St Mary Adwell

 

 I have been to  St Marys Adwell before but at the time the church was locked and I was not sure I would come back for more photos, but after finding it was in the same benefice as Wheatfield and as it was only a few miles away the church was the next one I visited  and after contacting the churchwarden I was given access to get some photos. I took very few photos from around the churchyard so if you wish to see what it looks like the visit the link above to see more. Photos are taken with both iPhone and camera. Some history from Wikipedia :-

"Adwell's original parish church is believed to have been built late in the 12th century, although the earliest documentation of it is dated 1254. It had only a nave and chancel. The latter may have been enlarged in the 13th century, judging by its east window which was early Decorated Gothic. In the 14th century new windows were inserted in the nave and a new west door was added. In 1553 the building was recorded as having a bell-cot with two bells. All of the walls were repaired around 1800, but by the early 1860s the building was considered too weak to be restored.

The old church building was demolished and in 1865 it was replaced with a new Church of England parish church of Saint Mary designed by the Gothic Revival architect Arthur Blomfield. Blomfield's design replicated the early Decorated style, but the new building retained the south doorway of the old church, which is in the transitional style between Norman and Early English Gothic.The new church also retains the memorials from inside the old one, including a stone effigy of a knight from about 1300. The new building has no aisles, but has north and south chapels arranged as transepts either side of the chancel. There is no tower, but a bell-cot with one bell. The bell dates from about 1350 and so may be from the old church building. St Mary's parish is now part of the Benefice of Thame.^"

 

 As I mentioned I have been hear before and the church has not changed but this time I could see the outer door open

  Looking sightly to the left and the west end

Similar view to the last showing a little more, there is no access to the north side, it is a private property

The bell turret is something you do not see often

You do not see many Commonwealth war graves belonging to the Womens Auxiliary Air force who were the unsung heros of World War Two

Flying Officer L.C.Martin

Some of the tombs and crosses at the east end of the church

The door features some nice iron scroll work on it

Now though I read there was little of the old church left the entrance doorway is old and most likely Norman and over to the right you can see one of the best mass dials I've seen in a  while

Really well preserved

Inside looking from the door

along the nave aisle

Looking into the chancel

The chancel

Altar and east window

The east window is quite beautiful to look at

Choir stalls and desk

The pulpit

which is over to the left of the chancel arch

Giving a really good view of the nave and all the pews

The nave from the chancel

another view from nearer the altar

The west end with the two windows and bell rope

You can also see the font at the west end

Over near the chancel is the south transept chapel

 

which has an altar

and memorials

The Newell family

The crucifix has a set of dog tags hanging from it belonging to Lieut MS Bellow

Looking over to the north transept which is now  a vestry

I felt it rude not to have a look a look and found more memorials in here

Newell family

George Holland

In the nave more memorials

Memorial below what looks like a relic from the old church

The light was washing out this shot

I will leave you this week with a shot of this beautiful floral display

Till Next time take care and stay safe and have a peaceful weekend