Saturday 29 April 2017

St Mary East lsley



St Mary stands on a hill looking over the village of East Ilsley in the edge of the Berkshire Downs and is just off the Ridgeway. The Village used to have a Sheep Market which was the second largest after Smithfield after London through out the 19th Century. Not much I can tell you about this church other than what I found in Wikipedia.
 "The church is partly Norman; has an early English style chancel, and an embattled tower; it was enlarged and repaired in 1845 and contains an old monument of one of the Hildesleys, ancient lords of the manor."
When I arrived there was the Sunday service going on so I took the opportunity to go around the outside as it finished off and was lucky to manage to get some photos inside before it was locked up



Walking in the gate to the church you and faced with the porch leading into the church



To the left you can see the East end of the church and North aisle





The North side churchyard




Walking around to the Eeast end




Then round to the South side where you cans see the South aisle




The South side of  St Mary's
Walking around to the West end and the Bell Tower





Above the porch and on the left of it this fenced family vault



The churchyard over at the East end of the churchyard




Where you will come around to the South side




Unusual old brick tomb deteriorating




Quite a few of the headstones hear are falling over





Above and usual cross to see, right looking over to the west end of the churchyard





On the left another unusual head & foot stone with fenced tomb behind. On the right more conventional type monuments







The west side of the churchyard where there seems to be a lot of crosses as monuments






and this rather nice angle looking to Heaven













Above a beautiful old cast iron monument still readable at over 100 years old

More crosses and an Angel






Above the angel looking down on the body below. Right a stepped stile over the wall leading to a footpath from the village




and last looking towards the North again












The nave of the church with its box pews





and a view of the South aisle with more box pews




inside the chancel which is quiet long or maybe it is because of the wide angel lens I used

Above the chancel arch and choir stalls in the foreground








The altar and chancel window















Better view of the altar





Looking back out into the nave







On the left the pulpit and inside this inscription, goes to show some wealth came to the village at one time










The view out of the Pulpit




Like to know how old this bench is but I'd guess at the 1700's from the look




The old church organ






Looking towards the back and the bell loft











above a memorial where the wording has faded. Not sure of the relevance of the fenced alcove but have seen similar in other churches




Memorial to William Jones Williams
a beautiful war memorial to those who lost their lives in the wars






More areas of the church which have an interest though I forgot to see what was written on the plaque in front of the statue









Rather old memorial plaque















and one not quite so old





The stained glass window above the memorial you have just seen








One thing I think is worth looking at is the stained glass windows in the church













The all look to be by the the same manufacturer, I was lucky to get a shot of the on on the right as it's in the small vestry




Above the church font.



above St Mary's church taken with my wide angle lens. 
Last view of the faces of the two angels in the churchyard




That I felt worth another view of











I will say thank you to the parishioner who stayed behind to let me take my photos and even offered me a chance to see the clock which I declined as I felt I had kept him enough from his Dinner. The Church needs some support as I was told the congregation has dwindled, in fact there were only eight at the service that morning which for the size of the village seems a little sad. They are looking to ways to keep the church open so some re-ordering could be in hand as it needs quite a lot of money spent on the place. I hope it comes off as it would be sad to see the church close for good.

Have a peacefull week end







6 comments:

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Hello Bill!
Beautiful relationship and wonderful photos.
Delightful architecture.
Have a nice Sunday, Bill.
Greetings from Poland.
Lucja

Jaśmin said...

Very nice photos.
Greetings from Poland.

Linda said...

I hope they can keep it open. Love the windows and the sculpture!

Tony Mulraney said...

Top post as always Bill, love the graveyard shots and the glass inside looks beautiful. Would the bell tower be considered to be fortafied ?.

Jim said...

Great shots

Tom said...

...Bill, the angel statues are beautiful. The church looks as though it was added on to several times over the years.