Visited a few years ago while on my way back from Henley Road Cemetery. It's a church I had passed may times and have always wanted to visit, finally made it on this occasion, Unfortunately the church was not open so I could get no internals views. The Church dates from 1162 Walter Gifford, Earl of Buckingham gave the church to Notley Abbey, Buckinghamshire. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, Christ Church, Oxford became the patron. During the civil war in 1643 the tower was partly destroyed. It has a ring of 8 bells the oldest bears the inscription ‘Prayes God 1637. The 1663 weather vane now resides by the Altar.
The church path is now a footpath running past the church and looking at this area makes me think it's missing a lych gate
Once on the path you get a good view of the church and churchyard
Heading to the West end and the other entrance by The Warren to look at the belltower
Back at the East end you can see the church has a North & South Aisle
The church porch beside the South Aisle
Walking round to the North Aisle you can see a smaller extension which is most likely the vestry
Heading along the North side aisle
North side view of the church from over in the churchyard
Which heads back quite away
Going over to the roadside
Some of it is hidden over in a corner
This wonderful old tomb is near the church on the North side and is that of a Reading councillor from the 1800's
The steps leading to the north side of the church anc churchyard. On the left is a headstone lent against another headstone and dated 1766
This was one of the first headstones I ever saw with an anchor on it, made me think it was to do with some one who had nautical connections, I found out it meant something else
This is the churchyard on the Western end of the church
Not quit sure the relevance of this stone in the church wall
Over to the South of the church hidden under the yew is this Obelisk. The tomb on the right caught my eye
The inscription on the base of the obelisk
I spotted this cast iron grave marker amongst the ivy in the churchyard
It is my intension to return for some internal views of the church but for now
I hope you enjoyed my little tour round the churchyard.
I hope you enjoyed my little tour round the churchyard.
Have a peaceful Sunday
Please remember the people who were killed in Nice on Thursday Night
RIP
Please remember the people who were killed in Nice on Thursday Night
RIP
9 comments:
My favourite kind of churchyard so thank you for a truly enjoyable tour. I am heading off now to read up on the symbolism used on gravestones.
Hi Bill, Graveyards are interesting places. Is it common to find a Church with a graveyard in the UK? It seems like, over here, they are usually separate. I like you pictures!
It's great
Gorgeous one of the anchor :)
Very common, the majority of churches have a churchyard attached (God's Acre) and they have been used for years, problem is many are getting full and villages look to either extend them or find ground for a cememtery outside the village.
Bill, by far my favorite is the stone with the anchor. I've never seen one like this before.
Thank you for the tour of the churchyard, Bill. My cousin was married in the church and Caversham has a lot of good memories for me. The Christian symbol of the sculpted anchor winding around the cross on that headstone is very impressive. I hope you can get to see inside the church some day.
Unbelievable! I find it hard to get my head around the age of some these headstones Bill, incredible! St. Peter's is a solid little church and has weathered the years well, will be so interesting to see inside. I'm a bit curious, you mentioned that the anchor on the grave means something different but didn't say what?
In this case it may be a mason's grave meaning well found hope
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