Thursday 23 July 2015

Corfe Churches



I visited a village called Corfe the other week which is famous for it's old ruined castle. Not far away is a church which you can see from the castle. Sorry this is not the detailed blog I normally write as I did not have the time to go round the church.



 It was named after  King Edward the Marytr who was murdered at the castle on the orders of Queen Alfthryth, his stepmother. The story goes that his body was hidden in a hovel where a blind woman discovered it. Her sight was restored when she found the body. This is where the present church stands which was built in the 12th century 





The east end of the church
 and where the chancel cross would be is a Statue of St Edward





This is the village cemetery which I would like to have gone round but though my wife would rather not be dragged round on our day out





going back to the castle I side tracked to a park passing this old Congregationalist Church 





It did have a small churchyard and from what I could see was still used






coming out of the park we soon came back to the church





which had some wonderful looking Grotesques or Gargoyles  on the corners 
 Just think of the rainwater spewing from their mouths to the poor unfortunate underneath

I'll leave you with a view of the Tower, like I mentioned I did not go in the church to get any photo's though if I go back and get the chance I will. I might add there was a flower festival on in the church  the day of the visit which we also missed. 
Have a good Weekend


Saturday 18 July 2015

St Mary Newnham Murren



St Mary isa grade II listed building and dates back to the 12th century, was restored in 1849. The church was declared redundant in 1973 and now belongs to the Church Conservation Trust   I have visited the church before but came back to get some new photos for my blog. You find the church at the end of a farm track beside the farmhouse you can also see it walking along the footpath from Mongewell.


View of St Mary as you come through the gate, I thought my photo looked out of shape but looking at another photo of the church gives the same look




Looking up the north side of the church, the worn grass marks the path to the porch




the east end of the churchyard
19th century porch






West end showing the bellcote





further along from the west end is this wonderful old Yew tree
Headstop carved in the buttress supporting the bellcote





back along to the west end of the church
 and a view of the South side 




On entering the church you are greeted by a view to the south aisle




and walking along to the chancel gives this view





The chancel looks quite devoid of memorials on the wall like other churches
Here we look to the chancel arch




which if you look up has writing on




below are a couple of tombs which still have the inscriptions on but the pulpit and pews over them make them hard to make out







The altar and stained glass chancel window





The altar is plain and unadorned and the covering hides a Jacobean altar





here we look back to the nave and looking out I think it must have been quite hard to see the service by the altar






 The final on one of the choir stalls





which are beautifully made and carved








The stained glass window really does stand out



I took photo's of each of the panels in the window and these are cropped from the photo's
The first shows the birth of Christ




Second the baptism by St John





third the last supper




and fourth the resurrection. Seems a shame very few people come here to appreciate them














there are a couple of lancet windows in the church, one on the left is in the chancel and the stained glass on by the pulpit






The pulpit is another Jacobean feature you can see

 Looking down from the pulpit will give a wonderful view of the church






Looking back to the pulpit








At the back is the font though I could not tell you the age




 The only memorial is on the south aisle wall and is in Latin




St Mary does have a small church organ
This is the view you get from the organ





The two ceilings, one on the left is the chancel and the right the nave
 One thing I noticed missing in the church the last visit was the lack of electric lights



but they still have the candle lit lamps on the walls. I noticed there was a painting missing when I came in











This one which was there the last time I came. I can only hope it's gone off for Restoration it was damaged which I last saw it










 Going back outside I'll start over on the south side of the churchyard




Which you can see has graves with fresh flowers indicating it is still in use




as you can see new graves have been added












but there are parts which are old 









and a corner of the church which is new













The churchyard looking old and becoming overgrown







You can see come across the odd grave with a foot & headstone













or the ones with some nice carvings on





though the inscriptions are lost to time














on the east end you can find a couple






one which has some nice carving on the outside and the inscription still clear



 This poor wooden cross will soon be lost and forgotten as the Ivy takes hold



Over near the fence you can see one which lays forgotten, ivy growing over and will soon cover it all














The far end of the churchyard lay these two graves, how long I wonder till they become overgrown.
If you happen to be walking along the Ridgeway and go through Mongewell the you could do worse that making a detour along the path to Crowmarsh where you will find the church.
I'll leave you with this photo of some fungi which I came across growing on the cut off section of the Yew tree. Have a wonderful Sunday.