Saturday, 24 October 2026

St Mary, Long Wittenham

 

I have been here before but I felt St Mary's Church, Long Wittenham was worthy of revisiting and updating being as it was back in 2016

The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary, begun around 1120, is on the site of a previous Saxon church. The chancel arch survives from the Norman building; the aisles and tower are later additions. The font is a rare Norman lead one; it was later encased in wood, and this preserved it from iconoclastic Parliamentarian soldiers in the 17th century. The church has the smallest monument in England a small stone effigy of Gilbert de Clare. The first female Scottish electrical engineer Evelyn Roxburgh is buried in the graveyard at the church.


 At least the day was brighter this time as we look at St Marys Church

South view

South chapel

From the east

Around the north side

Northwest view, the wood framed part is a new addition

West view

The churchyard extends out to the west of the church

This part being well kept

I'm sure this is a child's grave

West view from the path

Similar view to last

The church behind the trees

Cremation memorials along by the wall

In the corner between the south chapel and chancel

Around the east of the church looking north

North side looking west

Not sure what this is about, can't be to keep the weather off

Headstone with inscription worn away

North east side

Couple of cast iron headstones

 
 From across the west churchyard to the church

The porch and in we go

From the entrance 

Wide view of the church from the back

Normal view down the aisle

Chanel arch is Norman and similar to the one at Cholsey

Chancel

Altar and east window

The east window

Center section

It is in memory of 

James Henry Clutterbuck

Who died July 8th 1865

Top section

The pulpit looks older than Victorian 

View from the pulpit

 
 Looking to the back along the aisle 

The font and base

The font is lead and one of the few Norman ones left in the country, I've seen all the ones in Oxfordshire, what is different with this one is the base is original, the carving around the outside show bishops. It was later encased in wood, and this preserved it from iconoclastic Parliamentarian soldiers in the 17th century.

Large pewter just for the holy water 

The organ next to the vestry

Which is now in the south chapel

Funerary Hatchment 

Medieval stained glass in these windows

Couple of old memorials

Memorial to Mary Prowse

Clinch memorial

Banners in the vestry

I only realised what this was after I was sorting out the photos its the small effigy mentioned, I could not see it on my last visit

Stained glass window

Some nice poppyhead carvings on the choir stalls

All of them different

Choir stalls

Griffin I think

Choir stall seats

The may have been misericord seats at one time

This one looks like a boy and girl

This piece of led came of the roof naming the plumbers who laid it

 
Medieval tiles  
 

In memory of Amy Chambers


Quite hard to read but dated 1663 & 74
 

Clutterbuok memorial

May be to Johnathan Farr

Hayward memorial


Another Hayward memorial but do I believe all what is said on it, he must be a very rare man indeed


Interesting stained glass window

To sisters Susan and Jane

The faces are of Janet Blacks Children 

There is a photo beside the window with their names on.

Stained glass of Jesus walking on the red sea

 
The inscription on the bottom

Another stained glass window


In memory of these two people

Las is this one


Luisa Clutterbuck who lived to 100

North aisle east window

The window and I'm sure there was an alter here on my last visit

Stained glass window

Looking down the north aisle

The north door which is in the small extension I mentioned earlier, it takes to some toilets 

This is one beautiful had written Roll of Honor

Listing the men from the village who lost their lives in WWI

Book of remembrance of local people 

Lambert memorial

Small niche an stoup on one of the north pillars 

Brass cross

Nave roof

Chancel roof

Back of the north aisle is now a kitchen area

Looking over to the south aisle

To the north aisle

Cross on the west wall of the nave

Painting donated to the church

On the way out I noticed this prayer.

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week