St Barnabus Peasemore

This was the main church I had intended to visit on my tour of churches, it is set a few miles away from the A34  in a small Berkshire village. Had to look for some history which turned up on Royal Berkshire History.

"The original church at Peasemore is supposed to have been founded by St. Peada, the King of Middle Anglia in the 7th century, but this legend is probably just a guess based on the placename.

The present church is unusually of Victorian blue brick. The tower is older, as an inscription tells us, "1737 Will Coward Gent built ye Tower". The dramatic spire was added in 1842.

The interior is not displeasing, despite the lack of aisles. Particularly delightful are the colourful tiled murals (1911) flanking the altar. They depict The Supper at Emmaus and Christ's charge to St. Peter. There are 18th century wall tablets to the Cowards and the Sellwoods, but the best monument is an heraldic brass to Thomas Stampe (1636). He was a member of a widespread North Berkshire family originally from Cholsey. His wife came from Prior's Court in Chieveley"

The main entrance to the church is through this Lychgate

Which has the name of the church and plaque telling you it was Berkshire Best Kept Village in 1978

The church looks like it has been renovated back in Victorian times

The North side with added chapel that is used as a vestry

Around to the East end

The tower which shows that it was built in the 1700s by looking at the brickwork on it

The porch with its open door, always a good sign

Inside as you walk in you get a god view down the nave

Going though to the chancel

The altar and the East window

Above the stained glass East window and left the altar with covering

 
The carved altar back depicting Jesus praying while the apostles slept








Either side of the altar you can see these tiles murals

The church organ with choir stall in front

Turn around and look towards the back of the church

where at the back you can see the church font

The pulpit

The pulpit with the steps leading up to it and the eagle lectern

From the pulpit you get a good view of the nave

There is a lot of nice stained glass in the church

Which looks typical Victorian

Around the church you can also see quite a few memorials

To different rectors

who were looking after the parish

There are also  a few marble memorials


















to other notable local people

The church brass of Thomas Stampe which would have been on his tomb in the aisle or chancel but now adorns the wall of the church

Inside what is the vestry now behind the organ you can see these metal plaques

The still look in good condition.
Right the coat of arms that was stolen from the church

The Roll of Honour for Roger Brennan & Tom Elliott

Just below the chancel stem you can see a couple of the tombs that are in the church

Going back out you pass the church font

Where you can read the inscription around the top

Outside the churchyard beside the path leading to the church

Looking the other way East

Above beside the  porch you can see this part of the roof which let the water pour off to the ground.

Left a couple of the headstone on the West end

Looking over towards the Lychygate

Near the  porch is this tomb

Going over to the far South side of the churchyard

Some of the crosses near the West side boundary

Above two differing crosses a simple cast one and a more expensive stone one

Left more crosses nearer the church

A row of family tombs

This wooden cross  looks like it has rotted at the base and been pushed back in lower down

Sir Brian McGrath
on the left,  right some of the tombs on the East end of the church












 

The Commonwealth War Grave of Private J Harris
 

An angel watches over a grave which right red roses grow beside a cross

The crosses here all belong to the same family

Till next time
I will leave you with this photos of the altar cross and vase of flowers
and wish you a pleasant weekend