Saturday 10 September 2016

St Clements Oxford



There is not a great deal of history to be found on St Clements  which was originally  on the the Plain till it was demolished in 1829. The present one is on a new site and built in 1827-28


First view I got when walking in the churchyard





Over to my right you could see some older graves












These headstones face a different direction to the others in the churchyard




and I wonder if theywere from the original church on the Plain





View of the south side

Better view showing the bell tower




The tower and main entrance to the church which was locked but then it was 8:45 in the morning














Going round the North side the view is more due to all the shrubbery which has grown up






The east end of the church which I has to used a wide angle lens to take
The South side in the Morning Sun





Some of the headstones you can see on the West end of the church







Another wide angle view of the church showing the West end

I spotted this headstone when I started looking round the headstone near the road and wondered what had happens to the remains since the old church was demolished in 1829. If you look at the wikipedia link it shows the Plain which has looked like that as long as I can remember






Along one side of the churchyard are a row of small Celtic crosses




from there you get a view across the churchyard to the memorial





The headstones here look reitivley new





The large cross in the centre is the war memorial for the church





Over by the West side of the church you see older headstone





Then going round towards the north you find the churchyard getting more over grown





most of the graves in this area are lost from view














Though some still poke through the grass & ivy

















I wonder how much wildlife lives in here














One head & foot stone uncovered





Back round the South side of the church














where the churchyard is looked after




I wondered back to the north side














Past and old tomb
















under the trees which cast a green light over the graves











If you wondered why the church was shut, reading this made me realise why

















The overgrown grass & shrubs looked to be trying to claim the ground back









A leaning cross amongst  the overgrown grass



Looking along the south side headstones


An angle watches over the grave of a child who died too young








The verse on the back of a headstone and a simple wood cross marks another











William Girle who dies in 1822. I presume he was moved from the old churchyard


The serpent on William Girle's headstone, something I had not seen on another






Peter Grey's headstone stood out
along with the
Wooden cross amongst the stone ones







 


Last look at St Clements
Have a wonderful weekend


8 comments:

  1. Good morning Bill !
    Of special note watch each picture.
    They are very beautiful and unusual place again.
    I wish you a happy and blessed Sunday days.
    Hugs:)
    Lucja

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  2. Bill, even the overgrown grave have a certain beauty to them. Some lovely sights here...thanks.

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  3. This church looks solidly built. The entrance gate to the porch is rather unusual with intricate ironwork. The graveyard has a certain peaceful atmosphere taken in sunshine early in a morning. Thank you for sharing, Bill. Have a good week.

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  4. Yet another churchyard I would like to explore. An interesting mix of gravestones with symbolism which I really must swat up on. Then simple wooden crosses, which always touch me. (Was the Nicholls one of your ancestors?)

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  5. Wow, another incredibly detailed post! I love that main entrance and the little angel girl is sweet.

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  6. always a fan of the fancy graveyard & stones. ( :

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  7. I really like this church, its a very attractive building and so different to most of the others you show us

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  8. The wild parts look fascinating.....interesting building!

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