Saturday 16 March 2019

St Mary Uffington


This was one church I had been looking forward to seeing for a while, you can see it from the surrounding area and it's known as the Cathederal of the Vale. The Vale being Vale of the White Horse from which hill it is easily seen. 
History from Wikipidia
"The Church of England parish church of St Mary is cruciform and was completed about 1250. The tower central, positioned over the crossing between the nave, chancel and transepts, and is octagonal. Some of the present windows were inserted in the 17th century.

In the south transept is a Jacobean monument to John Saunders, who died in 1638. It has a semi-reclining effigy of Saunders set in a semi-circular coffered arch, with a large plaque surrounded by strapwork.
The crossing tower had a ring of five bells until 1992, when they were increased to six by the addition of a new treble bell. The five original bells were all recast in 1657, but each has since been recast again. In 1762 Thomas Rudhall of Gloucester recast the tenor bell and in 1770 Robert I Wells of Aldbourne, Wiltshire recast what is now the fifth bell. In 1803 James Wells, also of Aldbourne, recast what is now the second bell. Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry recast the fourth bell in 1867 and the third bell in 1886. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry also cast the treble bell that was added in 1992.
St Mary's church is a Grade I listed building. Its parish is part of the Benefice of Uffington, Shellingford, Woolstone and Baulking."
Again this is a long post so Coffee & Cake are recommended
 


The view of the church walking up the path





Above the Village War Memorial is the first thing you notice.

Left the East end of the church




This is also were you enter the church in the transept
















The octagonal tower the first I have seen on a church. 
Right an old sundial














Going around to the West end of the church





Another view of the tower with a view of one of the windows





Snowdrops cover this end of the churchyard




Heading around the North side looking towards the North Transept
View of the North East end and the Transept. The two additions on the Transept are Altars in the church






Above the Tower again and left the East end of the church showing North & South Transepts
Above the entrance to the church and if you look you can see a window, this is a room over the porch







The door leading to the church, Right a tomb slab or top of a sarcophagus












It was hard to decide where I should start as I went in though the South transept and afer bein overwhelmed by what I saw I did not follow mu usual patern of how I took the photo's but I will star with a view of the chancel from the centre of the Tower






On either side of the chancel you had a double sided lecturn an a carved wood pulpit















This view of the nave from the pulpit is the only good one I have as the one I took looking from the tower ended up a little blured





Looking the other way into the chancel
This is a view right down the church through the nave to the chancel from the back









In churches like this with the trasepts you get some great views of arches








The chancel looking towards the Altar





Above a view of the altar and the cahncel window.
Right the altar and back screen












The choir stalls on one side with windo reflections




The sedilia & piscina on the South side







The Church banner and a Holy Water stoup












A view of the chancel windows
 



At the base of the roof supports in the chancel you can see these carvings














This one lost it's nose




The aile has it's fare shair of grave slabs










some of which have brasses inlaid














Thomas Sannders who died in 1644 leavingbehind him his wife Martha, eight sons and five daughters, Have to fell more sorry for his wife having that lot






One to Mary wife of John Lockly




At the back aare a couple of windows, on on the North side over the blocked North door and on in the room I pointed out over the porch







On the West wall you can see the church organ







The South entrance door which has a lock in placea piece of wood let in the wall and drops in a grove the other side








Above below the organ you can see the Church font with cover

Coat of arms George III dated 1761
















The South trasept and chapel, this is the way you come in the church














Couple of the memorials on the walls




The main thing to see is this Monument to John Saunders who died in 1638, That was when Charles the Ist was on the throne











Above Jon Saunders in dress of the time

Left the face of John Saunders, aho knows?






Skull with pick & shovel





Grim looking cherub





When I read this I wonder if John and his wife Anne are buried in the monument or in the floor under it. He also had another wife called Joan





Another plaque above the figure of John




The decoration in the recess
Nearby is another font wich looks like it is the obe used most






Opposite is the North transept which has some very nice stained glass











In what looks like a memorial recess with no inscription you can see this Crochet picture of Queen Elizabeth II at the time of her corination
The note at the base of the crochet picture of the Queen





Nearby is this odd looking window with recesses. 
Right the Watts memorial












Memorial to Thomas Hughes QC who wrote Tom Brown's Schooldays, there is a musium along the road from the church

On the east wall is this altar in it's own recess








One side of which is this window
In another recess is a stoup













On the other wall is this clock mechanisim no doubt from the original clock

Outside the East end of the  churchyard




Above this is in the churchyard and sits ona tomb slab.

Right looking West on the South side of the churchyard





West againg and some of the older headstones




Going around the churhcyard you come across the odd tomb chest





This is the West end of the churchyard





From here you can gaze down to the Churchyard extension




Around the North side are more headstones



At the east end a fenced tomb




Another sits under a yew tree




Tomb chest in among the headstones




Another tombchest with decoration around the centre
Many memorial stones aamoung the older headstones
The Commonwealth War Grave of Private A.Gordon





A well kept grave of Sidny William Joyce who died age 7 judgeing by the size I think his parents are buried with him






Last view of St Mary from the South side
I will leave you with this photo of an angel looking over a grave in the lower part of the West end of the churchyard.
Till next time I wish you a peaceful week



11 comments:

John's Island said...

Hi Bill, Wow! What an excellent group of photos ... the next best thing to being there in person. Quick question: When you decide on a church to photograph, do you make arrangements in advance for access? I am curious if these wonderful buildings are open generally for visitors? You show us the building from all angles and that is one of the things I really enjoy. Great work! Thanks, Bill, for sharing! John

Tom said...

...there is so much beautiful detail in this church. The tower is outstanding. Have a great Week, Bill.

Bill said...

What an incredible display of images for this church. They are absolutely beautiful and give the viewer a great insight and feel for this gorgeous church.
Thank you!

William Kendall said...

Quite a beautiful church!

Jim said...

Amazing church.

Linda said...

Wow. You did a great job of documenting this very old church. I hope you save all these posts somewhere in their entirety. Even Blogger could go away someday.

Aimz said...

I love the angel, and the church looks like one I'd like to explore.

Linda P said...

This is a beautiful old church. The tower, as you say, is most unusual. The saunders effigy is fascinating and there are other gems, ancient and more recent, such as the crocheted picture of Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you for sharing Bill. I would love to go there not only to see the church, but the Uffington White Horse and the museum down the road. Have a peaceful week.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh la! St Mary's is marvelous Bill, what a grand tour you took us on here. All the gorgeous arches had me positively swooning ✨

Billy Blue Eyes said...

It's not that far from Reading so next time your down you know were you can go fo r a day out

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Well I have saved the data and just made a PDF of this blog