Old St Mary the Virgin in Clophill, Bedfordshire is a ruined hilltop church on the Greensand Ridge, dating mainly from the 14th–15th century. The building was abandoned after a new parish church was constructed in the village in 1848–50, and following the theft of its lead roof in 1956 it deteriorated into the roofless structure seen today.

The ruin is widely known for its association with occult rumours and grave robbing, particularly during the 1960s, when the site was linked in the British press to alleged black masses, vandalism and desecration of graves. Although many of these stories were exaggerated, they firmly embedded the church in British occult folklore and gave it a lasting reputation as a dark and controversial site.

The church gained particular relevance within black metal through its use as the cover image for Norwegian black metal band Ragnarok’s 1997 album “Arising Realm”. The stark silhouette of the ruined church, combined with its reputation for occult activity, aligns closely with the album’s themes and visual identity. The photo on the cover is from the 1980s, and mirrored from the original.

ADDRESS:
Old St Mary’s church, Old Church Path, Clophill, Bedford MK45 4BP, Great Britain

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