Saturday 27 September 2014

St Pauls Ystradffin


My wife & I had just spent a pleasant tour round a very scenic reservoir  and had an even more pleasant picnic over looking it and I noticed this church as we were leaving the area. I asked if she minded stopping for a few moments  so I could take some photos.
I must admit that being so remote I did not expect the church to be open but was pleased when I found the door opened for me. The church is quite  small simple one and deserving of my 100th blog.




We stopped just past the church & I could not help notice this stone step stile on the wall. I've see many of these at old churches






The main entrance to the churchyard is through this Lych gate





not easy to read the name of the are named here




St Pauls churchyard from over the wall by the Lych gate
It does have a pleasant path leading to the church





Going round to the east side of the churchyard shows this view of the south side of the church









Heading round the north shows this view. The porch is on the west end which is unusual I find, normally I find them on the south side. Above is the single bell which calls the parishioners to worship.

Nave in St Pauls very plain & simple with bench pews either side





View of the altar and rails
 The main window is just plain frosted glass, no stained glass like other churches
 As ever there are always a fresh vase of flowers on display




A very nice wooden pulpit and lectern by the altar rails 




and of course a small church organ




 one side is a very small cross on the wall
 Looking back along the nave to the entrance door. The boxed off area looks new





Not see a had carried brie before





Going back outthe porch you see a couple of plaques



telling you it was founded in 1117 and rebuilt & restored within 100 years















The churchyard is not a large one




though you can see many old headstones




and for the size of the plce it is quite full



The trees have grown shading and hiding many graves














This one was a puzzle at first as I wondered about the urn beside it, then realised it was from the top of the pillar
 Lichen covered headstones

I will leave you with this photo, the figure above was one memorial that stood out for me even though it was about 3ft tall, it belongs to the grave of a young child who died many years ago, it seems she stands there waiting for her mum and dad to come and bring her home.

Have a good weekend




Saturday 20 September 2014

St Helen's Berrick Salome


Visited a while ago after looking for some places in the area around where I live. Berrick Salome was quite a small village and was a place I had not visited. The church looked quite isolated and I felt worth a look at. Think you will find It was.
The church is quite unusual in it's looks and is steeped in History


Someone told me that there were were only two churches that had this type of tower in Oxfordshire







Looking at the porch and tower which share the same wood frame design
The entrance porch




Looking across from the south side of the churchyard
The chancel end of the church



This is round the north side of the church



North side looking east















Inside the church looks very light
The altar & altar rails





Looking back to the 17th century galley




The font which is of Romanesque design
A second set of rails which may have been part of a rood screen at one time or just separating the chancel from the nave







View up to the roof and a floral display under a crucifix












Looking down from the gallery to the nave and chancel





 View of the roof beams from the gallery









Another shot down looking towards the chancel














decoration on one of the roof truss supports and a memorial you can see in the church













George the II Hatchment which dates it between 1760 &1820






Back outside to the churchyard on the SOuth side




Quite a lot of newish & older graves here





Some of the newer headstones




and a few of the older ones in the churchyard





along with a couple of old tomb chests
This one is old & damaged with the inscription eroded away




even the tomb chest is eroded and the top breaking up
I did like the way the inscription was written on this headstone, seems so fitting to who he was.
The Weather vane on the church

Last look at St Helens.
As a footnote I'd like to say thanks to everyone for taking me over 20,000 views of this blog, it gives me the encouragement to keep it running

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