Next church on my list was St May Bloxham which was a few miles away from Adderbury and after finding the road it was on found it was on the roadside.I managed to park nearby, went across the road to get a photo of the spire which is said to be the highest in Oxfordshire. I will say that I did not take that many photos of the outside so missed some interesting features, I also only took a few overall photos of the churchyard as I was more interested to see in side. I managed to revisit quickly as I was visiting a couple of churches not far away
This is another coffee and cake blog
"The Church of England parish church of St Mary's, Bloxham is one of the grandest in England. Its 14th-century tower and spire is a local landmark and said to be the highest in Oxfordshire, at 198 feet (60 m). Originally under the patronage of the Crown, its advowson was granted to Eton College in 1547 following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The earliest surviving parts of St Mary's building are 12th century, although most of the present building is from the 14th and 15th centuries. It is notable for its intricate stone carving, dating from the 14th century, and some surviving wall paintings. In the 15th century the Perpendicular Gothic Milcombe chapel was added.
The church was extensively renovated by the Gothic Revival architect G.E. Street between 1864 and 1866. St Mary's benefice is now combined with those of Milcombe and South Newington. The vicar of Bloxham was hanged from the steeple of the church in 1549"
(The vicar of Bloxham, John Wade, was not actually hanged from the church steeple in 1549, but was threatened with this punishment because he was a leader in the local rebellion against the new Protestant Book of Common Prayer introduced by Edward VI, participating in the "Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Rising" which opposed the religious reforms of the time; although sentenced to be hanged from his own church tower, he was later pardoned and did not face execution)
From the roadside opposite
You can see this face either side
Along the path towards the south aisle
Around the back of the church looking across the churchyard
The church looks huge with the large east windows
Around the north side
The carvings on the ridge are like the ones at Adderbury
Looking up the spire from the north side with the porch
The north doorway
Carvings around the door which are weathered indicating the porch was put on years later
I did not put my longer lens on so this was take with the wide angle
On my second visit I took this photo of the carving, the bottom I found interesting as it shows a hunting scene, left is the huntsman and hounds, center are the hounds and right the hare
Looking up the spire
West end of the north aisle
The north aisle and porch
Over watched by gargoyles
The churchyard as you walk around the east end
It's a long churchyard
from a little further down the path
I did not go further but it extends a long way
East end of the church looking south
The entrance is on the south side on the south aisle
The carving around the doorway is not one I have seen before least wise the differing colored stonework
Lovely floral display on the bench in the porch
First view form the doorway, it looks immense
View with my phone
The nave view is even more impressive
Closer view of the chancel are where you can see the blocked door that would have come out on a rood loft, the remains of the wall art on the right might have been the decoration behind it
The rood screen one of the attractions of the church
Closer view of the rood screen with the rood cross on top
Inside the chancel, it is quite long despite my taking the photo at a wide angle
The east end of the church with altar and east window
Closer view of the window and the reredos
The reredos which was above the altar at one time
Closer view of the figures in the east window
The top of the window
Looking back through the chancel to the arch
Rather nice organ
South window
and a smaller one fitted to the low window in the chancel
Vestry door though I dare say it was the old priest door
On to this Tympanum that looks in remarkably good condition
The screen as I said one of the highlights
With it's medieval wall painting on it
The pulpit
Looking at the whole church from it
The west arch to where the bell ropes are
Looking from the north aisle through the arches to the south aisle
The Milcombe chapel is next
This tomb and effigy dominates the west wall of the chapel
Belonging to Sir John Thornycroft
The other tow memorials higher up are other members of the Thornycroft family
On the east wall you find and alter and rerdos
The reredos statues are in not as good condition as those at Adderbury with some broken and others missing
Going over to the north aisle
I cropped this from the original photo to show I missed the capital on the north transept. it is similar to the one at Adderbury
This is north aisle which I noticed on my second visit, the glass looks medieval
On the north wall are some old brass memorials the lower right dated 1632
A wooden table altar is under the east window
The panel behind is the roll of honor for the village
There is also a simple brass on with the names of the dead from WWI
The roll on the altar looks to have the names of every one who served in WWI
There is also a hand written one from WWII
Which is over on the north wall
Over in the corner is a door which would have taken you to the rood loft, I suspect it also hides the staircase
The east window |I find quite beautiful
The figures at the bottom of the window
Above more figures
Above the entrance door are two more doors, the one on the right leading to the room over the porch, what the one on the left was for I could not tell you
There are some carved corbels with heads looking down from the roof
I will leave you with a photo of the font which is what I spotted when I walked in
Till next time have a peaceful week
