DevilHidden
The Devil and Bray church
What the masons built by day, the demons took by night.
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- What's there
- Medieval parish church with a chantry chapel
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- Local legend
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Every night the Devil's demons pulled the walls down, until St Michael was called in.
Royal Berkshire History tells how Bray's first church stood at Builderswell, near the Monkey Island crossroads. A queen out hunting from Windsor thought it shabby, and it was pulled down for a new one. Each night demons sent by Satan tore down the day's work. The officials said the only cure was to move the church and pray to St Michael. The new church was built by the ford at Bray and dedicated to him. An old Saxon carving of a dog from the first church was set in the wall to remember the trouble.
One sourceOnly one written account of this legend has been found so far.