Saturday 12 April 2014

St Mary's Cholsey



I know there are many churches with that name around the country but this one is in the Village of Cholsey and local to me. The church is like many others you see and dates back to Saxon times being founded in 986. It's also the churchyard where Agatha Christie is buried. There used to be a fine Yew tree in the churchyard at one time but it was blown down. It used to be near the South Trancept you can see what it looked like Here

 It was only of late that I managed to look round the church and that was only by chance while up the churchyard I was chatting with a lady who was doing the Easter flower arrangement. I happened to have my camera in my pocket and took the time to get a few photos inside.
 This is the oldest part of the church which dates to Saxon times




















These two photo's are looking up and down the Nave. The church was reordered so the pews which I remember have now gone though unlike other churches I've seen St Mary's the church has been done more sympathetic to it's heratige.



 The old alter is still in the Chancel with some beautiful tiles on the floor. I failed to get a photo  of the chancel due to the light. Surprising the chancel window is not in stained glass. though there are other memorial stained glass window in the side.

 The window sill decorated for harvest festival






This is the dedication on the base of one window in the chancel



On the opposite side is another. There are six stained glass windows in the chancel.








Which are a similar stile to this one.






















These impressive windows are in the nave of the church with the one on the right being at the end.

 The reflections off the window when the sun shines

The church has few memorials on the walls  though the war memorial takes pride of place in the nave. The one above is another though I must find out what happened to the Childrens library.
This wonderful memorial in in the chancel.


 


















You can find these two carvings on the chancel windowsill




On another windowsill you can find this lead work which was saved off the roof when it was re done




Edward Giles was a bit of a graffiti artist.







 
But this one is the best showing a train going along The GWR. note the name what you see is an original broad gauge train which first ran on the railway built by Stevenson.

























The old Church chest which I could not tell you the age of and a fretwork of the lords prayer

 The south Transept was a little messy lasttime I was in it but is used for a creche, the screen you seeSbehind was in the process of being made then but looks very nice now it is finished 

 This was also in bits and I am glad to see it restored also




If you are here to visit Agatha Christie then take some time to look at the other headstones and memorials



Which you can find in he churchyard .








But if you are there to see Agatha Christie she is over in the far right hand corner of the churchyard behind the church.


14 comments:

  1. Wonderful post.

    Thank you for linking up with Cemetery Sunday!

    Beneath Thy Feet

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  2. I enjoyed seeing this old church and cemetery. Vicarious travelling!

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  3. Thanks for linking up on Taphophile Tragics. :) It's always nice to see your photos and learn about these places.

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    Replies
    1. Best of all with this one I have lived near it all my life and have only just photographed it.

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  4. I especially like the stained glass

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  5. What a fine post, Bill. It amazes «Louis» that parts of this church are more than 1,000 years old.

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  6. i love the black supports in the church ceiling ... neat design. & what a great way to have (& share) a war memorial ... very neat!! you have the greatest ones to share. thanks a whole bunch. ( :

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  7. Wonderful post! I love this historic church, and really enjoyed seeing so much of it, and learning its history. Beautiful! And Agatha Christie's grave was such a nice added touch!

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  8. Due to a lot of 'hustle and bustle' I haven't been on your blog for a long time. Sorry for that Bill! Finally I found some time now and I've watched your posts and I read it with a lot of pleasure. :-)

    Hope you'll have a great week
    http://dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com

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  9. «Louis» thanks you for your visit and your kind comment. He looks forward to your next inSPIREd Sunday post. By the way, «Louis» is going to take a break from blogging, but he plans to visit, particularly your isSPIREd Sunday posts.

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  10. I've lived in Inverness and Durham County, and must admit that the churches and churchyards (and also the stand-alone cemeteries) of the UK are endlessly fascinating. First off, coming from the North Pacific Coast of North America, where civic culture is about 200 years old, it's truly moving to stand in the Venerable Bede's own nave, to name one. And as a naturalist, the flora and fauna of these relatively untouched places is equally interesting.

    I spent many pleasant moments there for both reasons; your blog takes me back to that time. By the way, if you haven't already seen Tomnahurich, I heartily recommend it. One of the most incredible cemeteries I've seen anywhere.

    Thanks for the blog!

    Robin
    Rusty Ring: Reflections of an Old-Timey Hermit

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  11. Bother. I've written "Durham County". Forgive me, Easington Colliery.

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  12. What an interesting graveyard

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  13. Since this church dates back to the Normans, I wonder what it looked like prior to the Reformation.

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