[2] Breedon church is a nationally important building, with a Grade I listing for its exceptional architectural interest.

A minster (an Anglo-Saxon monastery) was founded in about 675 on the site of an Iron Age hill fort known as the Bulwarks.

The site of the Anglo-Saxon church, buildings and cemetery has never been fully determined but has probably now been lost to twentieth-century quarrying.

[7][8] Hædda was to become a Bishop of Lichfield and later the minster trained Tatwine, known for his rhyming riddles and for his later ascension to be Archbishop of Canterbury from 731 until his death in 734.

[5][11] By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 most of these lands were no longer held by the minster, and the manors surrounding Breedon had been given by William the Conqueror to the de Ferrers family, who later became the Earls of Derby, under the vill name of Tonge ('Tunge cum omnibus appendiciis').

[12] Breedon priory was founded as an Augustinian house in around 1120, on the site of the Iron Age hillfort, like the earlier Anglo-Saxon minster.

[13] Gervase, a prior of Breedon, attempted to gain independence for the priory from Nostell, but failed and subsequently resigned in 1244.

The carvings are dated to the 9th century and include Celtic patterns, lions, people, cocks and other birds that are pecking at vines.

The latter recorded that even after 60 years, Francis' body was well preserved, with only a black mark apparent on one of his toes but with no sign of rot.

[1] Three substantial tombs were constructed to memorialize Sir George Shirley, his father John, and his grandfather Thomas.

By far the largest monument dominating the inside of the church is that dedicated to Sir George Shirley.

The third storey, again supported by six more pillars, is a canopy made in stone and incorporating a large, central, carved coat of arms.

[18][19] Others do not make this connection with the Northumbrian king[20] but make a connection between a holy man (but not identified as a king) Hardulf, of Breedon, and St Modwenna of nearby Burton on Trent, as recorded by the early twelfth-century Abbot Geoffrey.

[21] There seem to be good reasons to doubt that a Northumbrian king would have been buried, and sanctified, in Mercia, particularly bearing in mind that Eardwulf is said to have killed St Alkmund of nearby Derby.

Breedon parish is in the Deanery of North West Leicestershire, the Diocese of Leicester and the Province of Canterbury.