guildford, England

miles away

The Chestnuts

Guildford, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

Related Places

  • Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France

    Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer

    A coastal French town said to have been visited by Jesus' disciples is a major pilgrimage center for Catholic Romanis.

  • Murals inside the Church of St. Stephen in Nessebar

    Nessebar, Bulgaria

    Church of St. Stephen

    Step inside this medieval Orthodox gem and travel back to the 16th century.

  • St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Dunsfold

    Dunsfold, England

    St Mary's and All Saints Church & Holy Well

    An ancient yew tree and holy well nestle beside a remarkable 13th-century church.

  • A church altar of sculpted amber saints that seems to float at the front of the church

    Gdańsk, Poland

    St. Bridget's Church

    One of the world's largest amber altarpieces is housed within this reconstructed medieval church.

  • Rampant demons

    Gloucestershire, England

    Stained Glass Demons of Fairford

    A rampant horde of demons smirk and snarl at visitors to this church, home to a rare complete set of medieval-era stained glass windows.

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

    Trinity Apse

    This 15th-century structure had a long, tortuous journey to its current location.

  • Gornji Matejevac, Serbia

    Latin Church

    An 11th-century Byzantine church with medieval Serbian history and spectacular views.

  • The apocalypse scene in the central apse

    Anagni, Italy

    Cripta di San Magno

    The “Sistine Chapel” of the Middle Ages merges 11th-century science and religion in wondrous hues.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.