St Mary the Virgin Hambelden

This week the Church Explorer  visits St Mary the Virgin Hambelden on the start of some visits to Buckinghamshire as I felt it was time I ventured outside Oxfordshire. The churches I will be visiting are north of Henley on Thames. Before you read on I did not take that may churchyard photos and missed out on some especially as there is another cemetery further out of the village where Jon Lord is buried

" Saint Mary the Virgin's church dates from the 14th century and includes a conspicuous memorial to Cope D'Oyley (who died in 1633) and his family. The tower contains eight bells and the ceiling is quite intricately decorated in parts." There is more in depth history on Britain Express 

 The Lychgate taking you into the churchyard

Two paths one take you to the church the other around the churchyard

Straight to the church through the yew trees

West end looking a the tower

Around the north side looking at the transept which has a blocked archway

North east side

East end, I have to wonder if the napped flint filled recesses were memorial once

Around the south east side

Large monument in the churchyard is for the Lane family

Clearer view of the south side of the church

Porch and a notice telling you the church is open, always a good sign

Churchyard south of the church

Couple of crosses marking related people

Row of tombs no doubt related

Around the north side looking towards the Kenrick Mausoleum 

Nice crop of snowdrops

Over towards the south east side of the churchyard

Back to the porch

In the nave looking down to the crossovers

It was quite dark with out the lights, the chancel with north and south trasepts

The chancel looks long with the choir stalls 

Chancel proper

The altar and east window, the light coverings make it bright

The east window

Looking back past the choir stalls

From the arch through to the nave

In the chancel you can see this tomb recess

But what I thought might be inscriptions but it's in the form of a prayer and the person who is buried here is Elizabeth

Sidilia & Piscina  

There is a name for this chair but I have forgotten what it is

Some of the memorials 

Choir stalls with the organ behind

On the other side they front a chapel

The pulpit not that hight

View from the pulpit

The south transept

South transept window

North transept

And the window which is a lot plainer 

North transept memorials, the blocked arch you saw on the outside is to the left

The organ is just off the transept

One of the windows with more colourd glass

Memorial the words are quite faded so harder to read

Carvings on it as still very vibrant

Tomb recess which seems to be used as storage 

Memorial to Richard, infant son of Rev Hind and his wife

Memorial and church brass from a tomb 

The memorial of Anne Hind 

Huntley memorial

Lancet window with stained glass

I think this is the Campaign box of Lord Cardigan famous for the Charge of the Light Brigade, he was born in Hambleden Manor  

This is sort of hidden behind the organ and I suspect was the  D'Oyley chapel 

This is the  D'Oyley memorial if it is not their tomb they would be buried nearby 

Cope D'Oyley his wife and children

Four boys, note one holding a skull

There are five girls as well,  three hold skulls 

Collage of the children holding skulls who I suspect did not survive their parents

Cope D'Oyley and his wife Martha 

He died in 1633 and she died in 1613

The top part of the memorial

Tomb in the floor of the chapel

And a second, neither are of the D'Oyley family

Few more memorials 

South transept has a diplay 

and this rather nice altar

Couple of chairs

I found this of interest finding out who founded the poppy factory, he is buried in the churchyard

The book listing who died surrounded by crosses

This beautiful stained glass widow is in the transept 

This one is opposite on the east wall

Nearby the screen separate's off the Lady Chapel 

The lady chapel 

Prayer desk for someone to kneel at

The altar and the wast window

Stained glass window above

Picture of the Madonna and Child

Memorial not as old as you might thin and is to William and Emily Smith was was the first Viscountess Hambleden dated 1914

South windows

Prayer desk and altar

Eagle lectern 

Banner for St Mary the Virgin Hambleden Mothers Union 

Stained glass window

Second one 

Smith memorial plaque

More memorials

On the south west end of the church by the arch are memorials

Couple of church brass ones from a tomb

Edmund Falkner is remembered

Richard and his wife Mary, they died in 1776

North west side

Blocked north door used as a prayer board

Memorial from 1678

Georgina Kay

Even over the arch, though you cannot read them 

Not sure what the urn and pillar are for 

These three look puritan he looks smug the two women no doubt his wife's look like they are scowling at him  

In Latin from 1685 

West window in the tower

You will also find this memorial to Raffe Scrope who died in 1572

I will leave you with this beautiful carved Norman font

Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week