St Mary the Virgin Speen

 

This week the Church Explorer take a trip to West Berkshire and four churches that I decided to visit near Newbury. After my trips to north Oxfordshire and churches in Oxford  where I was spoiled with open churches I was really disappointed to find that not one of the churches on this trip were open.  

Not a great deal of history on the church but this is what is on Wiki 

"The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin is late Saxon and is the oldest church in Berkshire. It is the burial place of Giovanni Battista Castiglione (1515–98), Elizabeth I's Italian tutor and servant, who was given the nearby Benham Valence house and park in 1570"

The south side from the path

South side looking east, getting a side view of the south was not possible 

Going around the north side

A few taken with my iphone. South east end of the church

South west

North side view

Across the north side of the churchyard is this lychgate, the path will take you to a place called the Ladywell, if I go back I will see if I can get a photo

East end of the church

East view of the church again looking over the churchyard 

As you walk in the churchyard there are a lot of headstones and tomb chests to see

Most the inscription has gone off them

 

This part looks more recent though I am not sure 

 

Looking across the east of the church

Graves line ether side of the path

Headstones and tombs, the two headstones at the top still have the rough outline of the cherubs on them

Going around the west end of the church

The north side is huge, you can see the lychgate to the left in the distance

From by the lychgate, there must have been a lot of rain a few days before because a lot of soil had been washed down the path through the gate into the churchyard covering some memorials 

The north side also seems to have more recent burials 

Lot of crosses near the boundary north of the churchyard, the near two are wood

Commonwealth war grave of Sergent R.L.Philby who was a pilot RAF 19th October 1942

Near the fence was a lot of small crosses all similar in looks

One of the crosses

Couple of different type tombs

View down to the church

I will leave you with my favorite photo of the church. I'll see if I can get back here to see inside as I'm intrigued that the church is the oldest in Berkshire, the outside does not give that impression.

Till Next time may I wish you all a peaceful week 

St Barnabas Oxford

 

The third of my churches on this visit to Oxford was St Barnabas in Jerico a short walk from the Woodstock road. This church effectively is the last church I visit that I can go inside from the book Oxfordshires Best Churches. I will be visiting the other two left for external photos. There is some history on St Barnabas in the Wiki link above

 St Barnabas from across the road

 As you walk down canal street, the canal is behind the church

This is from Cardigan street

 The blue plaque is on the wall of the bell tower

 From over the road

Along the south side of the church to the tower

 West end apse

 

East to the tower 

The door was locked when I go here and as I wondered what to do some Australian tourists stopped off to have a look but like me found it locked. I did wonder what to do and spotted a lady cutting some flowers from the church garden and asked if she know when it was open. Turned out she was a key holder and let us in so who ever she was Thank you

Inside the church which sort of makes you stand an look for a moment it is a testament to  pre-raphaelite artwork

Near to the altar and the east end apse

The altar is in the apse

I've not come across a covered altar like this

Gaze up at the figure looking down

The choir floor

In the center the brass of Montague Henry Noel  

Looking back from the altar

The pulpit really stood out

Even the stairs were painted

Looking up at art under the sound board

 Then to the nave from the pulpit

At the far end the arch to the apse

I don't know why but I did not get a photo of the font which has a cover over it

Collage of the font top and paintings behind

Church banner 

Two statues you can see in the church along with another beautiful banner 

Roll of honour from WWII

Another along the wall for WWI

It's one of the longer lists I have see for a parish, one name stood out A J B Hudson MC

The south aisle

Normally you find the stations of the cross in a catholic church

But you will find them in Anglo catholic churches as well

The go around the whole church

Children's area at the back of the south aisle

South aisle altar

The art of the arches on the north of the nave

View form the south aisle to the north

The artwork along the wall in the nave

You can tell is is pre-raphaelite  

I have to wonder if William Morris saw it 

 

Normally I would only show a few panels 

 

But they are so amazing

I posted them all

Looking up at the ceiling 

North aisle

Towards the nave and south asile

Near the altar

Which is stunning to look at 

The rerdos really does stand out

North aisle windows

Memorial in the church

Painting in the north aisle 

Kneeler by this statue where you can write who you would like who you would like a prayer said for

Mary with the infant Jesus

Remote organ

 

The altar and apse from the south 

 

Last look at the church

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week