This is a revisit to a church in the next village to me Now I did visit St Michael back in 2013 but I though I really should write a new blog on the church as I had forgotten what a pretty church it was
There may have been a church on the site of the Church of England parish church of Saint Michael since the Saxon period, as the north aisle has a square-headed doorway that may date from this period. The doorway is clearly not in its original position, as it links the 19th century north aisle with the vestry. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The Norman south doorway is 11th century. The nave and chancel were also Norman, built in the 12th century, but the chancel was rebuilt in the Early English Gothic style in the first half of the 13th century. The priest's doorway and lancet windows survive from this time. The south transept is also from the first half of the 13th century but was remodeled in the first half of the 14th century. The Decorated Gothic east window of the chancel is also 14th century.
Page and Ditchfield thought that the bell tower was from the first half of the 13th century. However, it is Perpendicular Gothic which suggests it is no earlier than the middle of the 14th century. St Michael's used to have a rood loft. It was removed, presumably during the English Reformation, and the stairs are now blocked. The upper and lower doorways to the stairs are late Perpendicular Gothic. In 1863 the church was restored and the Gothic Revival north aisle was added. The aisle has three bays designed in a 14th-century style. The organ loft was added in 1910 but includes a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic window that may have come from the north wall of the nave when the north aisle was built.
The tower has a ring of six bells. The third bell was cast in about 1599, probably at Salisbury in Wiltshire. Joseph Carter of Reading, Berkshire cast the second bell in 1603. Henry I Knight of Reading cast the fourth bell in 1617 and Ellis I Knight cast the fifth bell in 1639. Lester and Pack of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the tenor bell in about 1769. Mears and Stainbank, also of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, cast the treble bell in 1937. There is also a Sanctus bell, cast by an unidentified foundry in about 1499. St Michael's is now part of the Benefice of the Churn
Chancel end with priest door
South west view
From the west entrance to the churchyard
The churchyard is not large
Containing older burials
and a couple of other tombs
A lot of the older headstones are used to like the bank holding it back
In the shade of the yew tree
The path going to the church
Before I go inside the church I thought I should show where the cemetery is now, further along the road you will see this Lychgate
This is the cemetery used by both Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorp the adjoining village
I thought this was the war memorial but I think it is some ones monument
The cemetery is well kept
It also contains a fair number of grave
The churchyard again with obelisk
On the porch is this memorial
The church is kept lock due to boneheads vandalizing
But today it was opened for me
Porch wall
Echo awards
Inside is bright and cheerful
Looking into the chancel
The chancel and choir stalls
Altar with really nice cloth
East window showing the crucifixion
The pulpit with a reminder of Easter
View from the pulpit
The church did have a rood loft, the door in front the entrance above where you came out
The corbels on the chancel arch are painted
The green man
Collage of the Choir
The organ
Close up of the pipes
Lancet windows
The stained glass on I thought wonderful
Candelabra
The west window
Some of the memorials
Harriss memorial
This one is more modern than it looks it's just not easy to read
Langmore memorial
WWI Roll of Honour
Collage of memorials
Gillespie memorial
South Transept window in the chapel
Mothers Union banner and Roll of Honour
The south Transept chapel
The altar
Closer view of the altar
Prayer desk
Box pew where the creche is
At the back of the north aisle
Organ by the vestry door
Cross family memorials
The door going from the chancel to the north aisle
Looking across the church from the lectern
The chancel
From the back of the north aisle
To the chancel and south transept
At one time there was a window over the entrance door
View of the church from the entrance
Church chest
Bequests
The tower recess
Could not say how old the font was, could be Norman
The church from the font
With that I will leave you
Till next time
Have a peaceful week
