Saturday 1 February 2020

St Mary Buckelbury



The last church on my visit is St Mary in Buckelbury one I wanted to see for a while. My first encounter with Bucklebury was with the ford across the river Pang at night just up the road back in the mid 1970's and I always wondered what the village looked like. Back then I never realised it had a church but thought one day I would visit the place again. Some history from Wikipedia
"The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin is of consistent style to have been that built in the second half of the 11th century. The ornate south doorway is late Norman and was added in about 1170. A north transept was added to the nave at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. Late in the 13th century a second arch was added to turn the transept into a two-bay north aisle. One of the windows in the south wall of the nave was added in the 14th century.
In the 15th century the nave and north aisle were lengthened westwards by the addition of a third bay, and new east and two new north windows were inserted in the north aisle. In the second half of the 15th century the Perpendicular Gothic bell tower was added. The chancel was rebuilt in 1591 and the porch was added in 1603. The chancel was partly rebuilt again in 1705 and the porch has also been rebuilt. A vestry has also been added. The whole structure is nationally listed for heritage/architecture in the highest category, Grade I.
The Rectory has an early 18th-century facade. In 1966 the garden included two sculptures by Henry Moore: Draped Reclining Woman 1957–58 and Reclining Figure (1961–62)."





Loved the setting of this church with the tow paths leading to it
Left heading around to the East end along the South side














The Belltower on the West end with the entry door at the base








Around the North side the door there is blocked up but looks quite recent from the blocks used





The North side of St Mary





Above the East end with the render suffering a bit

The main porch leading to the church







Inside you find this beautiful Norman Doorway

















All the stones around the doorway are carved



Inside looking down the nave to the chancel arch






The chancel looking to the altar.
Worth taking note of the carving on the joist which is dated 1591








Above the altar and Chancel window





I felt the altar stood out beautifully with the covering and flowers on it.

Behind the altar on either side you find  memorial to Elizabeth Anne Hartley and her Husband Henry






the other side is to other members of the Hartley family
The chancel window looks beautiful







In front of the altar you can find more tombs of the Winchcombe Family

They date to the early 1700's






The pulpit stands in front of the chancel arch along with a sounding board above

From the pulpit you get a good view of the nave and North aisle
Looking out of the chancel to the nave
 
This memorial can be seen in the chancel





The skull with wings I thought stood out
The inscription at the bottom seems to tell you it is to members of the Winchcombe family






Above memorial to the Packer family

Right a small family chapel that is off the North side of the chancel
with family memorials




More memorials along the South wall of the nave







There are two rolls of honour in the church listing the fallen from both First & Second World Wars







Above the Chancel arch a royal coat of arms











The nave also had quite a few Funnerary Hatchments, this one has memorial under it to George Rich Bart












I could not tell you who they belong to










But they are all superb




And well worth viewing
Above a view along the nave to the Chancel arch from the back of the church
The nave also has box pews which I love to see
 
The North Aisle with the Mothers Union banner over on one side of the altar



It looks like it is used for meeting from the way the chairs are set out






Walk around the church and you cannot help notice all the stained glass Windows






Some glass looks older than the rest though I have been fooled by this before






The glass is stunning in its colour





though I think my favourite window was beside the pulpit





At the back of the North aisle a screen where you find a creche




In the middle of the church the font





There is also a banded church chest no doubt very old





The organ stands on the balcony at the back




Russel memorial






Another vise from the pulpit which I took with my phone




Above in an alcove where the North door was you can find this tablet

Left another view of the organ loft showing a list of benefactors to the parish








The font, unusual shape I thought























These photos were taken with my iPhone
Chancel window






















Some of the Memorials
View down the aisle from the chancel arch
last of all one from the lectern




The churchyard as you would expect from a village like this is full of old headstones





plus the odd tomb chest





The headstones lean over through time




others have sunk,though these look to be from the 18th century









Not often I come across a cast iron headstone let alone one with a footstone




On the east end of the church are three tombs of more prominent members of the parish in the past













Looking across the churchyard from under one of the trees










This part looks West from the North of the church





I do not think I have ever seen so many cast iron headstones and marker crosses in any other churchyard




This is near the East end of the church





Again on the North side were more recent burials can be found




Two heastones the same no doubt the people related




On the South side looking West




Cast iron head and footstone






the differing types of Cast iron headstones beside each other
The letter still clearly visible on the markers





Two chest tombs among the headstones










Before I leave you a photo of the altar cross with vases of flowers either side
A last look at St Mary.
Till Next time I wish you all a great weekend

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful stained glass windows and it's good to see the box pews still there. My great uncle lived in a cottage on Bucklebury Common and we would go on a bus to visit, but never been in the church so interesting to see. I believe Reading Abbey ruins will feature on BBC programme Songs of Praise today. Have a good week Bill.

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  2. ...Bill, there is so much to enjoy. It's wonderful that you have access to the interiors of the churches that you share.

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    1. There are some I don't get entry to like one I went to last week

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  3. Wow, it is incredible. The fresh flowers are startling after seeing so much that is ancient.

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    1. I come acros sthem in many churches though at some they do need changing others youcan smell when you walk in

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  4. That was a beautiful tour, thank you. I found it interesting that the chancel end was so light and bright, turn around and it is almost like being in a completely different church. I enjoy the way you tease out the details and decoration. Long may we be able to explore the rich heritage of our old churches.

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    1. I did get stummped on the the next one visited a few days later but I may be able to change that soon. I love looking for the little details around a church though sometimes I miss them

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