St Nicholas Fyfield

 

The first church I had planed on visiting in 2023 and is one I visited many years ago fleetingly, I even wrote a blog which did not show the inside which I found a little dark at the time. My thanks to the Churchwardens who were so helpful. The history comes from Wikipedia :-  

 " The Church of England parish church of St. Nicholas was originally a late 12th or early 13th century Norman building. It has a canonical sundial on the south wall. In the 14th century it was largely rebuilt with the addition of a north aisle and a south transept. The north arcade was rebuilt in the 15th century and the south porch was added in the 19th century, possibly designed by J.C. Buckler and built in 1867–68. In 1893 a fire badly damaged the church and it was extensively restored thereafter. The octagonal upper stages of the bell tower were added in the restoration"  

You can read a more interesting on on Berkshire History ( Fyfield was part of Berkshire till  1974)

^{Some of the  internal photos were the first time I used my new iphone 14pro}

 

Just inside the churchyard, the bell tower being the most unusual one around

The Gothic looking porch

East end

The north side view of the church

From a more north westerly view

The old entrance to the bell tower

Another view from the south and showing the clock

Headstops and a sundial and what I think looks like a massdial

South view from near the wall

The churchyard over to the west boundary

To the west from the path

Over the east side

Headstones and tombs in the churchyard

Looking north west

Differing size tombs

Along the north side of the church

Obelisk type monument and a commonwealth war grave of Private J Brooks

Headstone of differing ages

Another view of the west end churchyard looking north

The porch

Inside ready to go in

Looking down the nave to the chancel

Moving down a bit

 

The chancel and the rood screen

 

The chancel 

 

Inside looking at the altar

 

The altar

The altar and the fascinating 14th century stone reliquary with an openwork tabernacle  restored in wood.

Altar and candle holders

Looking back to the rood screen and nave

Organ with well work seat

The pipes

Choir stalls

Pulpit and sounding board

View form the pulpit

This is a Tudor wall monument with the brass missing belonging to Lady Catherine Gordon,

Early English sedilia and piscina

Candelabra

Floor tombs in a bad way

Some of the wall memorials in the church

This one a little more interesting though the inscription has gone

More interesting features including the skull of the previous memorial

This is north aisle chapel with it's screen

Inside

The tomb of John Golafre

On top he lays with his armour on

His feet on his hounds

Look down to see his mortal rotting cadaver

In truth this is not the only one around as there is another in Burford which I missed and another in Ewelme church

The monument has seen better days and in need of restoration

Coat of arms on one of the tombs in the chapel

These two dating back to the 1600's

The coat of arms on the top right is the odd one out as the other two photos relater to the Roll of Honour

In the chapel is a blocked up doorway that probable too you to a rood loft

 

The font which does not look that old. The church turned out to be well worth returning to with some interesting history .

I will leave you with this Photo of Snowdrops I took an another church a couple of days ago Ragged Robin mentioned she had yet to see any displays. I might add there was another display on the south side of the church

Till Next time Have a peaceful weekend