St Swithun Martyr Worthy

The next church along my walks was St Swithun in Martyr Worthy. The village sounds like one you would read about in an Agatha Christie book and I might add looks a bit like you would imagine it be as well. St Swithun dates back to the 12th century when the nave was built and the north & south doors are Norman. The church also belongs to  the Ichen Valley Churches 

 The first view you get of St Swithun as you come to it along the Ichen Way

Turning up along Church lane to the entrance

you might also notice this on the wall as you walk up the lane

  The church from the footpath leading to it

and looking along the North side from the lane

The church is another with a bellcote and no porch on but does have a nice Norman entrance doorway

 Another view of the East end showing the Apse Chancel

Inside we see a wonderful light and airy nave looking towards the chancel

And on the wall around the chancel arch you could see written the Ten Commandments 

a closer view of the writing on the wall. This is something I have never come across before like this

Here we look to the apse chancel

with the altar in the apse

 Round which are three windows

 The central window behind the altar depicting the Lamb of God

either side are ones showing saints Peter with the key to Heaven and St John with the chalice







 

turn round near the altar and you see a wonderful view along the nave, it's also worth a look at the differing ceilings on the roof.

looking at the back here you can see the wooden bellcote support and off to the right is the organ which you can see in the chancel

The pulpit is carved wood one on top a stone & marble pillared base







which if you look still has candles on. The font is stone but has to be one of the smallest I have seen yet

This is the view of the nave you get from the pulpit

In the nave you can see windows of a similar stile

But you have to go to the back of the church under the bellcote to see any reference to St Swithun the saint the church is named after.
There are quite a few memorials worth looking at around the church like these below

This coat of arms may be to do with the bishop of winchester

family memorials and ones to past rectors can also be seen

Interesting one this on AdmiralSir Thomas Pasley

A small roll of honour is to be seen also listing where they fell

William Collis Memorial

Looking down on the aisle you can see some old tombs and memorials

They are well worn but you can still read the inscription on them

Last view of the church ceiling

The church yard is not huge

but does have some tombs

and decorated crosses though this is the first head & foot stone I have seen like this

Very nice memorial to Commander Sir Miles James Rivett Carnac

This one is hard to read but tells you the ashes of Agnes Freshfield & her four sisters are scattered nearby

I like this fenced off family grave

The angle is the grave of a child but I wonder who lies under number 79












  More family graves in the corner

and a couple of local war heros

Couple of family tombs

one which is becoming lost

The churchyard

Have a great weekend