Aton Tirrold United Reformed Church

 

 I have passed this church and taken a photo of it on a few occasions so while visiting two other churches nearby I thought I should pay this one a visit and there was a carpark near by handy

 A Presbyterian congregation was established in the area shortly after the Act of Uniformity 1662, from which date two local dissenting clergymen, Thomas Cheesman, formerly vicar of East Garston, and Richard Comyns, formerly vicar of Cholsey, preached to congregations meeting in barns and in the open air. A Society of Dissenters had been founded at Aston Tirrold by 1670.  Aston Tirrold Presbyterian chapel is a Grade II listed Georgian building of 1728. It is built of blue and red brick, has two arched windows and a hipped roof. From 1841 until 1845 its minister was Thomas Keyworth, author of Principia Hebraica. It is now Aston Tirrold United Reformed Church

The church is similar to those you see in Wales with doors either side, I think one side was for the men to go in while the women went in the other.

 There are a lot of headstones in the churchyard 

You can only go down one side that takes you to small room at the back

Further on is the Center for Reflection 

Looking towards the main road, there are a few modern headstones around to see

From near the carpark over the churchyard

Older headstones

Looking back towards the carpark

Churchyard out the back of the church

I would think the tombs belonged to some of the more wealthy 

Looking back to the path

And from the path

The church was locked but I did manage to get some photos through the window

The table and lectern the only modern furniture 

The pulpit where the speaker stands

From the side window the church looks so untouched. I really would like to see inside the church, it looks very peaceful.

I will leave you with this collage of the church.

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful weekend 

Rotherfield Greys, The Knollys Chapel

 

 

 

This week the Church Explorer returns to St Nicholas Rotherfield Greys to visit the Knollys Chapel. This has been something  I have been wanting to do for a while and finally managed to arrange a visit. I was trying to uses a selfie sick in some of the photos which might look a bit odd.

Sorry the blog is late but I went to get a couple more photos today 

First view of the tomb inside the chapel

 

This is one side you see from the nave

 Carey, she was the  daughter of Mary Boleyn. The child beside her is died in infancy 

The seven daughters 

The first is Lettice she was a countess married to the Earl of Essex. Behind is Mary the Maud then Elizabeth

Anne in front then Catherine the last does not have a name listed

The infant who died is Dudley

 Best I can get of the monument on the south side

The seven sons

Henry at the front with William behind

William again, Edward, Robert on the end is Richard

Francis and Thomas

Sir Frances Knolly

Another view of Katherine and Sir Francis 

Looking down on the face if Sir Francis

And his wife Katherine

 The west end of the monument

The swan at her feet

And the elephant at the end of Sir Frances 

Coat of arms on the tomb

I was trying to get top of the top but ended with this view looking down on the couple

 East end of the monumet

I cannot read Latin but this is the inscription below their heads

Head end of the tomb

 

Plaque about Sir Francis and Lady Katherine

Some of the Stapleton memorials around the chapel 

Some more elaborate 

The words on the inscriptions are fading

Memorial to Sir George Earnest James Wright

Brass memorials

Words very faded on this one

Stapleton Memorial 

Stained glass in the window

These are on the east and west side of the chapel 

Looking up inside he canopy

On both sides

Winged cherub 

along with a winged skull

 

Lady Katherine

Sir Francis

I did think this was older but is from 1880

The floor tiles I am sure are Tudor

The swan and elephant at the feet

And coat of arms below

 Top of the tomb

 I will leave you with this view of Sir Francis and his wife Katherine

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week