St Lawrence is a church I have had my eye on visiting for a while (the reason you will read about in the blog) and the opportunity arose one Saturday when I went to a seminar with my Son and decided it was not for me so as the church was in the vicinity I was off.
The church has been here since the 13th century was restored to designs by the Gothic Revival architect Henry Woodyer in 1865.
After arriving at the church along the long drive to the manor house you are greeted with this fine looking Lych Gate, the path leading to the porch
Walking along through the churchyard on the south side
affords you some nice view of the churchyard and church
while you walk around to the East end of the church
The North side churchyard is more sparse of graves and memorials
While looking at the west end you can see the two bells in the cote
back to the start of my walk round
The first headstones you see when arriving at the church are quite old like this one of Sophia who died in 1834
Wandering round the churchyard you can see quite a verity of differing headstones and tombs
here looking a the South Transept are more older headstones while on the left is a family vault
Looking towards the Lych Gate
East up the churchyard
Another of the Tomb chest you can see and the remains of a cat cross
The North side Churchyard
Where I spotted this wooden memorial of a cross and a couple of graves forgotten by their family's along time ago
Looking up the South side of the churchyard
Turning round and you can see the new churchyard extension
Looking North by the West end of the church
This cross is laid out and each section gives the name of one of the Fruin family and when they passed away
One cross which stands out
and a headstone sinking away in the ground
The porch where you can see the Village Roll of Honour carved on a wooden tablet hung on the wall
Inside from the nave aisle you get a wonderful view along the church taking in the font
Across the chancel is a rood screen
standing above is the rood
Past the scree you come to the altar with the rail in front
The altar back partly obscures the stained glass window behind but you are drawn more to the screen behind the altar
The flash I used to take this photo tends to over enhance the altar back
Either side are paintings of saints
Turning round you see the back of the rood screen while over on the north side of the chancel is the organ behind a screen in front of which are the choir stalls.
on top of which you can see the carvings of two painted angels
The rood from the Chancel
the choir stalls on the south side of the chancel
Looking back down the nave
The carved wood pulpit of wine glass design and the view you get of the church from it
One of the most noticeable things you see when walking in the church is the memorial to the Little Baldon air crash which is in the north aisle draped either side by the flag of the RAF and Parachute Regiment. I remember reading about the crash when I was at School
Poppy wreaths placed in front of the memorial
You can read the dedication on the memorial
Nearby you can see the list of names of the men who were killed in the crash
Remembrance cross below the memorial
Couple of the memorials in the church, one to William Fruin and the other to Frederick Richard Pitson
On the left is the north Transept and the stained glass window inside. Also on the wall one thing I failed to notice at the time is the Roll of Honour
Lancet window to St Stephen
Stained glass window in the nave
Another lancet window
Couple of view of the church font and cover
The local Ladies flower arrangements in the church looked beautiful
Views down both North & South aisles
As you come in the door you see this bucket of flowers welcoming you
I also loved this wood carving of hands clasped in prayer
I took this as I walked out to show the view you got as you walked in
The sky looking out over the Baldons where just beyond the trees the Air Crash happen back in 1985
The church is behind and must have been ever watching when it happened. Their lives taken away with in sight of the church RIP
This blog is dedicated to my Friend Ivan who died the other week and who's funeral I went to while writing this May You Rest In Peace
13 comments:
That's a lovely post, Bill; there are so many stories in our parish churches. Your final photo I though particularly good. Sorry to hear about your friend, Ivan. Take care.
Great relation Bill!!!
I am delighted with your photos.
Greetings.
Happy Sunday.
Lucja
Very very great report. Thanks
Graciel·la (from Aminus3)
Great post,as always....interesting architecture and beautiful trees!
Happy Sunday!
Bill, spectacular images of this beautiful church. I like the gateway to the grave yard.
Schöne Bilder von der Kirche und den alten Grabsteinen. Die Bilder aus dem Inneren der Kirche mit den vielen Details sehr schön.
Gruß
Noke
Metal fatigue on two bolts - and so much loss of life. Truly awful.
The church is lovely with lots of interesting details. what I like best of all though is the way there is no missing the memorial to all those men.
Stained glass are awesome.. pictures are awesome..
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Once again thank you for giving us a tour of another beautiful church. There is a lot of fine wood carving. It's good to see the box pews and the view down the main aisle in the nave with the font part way down it. In the churchyard the memorial stone slabs set in the shape of a cross in the grass is unusual. I believe Henry Woodyer designed a church in Reading and another in Woodley that I know.
stain glass, the details, the moss on the every thing. so lovely. have a nice week. ( :
Sorry about your friend. The church looks very solid but the inside is full of light.
First: my condolences on the loss of your friend.
Second: it's always a pleasure to see inside these old churches, as they are often much more elaborate than I expect them to be.
Have you researched how many churches there are in the UK. Your trips indicate thousands
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