Fleur-de-lis... Was wondering why I was seeing the Fleur-de-lis marked in to the fonts and headstones in these Churches in rural England.  Apparently started in France came to England with the Norman conquest of England which began on 28 September 1066.

The king of France adopted the fleur-de-lys as an emblem when all other sovereigns of Europe chose animals. The reason seems twofold: on the one hand this flower had always retained its role as attribute of sovereignty: it is in this capacity that it appears on several royal Carolingian and Ottonian attributes, on the scepter of Capetian kings since Robert (996-1031), on the reverse of Louis VI coins (early 12th c) and even on coins of Lothaire (954-986). On the other hand, the flower acquired a strong religious meaning, either Christic or Marial; it is probably under the influence of saint Bernard and Suger that Louis VII (who was with Saint Louis the most pious king of France) adopted this emblem which symbolized both the royal dignity and Christian piety of his person and his lineage.