St James the Great Stonesfield

 

This church is one I should have visited years ago when I was nearby at Combe but back then  I was on a restricted timescale due to the car I had was only out on a test drive. This time I made the effort to visit as it is one of the churches listed in Oxfordshires Best Churches

"The Church of England parish church of St James the Great was built in the 13th century. Surviving Early English features from that period include the chancel arch, north chapel, south aisle, arcade and piscina and most of the west tower. Decorated Gothic remodelling in the 14th century includes the piscina and south windows of the chancel, the north window and west arch of the north chapel and the east window of the south aisle. The octagonal font is also 14th-century. In the 15th century the west tower was increased in height.

 Between the chancel and north chapel is a screen that is partly Perpendicular Gothic. The Perpendicular Gothic east window in the chancel is 15th-century. Fragments of 15th-century stained glass survive in the window, including a figure that has a 14th-century head and may represent Saint Peter, and symbols of the evangelists St John and St Mark. In the west window of the west tower is late-15th-century stained glass of four family coats of arms. In one of the south windows of the chancel is 16th-century stained glass of two coats of arms: one of a manorial family and the other of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. There is also mid-16th-century stained glass of two family coats of arms in one of the 17th-century south windows of the clerestory. The Jacobean pulpit was made in 1629.

In 1743 a clock was installed in the church. It was said to have been made for a local manor house in 1543, and transferred to the church after the house was demolished. The clock has since been moved from Stonesfield, rebuilt, and installed at Judd's Garage at Wootton. In 1825 the north aisle was greatly enlarged, opening directly into the nave without an arcade. This greatly changed the interior of the church, and in the 20th century the architectural historians Jennifer Sherwood and Sir Nikolaus Pevsner condemned the change as "lunatic". Other 19th-century changes include the addition of the south porch, possibly during a restoration in 1876. The vestry was added in 1956. The church is a Grade II* listed building St James' parish is now part of the Benefice of Stonesfield with Combe Longa."

 The entrance to St James the Great partly lost to view dues to the large trees either side of the path

The north side with churchyard

West end view of the church

South west showing the tower and porch

Porch and the east end

South aisle and porch

East end with graves in the triangle between the paths

Path leading along the south of the church

Looking towards the west end of the churchyard

Which I found quite long

Peeking over to the north side of the churchyard

The west churchyard from the path

Then further along

Ex servicemen who have passed away and a Scout leader, one I have not come across before

Looking back to the church

North side churchyard looking west

Miss placed headstones leaning against the wall

Collage of headstones and graves

A name I recognize though I doubt they are related to the person I knew

The porch

Inside looking to the chancel arch

Inside the chancel

Altar and east window

Altar with candle holder and cross

The east window has some nice sections of medieval  stained glass

Close up of the east window

Medieval center piece

The medieval glass at the top of the east window

Remaining screen between the chancel and north chapel

Holy water stoup

Collage of another window with medieval stained glass

Jacobean  pulpit

View looking down on the nave

1629 now that is old it was when King Charles I was on the throne

View back to the west end

The west end under the tower

The west window with stained glass inserts

North aisle

Small pipe organ at the end

Into the north chapel

Altar and est window win the chapel

North window

Old pews over in the north aisle

This paining is in the north chapel

Banner of St James the Great

West end of the north aisle

Various carvings in the church

Looking towards the north aisle

South aisle altar and east window

Stained glass windows in the south aisle

South window with stained glass

Painted ceiling in the south aisle

I think this might have been a stoup

14th century font

Looking down the nave from the back of the church

Over to the north aisle

Various memorials in the church

Embroidery

A stone tile which is how Stonefield got it's name because the Romans used it on their houses

Prayer which I liked

 

I will leave you with this shot of a floral display

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful weekend