St Mary Wootton

 

St Mary Wootton was the next church I visited after stopping off at Bletchington for the photos I took inside, I had checked to see if it was open and it was when I got there. The village is known as Wootton by Woodstock which is only a few miles away and is a very pleasant village like most of those in this part of the Cotswolds. Some History of Wikipedia:-

"The earliest parts of the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary are the nave, north aisle and lower part of the tower, all of which date from the first half of the 13th century, and the south porch, which is Early English. In the 14th century the chancel and chancel arch were rebuilt and most of the windows in the building were replaced, all in a Decorated Gothic style. The upper part of the bell tower was added in the 15th century and the clerestory was added to the nave in the 16th century, each in a Perpendicular Gothic style.

The tower has a ring of six bells. Edward Hemins of Bicester cast the third, fourth and fifth bells in 1732 and the tenor bell in 1739. Abel Rudhall of Gloucester cast the second bell in 1749 and Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the present treble bell in 1923. St. Mary's also has a Sanctus bell that Thomas Rudhall cast in 1778. The parish is now part of the benefice of Wootton with Glympton and Kiddington."

The church as you walk up the path

Taken from the road

Wootton War Memorial

Looking at the tower form the path

The chancel end of the church

Around the north side

Feature on the north aisle

Blocked up north doorway which seems rather small to me

From the roadside again showing the west end

Entrance porch

Where you can see this sundial

From the path looking east at he churchyard

And west

Along the east side by the church some tombs

You can see more around the north side

Elizabeth widow of Francis Gregory

Two more tombs in the sunlight and shade

Headstones on the north side of the church

More grouped near the east end of the church

Various cast iron marker crosses

Family group by the wall

Looking at the more recent burials on the north side of the church

Two Commonwealth war graves to Private W.G.Dawson and Private J Brooks

Over in the corner a forgotten family plot

Inside the porch

 The view as you come in the door 

Inside looking down the church from the back

Coming down the church a little

Chancel arch looking in the chancel

The chancel showing the altar

Wider view of the chancel

East end of the chancel with the altar and east window

The east window

The altar with the wall panel behind

Which I have to admit was quite a beautiful mosaic

Looking out of the chancel to the nave

Memorials on either side of the altar

The organ which looks quite modern compared to others I've seen

 

The pulpit 

The view of the nave you see from it

And the eagle lectern you saw in front of the pulpit

 

Some of the memorials around the church

Lancet window with St George

Another with Christ in one window and a kneeling knight in the other

Various tombs and memorials in the floor

Two church banners

You might have noticed this plaque on one of the photos, I've read his Diary and he is not some one I admire but I know a few of you do. He lived further west on the Welsh Border where you come across many of the churches he visited

Royal coat of arms

Not sure if they are related to the builders

 

Memorial to John Gregory 

In memory if May Anne

couple of clerks chairs and desks

The north aisle

which is dominated by this roll of honour

If I though Bletchingdon hand a lot of WWI grave Crosses Wooton really did

There were seven all with the original names on them

Many are remembered on memorials in the church

All listing where the fell in action

A poppy donated by a parish oner from the Tower of London display

The font with floral display on the top

One part of the church now converted into a kitchen for meetings in the church

The pews with doors on along the aisle

I will leave you with this photo of the floral display with the roll of honour in the background.

Till next time have a peaceful weekend.

I'm dedicating my blog this week to my friend Paul who I knew from being an apprentice with him, he passed away last week Rest In Peace bro