The Holy Rood Cuxham

This week we move just over a mile along the road from St Bartholomew Brighwell Baldwin to the village of Cluxham. Unlike the last church which took to blogs to show this one took two visits to get the photos as the church was closed on my first visit. Some history form Wikipedia  
"The Church of England parish church of the Holy Rood has a Norman bell tower. The century gothic windows on the north side of the nave were inserted in the 14th century and some of the windows in the tower were added in the 15th century. The windows on the south side of the nave were probably inserted in the 17th century and the church was heavily restored in the 18th century. The Gothic Revival architect C.C. Rolfe rebuilt the chancel in 1895. The Rectory is Georgian and was built about 1800. Since 1983 Holy Rood has been part of a united benefice with Easington, Brightwell Baldwin and Ewelme."

The church is just off a short lane leading to a farm and your first view of the place is through the gate showing a well kept front churchyard

Some views of the Norman tower
that has bars in the windows

Around the South side and churchyard is as well kept as the North side

One of the headstones on the South side of the church and a view of the East end

Further back to the North side and the vestry on the side

The doorway in the Tower struck me as the original Norman one

The headstones you see on the North side of the church are quite old

With a few left leaning against the North wall near the vestry

Above a rather nice cross on a family vault. Left part of the churchyard on the south were people are still buried

Over the far side on the East end of the church

Tomb is leaning because of subsidence

South East corner

Looking back East along the churchyard in use

An old family vault beside the tower

and another in front which from the look had rails around it at one time

The carving on this headstone survives but the inscription has gone

A skull on the top of this old headstone with moss on giving the impression of hair

Above and right a couple of old memorials on the North wall where the wording is no longer readable

Your first view of the church as you walk in the doorway

And one of the Chancel Arch

 

The Chancel with prayer kneeler

The altar was quite a simple  one with the cross behind on the window sill

Turning around from the altar gives a good view of the nave

One of the two sets of choir stalls

Above a lamp holder beside the pulpit and right the pulpit which I hazard a guess at around 1700

Looking down into the nave from the pulpit. Left these two wood carvings are on the north wall of the chancel though I could not tell you the significance of them

Looking down at the floor here I suspect there is a family vault that has been covered by the pews showing its age

In the main aisle floor a brass can be seen. They are called the Gregory Brasses and show John Gregory and his wives Parnel & Agnes and dates 1505. under you can see he had five sons and one daughter

Above memorial to Mary the daughter of Edmund Gregory

On either side of the nave you can see the parish rolls of honour for the two world wars

Memorial to a former rector at the back of the Nave

I think the is a memorial form the same family on the other side of the church

Memoial to Rovery and Mary Lucas

Near the chancel is quite a new organ could not say if it replaced an older one

A few last shots one above of the prayer kneeler above and choir stalls

 

At the back is a large boxed of pew

Above the church font with simple cover and left some of the beautiful embroidered kneelers in the church

I've seen a lot and I admit these are some of the nicest

Poignant one of remembrance 

Above a view of the roof trusses holding up the roof of the church. Right looking along the aisle at the pews

I like to see what date the church Bible is this one is dated 1904 a gift from the Rector

The Bible on the choir stall

I Left this part till last though it is the first thing you notice as you walk in the door through the bell tower. The first World War grave cross of 2nd Lutanant A.F.Osborne

A fitting place for a memorial that every one can see and remember the sacrifice he made

Have a good week