Saturday 17 October 2015

St Bartholmews Lower Basildon



One of the first posts I did in this blog was called the Lost Boys who are buried at a church called St Bartholomew Lower Basildon. The church was built in the 13th century with the tower added in 1734, it also has a 15th century font. The church became redundant and is now owned by the Church Conservation Trust. 


 View of St Bartholomew from near the entrance





Here we look over to the East end









The porch and bell tower












 The belltower was built in 1734 and is one of the prominent features of the church





Looking along the church to the tower on the west end 













As you may have guessed I have been to the church before a couple of times but this occasion I brought my tripod with me. The interior is unchanged and as peaceful as ever to visit





 The chancel is very light inside and lined with choir stalls

The altar dressed in simple wooden cross and candle holders, the back wall is tiled






Look back through the chancel arch and you can see how long the nave is with glass partition to the bell loft
The nave with it's candle holders



The pulpit has some nice carvings on it 














With a particularity nice on on the door to the pulpit

  If you go into the pulpit you will get this fine view of the nave



As you walk through the church you can see some fine old memorials, like this one to Revd Robert Baily Fisher who was 46 years vicar of the parish



or this one to Henry Harvey Hopkins who came from Cholsey




This one is to Martha  Harvey Fisher wife of the Revd in the first meorial I showed



 The memorial on the right is to the Sykes family from Basildon Park nearby
On the left the framed pring by the memorial is a will leaving money





A memorial to George Ogle 






There are some impressive memorials to the Sykes family in paticular Sir Francis Sykes who lived nearby at Basildon Park 





The weeping woman on the pillar was one that stood out as it had a cameo of the man himself

 
Two more memorials of note, one to Eliza who was the wife of  Richard Kenyon De Beauvoid and only daughter of Sir Francis Sykes. and The Hon Elizabeth Lady Smith who owas first married to Sir Frances Sykes


The 15th century font






There is are very nice stained glass windows in the church that show the light nicely if I get it right


The chancel window though is quite plain








But the other windows in the church make up for this











Walking along the nave you can see this tomb in great condition considering it's age







A small memorial can be seen by the choir stalls and along the nave two more tombs can be seen though these are well worn











One has a very nice brass inlaid which is John Clerk and his wife Lucie, both in Medieval costume and quite hard to read the way it is engraved








View towards the small North aisle







The carved choir stalls


Time to go round the churchyard and one of the first things I noticed was a tree had been cut down




and from the look of things not long ago



One of the more famous people buried in the Churchyard is Jethro Tull and his headstone can be seen on the left here and leans against the church. It's a modern one as the original is lost to time in the churchyard. The memorial on the right is a14th-century chest tomb, reused as a monument to Sir Francis Sykes who died in 1804
 
The wording on it is becoming faded now




Nearby is a very impressive fenced off tomb






The inscription on one end is to James Morrison of Basildon Park who dies in 1857









You need to go round the back to see the grave of Sir Francis Sykes which was not as  overgrown last time I visited











Wandering round the churchyard there are many old graves to see









and the odd new one like this one of the Olive Family I loved the carving of T rex on this headstone






Most are among the long grass




Others under trees and shrubbery













Many forgotten about







as you can see when you look in the shrubbery


There were seven
 war graves round the churchyard which I find sad because they are becoming forgotten
 
They should never be forgotten





Some work is being done clearing the churchyard



Hopefully before the headstones become lost









And forgotten about

 St Bartholmews Churchyard

The Lost Boys

St Bartholmews
Have a wonderful weekend

7 comments:

  1. Hy Bill !
    This church is very simply furnished, they are very beautiful. I love these modest temples. I wish you a successful Sunday. Regards:)*

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a delight Bill. The statue of the Lost Boys is wonderful and the T Rex stone is a first.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful post. I especially appreciated all those nice interior shots, and of course that great bell tower.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I appreciate your research into the history of the beautiful churches you share.
    ellen b. http://happywonderer.com/2015/10/17/inspired-sunday-7/

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful building inside and out!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fantastic post Bill so enjoyed your words and images. I seem to remember you saying you would go back with your tripod. As much as I enjoyed seeing the inside it was the gravestones that tugged my heart, especially the Olive family, John there with his grandfather passed away far too young, and all the neglected graves, very sad. Thanks so much for taking us along with you.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting, I welcome comments but not spam which will not be published. I will try to return the visit to you. If you enjoy my work and would like to follow by email you can subscribe at the top of the right had column
PLEASE MAKE YOUR BLOG WORD VERIFICATION FREE