St Mary Shaw

 

 Over the years I have passed this church many times as I drove along the A34 (now the A339) or through the village it is in. After starting the blog I now write I thought I should pop in and check it out when I get a chance, well I made that happen the other week.

The place is called Shaw cum Donnington  as it co-joins the neighbouring village. You have to come off the  A339 at Newbury of if you know the area like I do then you come along the B4009 and turn off to get to the church. Now the history on this church is sparse or non extant on Wikipedia but RBH history does have a little. 

"The building was erected in 1840, after the vicar had been on holiday to the Isle of Wight. Seeing a church there that he fell in love with, he returned home to build a copy, or at least a building inspired by it. I've been unable to discover which church on the island he saw. The results at Shaw are a not unpleasing Norman Revival building with a short spire.

The old church that he pulled down is said to have been Saxon in origin, but weren't they all? The new church has retained several of its monuments and added further ones of interest. Sadly the heraldic ledger stones to the owners of adjoining Shaw House have been relegated to outside the south wall and are now largely hidden by bushes: the Dolmans, the Andrewses and even the flamboyant Duke of Chandos' third duchess. Thomas Dolman still has a fine mural monument inside though. Other less impressive plaques include members of the Bacon family, some of the richest men in Britain. Anthony and his brother, Thomas, were great Welsh Ironmasters whose father made Merthyr Tydfil what it today."

I have to admit I was unsure if the church would be open but as I thought it turned out to be locked because of the Covid 19 restrictions

 Your fist view of the church would be like this on the left as you came along the road. 

As you walked  up to the church you are greeted by a Lychgate

 

 

 

 

The Lychgate is an impressive entrance to the Curchyard though the gates that once hung on them are now gone

Walk though the gate and you see the church tower and spire which dominates it.

Walking left takes you to the North side of the church

Above the porch on the South side the doors have chipboard screwed to them which makes me think they are damaged.

Left the path through the churchyard to the new church offices

 Above the entrance on the  West end under the tower.

Right the churchyard from across the road nearby

Above the grave of Sidney T Pocock MM  with the Royal Breconshire emblem on the top.

Left some of the chest tomes near the porch

Above the Commonwealth War grave of Private A.E.Richardson

Above the Commonwealth War grave of  Private RMLL J.F.Ayers

The Commonwealth War grave of  Gunner D.F.Deacon

This part of the cemetery is beside the North of the church

This is where you will find the Commonwealth War grave of Flying Officer E.E.V Barwood

The Commonwealth War grave of Serjeant W.C.Goodman

Looking East towards the chest tombs

Alongside the path that runs by the church on the South side are cremation memorials 

Unusual looking grave cross  

I will take my leave of you this week with a view of the Lych gate and St Mary's church from the opposite side of the road

Till Next time have a Great Weekend