Saturday 30 November 2013

All Saints Aston Upthorpe


Last Saturday I popped over to a neighboring village to take some photos of a church but on getting there I found the door locked so I drove round to the next village and a church I knew was open. All Saints in Aston Upthorpe


I had been to this church before and found it one of the nicest ones in the area as it dates back to the 11th century though little remains to show this apart from the small window you see which is to the left of the porch and dates back to Norman times.







The churchyard is small being mostly at the front but you can see a few interesting headstones in it.





These graves are under the canopy of the large Yew in the churchyard





The graves here are at the other end of the churchyard
By the footpath leading to Blewburton Hill




Going round the south side of the church there is little to see apart from the blocked up Norman Doorway















Walking through the door from the porch the first thing you see is the old Norman Doorway now an alcove with a carving stood on a plinth.













 You need to walk to the back of the nave for tis view down the church



Just past the Norman doorway on the right you can see this old wall painting which was uncovered while decorating the Church




A little further along the nave brings you to the Chancel

 The altar decorated from Remembrance Sunday
We will Remember Them






One of the stained glass windows in the church and a floral display







 This windowsill was decorated also for Remembrance Sunday



Embroidered kneelers at the Altar rails




One of the family memorials to the Slade family


 




I like the simplicity of the memorials in the church.
Robert Slade is buried in the churchyard





 A sad memorial to Robert Thorpe Slade who died aged 11








A view along the nave from the chancel











The font and carved wood font cover at  the back of the nave, the bell ropes can be seen hanging either side
























 The wooden spire on the church which contains the church bells






Have a peaceful Sunday
Taking part in Taphophile tragics & Cemetery Sunday


Saturday 23 November 2013

St Augustine East Hendred


St Augustine is a parish church in a small village called East Hendred just below what used to be the Berkshire downs.






This looks like a preaching cross at first but looking at the base there is a faded inscription to a William Harris who dies in 1885







A quick look round the churchyard shows quite a few old headstones







Looking round the east end of the churchyard show a few more including a fenced off tomb









Here on the left you can see the chancel window and on the right the bell tower of the church





On the belltnright is a doorway at the base of the bell tower. The mane entrance can be seen on the left.















After walking through the South Aisle you come to the nave  here we look down to the rood screen























to one side you can see a carved and canopied pulpit




























Looking past the pulpit you can see the altar in the North Aisle














Here we look in the chancel towards the altar and chancel window










It's worth standing a moment to take in the beautiful chancel window





















From the altar you can look towards the rood screen and the nave





Over to one side is the church organ

 The altar in the South Aisle where you can see these two tombs





Nearby are two more memorials








You can also see a rare church brass from and old tomb

This stained glass window is in the North Aisle 





Looking from the South Aisle towards the chancel showing the roodscreens 
Have a peaceful Sunday
Taking part in Cemetery Sunday & Taphophile Tragics