This wee we visit All Saints Spelsbury the first of another tree churches I visited one morning and another two from Oxfordshires Best Churches. While I was there Oxfordshire Family History Society were in the churchyard recording all the names on the headstones along with photos. These are put on their website for you to see so I was told but you need to me a member and that costs a fee but then if you are into Genealogy it's not a problem. I have come across the Berkshire society as well at a Photo exhibition I was helping out at only they were taking photos of the pictures we had on display with out permission. After we asked them to stop they seemed not to want to say after that.
"The Church of England parish church of All Saints was originally Norman with a central tower. In about 1200 transepts were added, but during the 13th century the Early English Gothic nave was built on the site of the Norman chancel. The nave is flanked by north and south aisles. The present west doorway in the tower and several of the windows in the aisles are early 14th century. In 1706 the 1st Earl of Lichfield had the bell tower restored. In 1740 the 2nd Earl of Lichfield had the chancel rebuilt. In 1774 the 4th Earl of Lichfield had the nave and aisles remodelled. The chancel was rebuilt again in 1851. In 2001 the Church of England Benefice of Ascott-under-Wychwood, Chadlington and Spelsbury merged with that of Enstone and Heythrop to form the Chase Benefice"
West end of the church and the entrance
South side
South side looking east
North side
East end with the two transepts
Looking south over the churchyard
A few of the older headstone with foot stones move up by them
Crosses and headstones
The churchyard here had a mixture of old and new headstons
I was trying to keep out of the way of the people recording the graves, one of them was the other side of these trees
The one Commonwealth war grave of Trooper D.F.Wakefield
The person I talked to in the churchyard said these headstones had yet to be recorded they looked from around the 1700's
He also mentioned these two which stand out but have been forgotten about
Older headstone near the east end of the church
The church looking south east
South side view
View from after walking in the church
Inside the nave
Chancel arch with oval window over it
Altar & east window
East Window;
This tomb dominated the chancel
There are other magnificent memorials
I liked how this one had a couple of urns in a recess
Memorial to George Pickering dated 1645
These carvings on the chancel arch are more recent one with the roll of honour for WWII hung below it
More memorials and tombs
The oldest one I think came off a tomb and is dated 1677
The pulpit
Wide view form it
Normal view
North aisle though the arches
At the end of the south aisle a screen blocks off the transept
On the north aisle an arch leads in to the transept
A font cover is on he floor as you walk in
And this really magnificent tomb
The carving of Christ with angels looking over him
This is what you see hung on the wall
The entrance with the font
There are a couple of Funerary Hatachments to see
One hangs above this stained glass window over the Roll of Honour
The list from both wars
Memorials of the Earls of Litchfield and family members can be seen on the north side
Along with this beautiful Funerary Hatachment
5 comments:
Seeing those elaborate tombs within the church was so different from some of the others you've shared on your tours, Billy. Beautiful! May your week be a blessed one, too.
The welcome message on the font makes one feel at peace in such a lovely old church. Thank you as always Bill for visiting this church and graveyard. May your and your family experience a peaceful week.
Very substantial building, but your interior shots are filled with light. Nice.
A special church indeed.
I'm very happy about the contribution to MosaicMonday again.
Kind regards from Heidrun
I love how passionate you are about these buildings. Thank you for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
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