St James Kinnersley was the next church on my visit though I admit I did think about visiting on my last tour of the area. This time I was combining it with a quick visit to Bredwardine
This is what is said about the church in Wikipedia
The Grade I parish church of Church of St James was restored and improved over many years by George Frederick Bodley, winner of the Royal Gold Medal for architecture in 1899, who had married Minna Reaveley in 1872. Minna was a daughter of the family who at that time owned Kinnersley Castle. Bodley is buried in a Grade II monument in the churchyard. Adjacent to the east from the church is the Grade II* Kinnersley Castle
After talking to the churchwarden who I met going in the churchyard I wandered around the churchyard and came across this picnic area opposite the church
Similar view to the first showing the south west but I clipped the top of the roof
Wide view to show the tower and south side
South across the picnic tables
North side is just storage
Behind is Kinnersley Castle which looks like a post hose to me and in need of some TLC
The churchyard, I did have a quick wander looking for George Frederick Bodley I gave up as the grass was wet
After poking around on the net and looking on Britain Express from what I can make out Bodleys tomb is the one you see between the two headstones
The obelisk is Kinnersly War Memorial
Picnic area with a tomb chest
Near the castle or house there are more tombs, some in a fenced off plot, they all look like they have been forgotten about
You can read the inscription on this one
No chance on these ones, behind you cans see a bulge with window, this was a rood staircase
Inside the porch
Inside the church
Chancel arch and chancel
Cropped as I wanted to try top show the east window. I wondered why I did not take a photo, I remembered because there was so much light coming through it just turned into glare
The altar and reredos screen
Closer view of the Jacobean altar table and screen
The reredos
Collage of the wood paneling around the reredos
The pulpit, I did like this especially the carvings. The base is Jacobean
Wide view from the pulpit
Normal view
The rood screen was interesting or what was left of it, obviously been cut down and the posts had roof bosses put on them. IMO Thomas Nicolson bodged all by removing the upper part of the screen which I think might be the paneling round the altar. It would have had a rood loft, the blocked access is in the south aisle and out side you can see the bulge from it.
The back of the church dominated by this memorial to Dame Anne Morgan the wife of Sir John Morgan
It was cordoned off due to some masonry falling from above
The inscription on the monument
And the sculpture
The painting on the walls of the church is by Bodley
I think you can see he worked with William Morris
Quite a few memorials to see
Some easy to read others not
Sorry I can't make out what it says
Ceiling of the chancel
This is the organ you see the top of
No doubt this fellows tomb slab is under all the Victorian tiles on the floor, the plate belongs to William Leviot a former priest who dies in 1421
This is the west window
Some of the other stained glass to see
Couple of leper windows with doors
This monument is worth a look at
The Smalman monument dated 1635
I like all the weepers around the base
Victorian painted arch
Altar in the south aisle
Window with stained glass inset
The inset glass, I did like this
North aisle east window with the chancel cross from the roof
Closer view of the cross, it's well weathered
Chandeliers with candles
Pilgrimage shell
Close up of the shell
Looking back up the north aisle
View of the church from the rear arch of the north aisle
The font which looks like it is Victorian
From the south aisle to the chancel arch
Wider view of the chancel arch
One from the other side, you can see the bulge from the rood loft stair case in line with the Chandelier
Last look at the church. That concludes my tour of churches around Hertfordshire and Wales, I missed one but I can tell you I did visit Garway in the end.
Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week
