Saturday, 14 October 2023

St Mary Bampton Pt2

 

Church Explorer returns to St Mary Bampton in the second part to see the inside of the church, the photos were taken over two trips. They were mostly take with my iphone so I think the HDR on them is a bit over cooked they tend look a little bright. There are things I missed seeing in the church so I may well pop back again. I know tourists visit the place on a regular basis because of it's involvement in Downton Abbey  but in truth the church has so much to give, you could spend ages looking around and still miss things, I did but it is well worth visiting

The porch which I took on my second visit

As you go in this alcove is on the wall, it looks like it was recycled from the older church

Looking down the nave with north and south aisles

Looking through the crossover to the chancel

Chancel and choir stalls

Altar and east window

 The altar behind which you can see the decorated reredos that are mentioned in the book.


I managed to revisit and get some photos of the reredos which are quite something to look at


Below the rerdos is this recess, what it used for I could not tell you

The east window looks amazing

The eagle lectern is the only thing not in the chancel

View back though the church from the altar

View though the nave from my first visit

Wine glass  pulpit

View of the nave from it

North and south aisles

This is a restored triple sedilia

Above which is this beautiful stained glass window

This stained glass window can be seen in the north chapel

As can this one

This fellow used to be one of the statues around the spire you saw in the previous post, he fell off lucky not hitting anyone but he is here on display in the old north door.

 
The end of the north aisle, the entrance to the chapel is to the left, the little windows give light to the stairwell to the belltower
 

Iron bound chest

Second chest one is medieval and  probably the other is as well

The north chapel which I took on my second visit

It looks well beautiful chapel compared to some others I have seen, there is an effigy over under the north wall window

The altar in the chapel

Church banner and floral display from my first visit

West end of the north aisle and children's area

The stained glass is beautiful

Statues on the sill

Roll of honour

smaller one for the Second World War

John Loveday of HMS Exmouth died with all the crew

 
The south transept

In the sw chapel is this interesting tomb effigh

Its hidden behind a stack of chairs

and is to George Tompson

Memorial to Mary Croft

Jackson family memorial, it makes sad reading

These memorials are in the former Horde chapel

Details of the memorials.

Again items of interest hidden behind coxes and stacks of tables

The organ with entry to the vestry (former Horde chapel) on the right

The font, the base is 14th century and the top Victorian

Final floral arrangement for the blessing later in the day

 
I hope the bride and grooms day went well.
Till next time I wish you all a wonderful weekend

3 comments:

Ragged Robin said...

Beautiful flowers for the wedding and some lovely stained glass. There is certainly much of interest to see there. Good to see the statue that fell of the spire displayed - fortunate it didn't fall on anyone!

John's Island said...

Hi Bill, You have done your usual excellent job of photographing St Mary Bampton. Someday I hope to visit the UK and see, in person, some of the churches you have shown us. Thanks for sharing! John

William Kendall said...

Beautiful stained glass.