St Gregory Welford

This was the third church on my visit to West Berkshire and is the second of the churches with a round tower that you can find in Berkshire and only a few miles from the last one. Normally I would give you some history from Wikipedia but that only comprises of a few lines so Britain Express comes to the rescue with a brilliant description so I would ask you to click on the link to find out more rather than me pillaging what they say but I will let you know that the church dates back to the 13th century

Above the main entrance to the churchyard is via this lychgate

Left inside you will get this view of the church

The Tower stands out being round and was rebuilt as original stone by stone by the Victorians

The pillar you see on the left photo looks like it could be a preaching cross

Heading along to the East end you see three East windows

Above looking along both South & North side showing the aisles

Above West towards the tower  and left towards the East end of the North aisle

The round tower on the West end with door in the base to the bell loft.

Left a small protrusion on the North side

Above a view up the round tower
Left the North aisle

Above the clock on the top of the tower

Above the entrance porch leading to the church

Walking into the church looking down the nave  you can see it is Victorian

Above the chancel withe the altar on the left

Above the tree East windows
Right the  13th century sedilia with brasses on the wall

Couple of views back to the Nave

Above the nave looking from the chancel arch.

Left the organ and right the carved stone  pulpit

The nave as seen from the pulpit

The area at the back of the church in the tower has some interesting memorials

But this one stands out looking like a death mask of the person it depicts

The others look normal in comparison

This memorial is to a rev Sawbridge and his wife he died in 1836

Rev Henry Sawbridge who looks to have been the brother of the previous and who died in 1830

The roll of honour of those who died in the First World war

The memorial above is from the alcove under the tower and is fading badly but has some really intricate carvings on it

Left what looks like a family memorial and a candelabra

Above and left the North aisle.

Right looking East along the South aisle

The memorial above is in the North aisle

The Norman font with a 16th century memorial behind

Above a closer view of the kneeling lady on the memorial

Right outside in the churchyard

The Rogers family headstone which had weathered the years and is in really good condition

More headstones looking East

Above a couple of crosses on a cast iron one with a shroud the other leaning over badly which has a cameo of Christ on it

This row of headstones are falling over and becoming covered in ivy

This is right over in the far South West corner of the churchyard

Couple of crosses which are very similar so could well be a couple of family plots

The West side of the churchyard

This is the North side and apart from the cross falling over the rest look in very good condition

These are older headstones which have a covering of lichen growing on them

Couple of very old headstones which could be from the 1700's

Back to the South side

and looking West

Here I head off along the path to the side entrance to the churchyard

Where you can see this view back along the path

A last look from the gate and my tour is done. Till next time May I

Wish you a peaceful weekend