Speen Church and its Connection with Elizabeth Craven
The little parish church of St Mary the Virgin at Speen, Berkshire is the closest church to Benham Place, and it was at this tiny ancient Norman church that the Craven family used to attend services when they were in residence on the estate. When Elizabeth Craven returned to Benham with her second husband, the Margrave of Ansbach, they would also attend church, in the correct expected manner. The Margrave was a good Protestant and there was no problem with him fitting in. The church has many fine memorials that testify to the history of the parish. This wonderful Tudor monument is the tomb of Sir John Castillion, the lord of the manor in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He lies on it in full armour, indicating his rank as knight, though his services to the crown lay more in the direction of teaching Italian and later acting as an ambassador. Elizabeth Craven studied Italian herself, like the Tudor Princess, and even translated Italian poetry into English. This ...