St Mary-Le-More

St Mary-Le-More dominates the Market Place in Wallingford, it sits just behind the Town Hall between two roads. I Have passed it many times over the years and it is only of recent years that I have ventured in. The Church is not the oldest one in the town but is probably the best known and one has stood on the site since Norman times. It was rebuilt at the end of the 13th Century and what you see now rebuilt in 1854.Today I will share with you some views I took of the church.

St Mary-Le-More seen from the Market Place, I've used the wide angle to get in the hole church, the road on the right is St Martins Street

Viewing the chancel end of the church from St Marys Street.

The bell tower  that dominates the town, the tower was rebuilt in 1653 after a thunderstorm caused serious damage, the flint came from the old castle

The churchyard is quite small compared to some I have visited

Most headstones being very old

with the words on them worn or eroded away

The odd one stands out though

Now the churchyard is unused but kept looking neat. The front churchyard has been partly paved over incorporating two of the slabs as part of the area, the other part on St Martins Street is still grassed.

The paved area has a seat and an information board on the church there now.

The entrance is a welcoming one with glass doors leading into the church.

Inside the church has been changed from the Victorian pews to having chairs like have seen in other churches. The rood screen you can see was made in 1925 in memory of the two Miss Hedges a family who are remembered well in the church.

The rood screen in one of the best examples I have seen todate though it it is relatively young

The rood screen was based on the medieval screens.

Through the rood screen we come to the chancel which I found difficult to ge a good shot of.

 Taken just before Christmas 2013

The altar and marble work behind.

The superb chancel window

Some of the detail on the chancel window.

The memorial to John Kirby Hedges in the chancel

Along with another which is on the wall

There are other memorials in the chancel which are well worth looking at

coming out  of the chancel you can see this Italian marble Pulpit, unfortunately I could not move the puzzle board out of the way to get a better photo

 I took this one while visiting at Christmas time so gives you a better idea as to how it looks
 

To the right you can see a carved stone font which dates to the 15th century

Walk round the church you can see some beautiful stained glass windows

The south aisle and the nave roof

Have a peaceful Sunday

St Mary Streatley

For me this is a return to this old church. It's situated just along the Thames path and in fact you walk past it at Streatley.

You go through the Lychgate you see on the left and over to the right you will see the village War Memorial

On going through the door your first sight is the arches dividing the South aisle & Nave

 The view down the nave

As I was at the back I took this photo of the area under the belfry. where you can see a statue on the wall I think is Michael the Archangel

 Over in the corner is this beautiful carving of a mother & child, it's in memory of Annabel Harriet Ella Byrte 1981-1986 The sculpture is called Motherhood.

There is also a Poem with it

"In death we find Life

In Sorrow joy

The ending of a song the beginning of another

New life arising from the ashes of life 

A cold dark winter means fresh green spring

Sadness brings new hope

Thus sorrow and joy meet and become one"

Arwen Clayton (age11)

Over near the door as you come in you will find the font which is covered and has a star shaped weight to allow you to easily lift the cover

The chancel arch from the Nave

 In the chancel and a couple of views showing the altar and chancel window

The Altars till had it's nativity scene carve out of wood

Th Back panell of the altar was one beautiful carving

Above you see the chancel window, the photo does it no justice

One side showing the choir stalls

On the other side behind the stall is the church organ, last time I visited was just after a service and the oganist was playing

Looking out of the chancel down the nave

The nave again only from the Pulpit

There are quite few Stained glass Lance windows in the Church

This one is near the altar in the South aisle

They all are in memory of some one who has passed

This one is in the North Aisle

 

The North & South Aisles

There are a few interesitin memorials in the church. The John Wetherall memorial is in the chancel

These two memorials can be found in the South Aisle

Along with this one  George & Emily Morrell

The next two are from the Stone Family who are connected with the Morrell Family through Marrage

This memorial is older than all the others and dated 1603 and is to Thomas Buriton and I think his wife

I'm sure this is the tomb of Thomas Buriton

Nearby you can see this altar which I think is St Georges Chapel

View along the nave to the back of the church

Looking back up the South aisle to the font and the eagle lecturn beside the chapel

Nice touch in the Porch

The churchyard beside the porch

With some impressive looking meorials

Round the back you can see the main church yard

Which has quite few old memorials in uit

Some of the memorilas more impressive that others

The one which stands out the most is this angel holding a wreath

Some of the crosses in the churchyard

the churchyard extends back some way with the mor recent burials at the end

One war commonwealth war grave beloning to Sapper A.E.Goodenough Royal Enineers 5th August 1944 age 33

First of the snowdrops I have come across 

I'll leave you with a photo of this memorial which is my favorite inthe churchtyard

Have a peacefull weekend