St Michael and All Angels Blewbury

One of my early was called a Village Cemetery and I showed a few teasing glance inside St Michaels Church, well I finally got round to returning and getting some updated photos of the church.

There was a church on this site in Saxon times, as mentioned in the Domesday Book.  That church was rebuilt by the Normans towards the end of the 11^th century and consisted of a Nave and Sanctuary.  The Chancel, north and south aisles, tower, Lady Chapel and porches were added gradually between the late 11^th century and 1600.

 

The earliest parts of the Church of England parish church of St Michael the Archangel are the early Norman 11th-century nave and sanctuary. At least two Norman windows survive. St Michael's was transformed in the late Norman period about 1190, when the transepts and present chancel were built to make it a cruciform church. At the crossing a central tower was built, and of this the columns and vault survive.

The south aisle was added in the 13th century, linked with the nave by a five-bay arcade in which the two western arches are taller than the other three. In the 14th century were added the north aisle with its two-bay arcade of octagonal columns, and the Lady chapel south of the chancel.

The west tower was also added in the 15th century. This may be when the central tower was dismantled, leaving only the columns and vault visible inside the church. Also 15th-century are the choir stalls, the screen between the chancel and Lady chapel, the baptismal font and a doorway to a former rood loft.

Inside St Michael's are several monumental brasses, most of which are late Medieval. One is of a priest, John Balam, who died in 1496. A triple brass from about 1500 depicts a knight and his two successive wives. Another represents Sir John Daunce, who died in 1545, with his wife who died in 1523 and their children. Another depicts John Latton, who died in 1548. Unusually there is also a 19th-century brass: an image of Faith in memory of John Macdonald, a boy who died aged 13 in 1841.

In about 1875 the north porch was rebuilt and the nave was re-roofed. The church is a Grade I listed building. (History taken from Wickipedia)

The photos were taken over a couple of different days dues to the weather being bad. The external ones the day was very overcast but at  least the rain stayed off till the end 

Best view you see of St Michael from near the Almshouse on the South side

The North side of St Michael

Another view I took on a wet day a few weeks before

 View looking up the Belltower which gives a good view over the village

Not the best stitch I have done and in hindsight I should have brought me wide angle lens

Walking round the churchyard shows few headstones and tombs 

Most older ones are on the South West side of the church

The North side is mostly grass and a few headstones

other than some alongside the path









 

 and this large cross near the North Entrance to the churchyard

Couple of the older South side Headstones

The Yew in the churchyard has a few headstones under it

a few becoming lost in Ivy

One thing I spotted on this visit was these war graves to Private C.J.Mundy Private A.W. Ebsworth  which were over to one side of the churchyard  

The path to the South side porch lined with headstones

With this very interesting Memorial to George Napp

The tomb here is covered in moss and the inscription lost under it

A couple of tombs and some of the headstones on the South of the church

This headstone in in excellent condition if it is that old

Ivy has gotten hold of one tomb and creeping up the head & foostone of the other

An unusually small obelisk near the porch

Where I think it is time to go in

Looking from the nave through the tower to the chancel

Over on the right you can see the church War Memorial

Turning round shows you this view to the back of the church

 Which looks like this from the Pulpit

Looking into the chancel with it's vaulted ceiling

View of the Altar

After I found the light switch the photo in the chancel looked like this

 and the altar along with chancel window

 Which I think shows St Michael & all Angels

The simple wooden cross with a couple of vases of Daffodils on the Altar

At one time the church had a rood loft and traces of it can be seen
with the door leading to it on the right and on the left you can see the door that lead to the loft

On one side of the chancel arch you can see a support for the loft joist.

There are a few lancet windows with stained glass in the church as well








 

 

Walking round the church you see many memorials on the walls

The brass at the top left may look old but is 19th century brass in memory of John MacDonald who was the son of the vicar remembered for many years, partly because of his sermons which were of the hellfire and brimstone variety.

I have come across this name before in Hampstead Norreys where a Lousley lived in the Manor there

The inscription on the left is the where abouts of the Lousley Family who are buried in the church. The one on the right to Sarah Wetherall who died in 1729





 

These two are in the North Aisle

I love this one to Ann daughter of John & Eleanor Goddard in the South Aisle which looks like a paper scroll

There are a few tombs in the floor where you can see inscriptions

 and the odd brass like this one which was under a carpet.

But this one beats the lot

It shows Dame Alice Daunce and here Husband Sir John, she died in 1523

At their feet are their brood of Seven Children 5 boys & two girls

The north & South Aisles

The Altar in the South Ailse

On the left is the church font and the right a larch G R coat of arms

The GR goat of Arms

I'll leave you with this photo of St Michael in the Chancel

Have a peaceful day