St Peter Great Haseley

 

 

After visiting St Mary the Virgin in Great Milton  it was only a few miles to the next village of Great Haseley and St Peter's church. The church can be seen in the distance across the fields as you travel along the road to Thame. I have to admit I did not know what to expect with St Peter but was pleased with my first view when I parked up outside. Some history from Wikipedia

"The Church of England parish church of Saint Peter dates from about 1200. The three-bay arcades linking the nave with the north and south aisles are in a Transitional style from Norman to Early English Gothic, as is an external doorway that has been re-set on the west side of the bell-tower. The chancel and its arch were built late in the 13th century, and it retains all of its Decorated Gothic windows from that time. In the 14th century each aisle was extended eastwards with a fourth bay, and at the end of each aisle is a chapel with a squint into the chancel. The north-east chapel is Perpendicular Gothic, as are the bell-tower and the clerestory that was added to the nave. The Gothic Revival architect Thomas Garner restored the chancel in 1897. St Peter's is a Grade I listed building. The tower has a ring of six bells. Four of them — the present third, fourth, fifth and tenor bells — existed by 1552. In 1641 Ellis I Knight of Reading recast what are now the fourth and fifth bells and cast a new bell (now the second bell), increasing the ring to five. Late in the 1690s William and Robert Cor of Aldbourne, Wiltshire recast what is now the third bell. Thomas Rudhall of Gloucester recast the tenor bell in 1774 and cast a new treble bell in 1775, increasing the ring to six. In 1925 Gillett & Johnston of Croydon re-cast the treble and the third bells, an event watched by King George V and Queen Mary. Also in 1925 all six were re-hung in a new iron frame, which has capacity for the ring to be increased to eight.

St Peter's had a church clock by 1666, when it is first mentioned in the churchwardens' accounts. It was replaced by a new clock in 1759 or 1760. This in turn was replaced by the present clock, which was installed in 1865.

The churchyard contains one war grave from World War II, of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Muirhead, the first British Member of Parliament to die serving in the war.

St Peter's parish is now part of a single benefice with the parishes of Great Milton and Little Milton.^"

The view of the church from outside in the road

Above right the tower with the entrance to the church at the base, left a North side view showing the staircase on the side

The door wich is Norman to Early English Gothic 

The North side of the church showing the aisle

Above the North entrance door which from the look has not been used in years

Another view along the North side of the church looking West

A chapel which not doubt used as a vestry now

The East end showing the huge Chancel window

Looking across the churchyard to the South side of the church

Above the South aisle and tower

Looking East over the headstones South of the church

Above something I found very interesting the Porch on the south side of the church which is not used any more.  Right a view across the vast churchyard 

I liked the headstone of Rev Richard John Blakeway

Left pat of the churchyard where he is buried

An old chest tomb by the East end of the church which is listing over to one side and eroding

One Commonwealth War Grave of Dale Edward Gostick. When I noticed the date I felt very sad that he had lost his life in a recent conflict

Near the east end of the church are these graves

I did like this old headstone just a shame the words have eroded

An even older headstone

Above a Wooden cross the owners name gone

Lichen covered cross

Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Muirhead, the first British Member of Parliament to die serving in the war. I missed finding his grave as I was looking for a cross, after checking on Find a Grave I noticed it was near a cross leaning which is centre in left photo after cropping it I managed a clearer picture of it, I could also make out his name on the headstone in the original

Nice headstone with a vase of flowers

belonging to Christopher Hywel Edward Issac

I will leave you with this photo of a dove that is part of a cross in the churchyard and wish you all a Wonderful weekend. 

Till Next time Stay Safe