I have bee revisiting some of the first churches I went to mainly to update the photos as some are not as good as what I take now. St Matthew Harwell is not far away so as what not. This is the last church I will be publishing this year as next week is Christmas and after that I will be writing up my review of 2025
The Church of England parish church of Saint Matthew may date from the 11th century.[4] In 1962, The Times reported that walling had been found west of the tower indicating where a former nave had been.[4] The herringbone layering of the masonry suggested that an 11th-century date is likely.[4] At the same time a pewter chalice from about 1200 was found.[4] The present nave, east of the tower, was built in about 1200.[4] This second nave has north and south aisles with three-bay arcades.[4] The west tower may have been at the same time, but its Early English Gothic bell openings suggest that it may not have been finished until the middle of the 13th century.[5] The Decorated Gothic chancel is early 14th century and has a five-light east window.[5] The rood screen is probably of the same date, but the screen's Perpendicular Gothic top is later.[5]
The tower has a ring of eight bells. Joseph Carter, who was Master bellfounder at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and also had a foundry at Reading,[6] cast the fourth bell in 1590 and the seventh bell in 1597.[7] William Yare of Reading[6] cast the third and fifth bells in 1611 and the sixth and tenor bells in 1612.[7] John Taylor & Co of Loughborough cast the treble and second bells in 1932,[7] completing the present ring. St. Matthew's also has a Sanctus bell cast by Robert I Wells[7] of Aldbourne,[6] Wiltshire in the 18th century. There is a single-handed clock on the tower's west face. In 1975, a two-storey extension was built on the north wall which now includes a parish office.[citation needed] A new church hall was built in 1994.[citation needed] St Matthew's parish now shares a rector with the parish of All Saints, Chilton.
Wide view of St Matthew from the churchyard
Looking south west
From the south west
East end
From the south east across the churchyard
From the north east
From the north west, the extension now holds the church office and meeting rooms
Path taking you to the offices
By now you might have noticed the lack of headstones in the churchyard, well they line the edges of the paths
Going up near the porch
Headstone lined path from the east entrance
Many of then you can read what is carved
The might be missing a grave but at least this was people are remembered
I think it is a nice way to be remembered rather than the headstone falling down and being forgotten
This shocked me a little with the lack of seating
Rather than seating like on my first visit the church was open
To put it bluntly it felt a bit barn like
Chancel arch and rood screen
The 14th century `rood screen
From over near the south aisle
In the chancel
Longer view of the chancel
The altar and east window
Simple altar and covering
Looking back to the chancel arch
I think the chancel is used for some services as the lectern is behind the altar rails
One side of the rood screen
The back of the rood screen
looking back out to the nave
Pulpit with a nice floral display
View out of the pulpit
Over in the transept is the organ
Which fills it up nicely
This is what and organ looks like form the back
You can also find these tablets there
Looking over to the north transept
From the north to the south
At the back are stairs leading to an office and this is the church from them
Collage of memorials
Sidilia seats
A stoup from the look of things
Memorial with heads which all look rather miserable even the skull
Memorial to Christopher Smith who was a native of the parish
Floor tomb
Memorial for Elizabeth Bateman
Some relocated church brasses
Memorials in the corner
Either side of the east window
Field Marshall Sir P.W.Chedwode if it is the same person in the link I wonder how he had time to be a lay rector
Memorial to Evelyn Jessie Evans
One to Richard Rice
The rolls of Honour
Love the candelabra
Some lead off the roof with the roofers initials
This fellow was sat in the window
Corbels and capitals
some stitch work banners
Looking to the north aisle
And the south aisle
Royal British legion flags and a couple of RAF shields
Pemorial to Pilot Officer Valentine Baker
Norman tub font with cover
Cover on the font
From the door as we go
As this is the last blog before Christmas I went back for a photo of the Tree
Which had this lovely Nativity scene underneath
All that remains is to Wish you all a very Happy Christmas & New year
No comments:
Post a Comment