St Nicholas & St Swithun Yelford

 

This was the church I had meant to visit after  visiting Stanlake but I spent longer there than I expected so left the visit fro another time. As it was I made  second visit to Stanlake for more photos of the inside. Yelford is a very small village along narrow roads and you park opposite the front gates of some ones property and walk down a track that is almost hidden from view beside the entrance to the property

"The small Church of England parish church of Saint Nicholas and Saint Swithun may have been founded as a chapel by 1221, when Philip of Hastings was recorded as patron of the living. It was completely rebuilt in about 1500. It was restored at some time between 1869 and 1873, which may be when the bellcote was added"

 After walking down the path you come to the church 

Porch leading to the church

Left what looks to me like the stump of a preaching cross, right this came off the church roof

On the porch you can see this interesting looking carving

If you rotate the photo it makes a little more sense. I'm told it is a window head carving from the 11th or 12th century. It could have come from Eynsham Abbey during the dissolution and the porch was built 

Graffiti LT 1817 who ever that was

More graffiti which has even older dates on

Porch and main door in to the church

It was very light in the church so no need to turn the lights on

The church looking from the back

Rood screen which is 15th century

The chancel with choir stalls either side

Altar and east window

The well  dressed altar

Looking back to the rood screen

No doubt these were added in Victorian times and have weathered the days, they are in better condition than others I have seen, the plinths probably held a statue of a saint at one time

Nice floral display in a brown jug

The font which looks like it is as old as the church, the organ and pulpit  on the other hand much more recent

The preacher can really see all his parishioners from here

 

I noticed this quilting hanging over a pew so laid it out on the table nearby. Some one put a lot of work into making it, seems a pity for it not to be seen.

Till Next time May I wish you all a wonderful weekend 

St Giles Stanlake

 

I have driven through Stanlake on many occasions  but never realised  St Giles Stanlake was there, turned out the church was out of sight of the road we drove along out the back of the village. From the outside the church looks as though it is old and inside I found there was lots to see. I had to wait for a service to finish before going in as I did not like to go in and disturb everyone. Normally I add some history off Wikipedia but this time I added a link to St Giles own page that you can read You might need to get a Coffee to read though the blog as it is quite long

Sky looks little dark because I had a filter on the lens

Looking across the churchyard towards the west end of the church

Porch and spire

East end with blocked chancel window

West end showing the spire

Down the north side to the north transept

north aisle looking west

East end of the church with north transept

West end with spire

From the main entrance off the road you come to the village war memorial

Some of the headstones near the porch

I've been coming across a few of these type chest tombs, I think they are called pillow or bale tombs

Collage of the churchyard

This corner is a bit of a puzzle, it looks like there was a chapel here, the blocked door, window and arch hint that they were open at one time

The area is covered in tombs, Family chapel?

More old headstones

The far west end is where the more recent burials are

Which looks quite full now though there looks to be another part beyond the trees to the right

The church framed between a couple of conifers

If you look around by the west end you will find an ordinance survey bench mark with what look suspiciously like mass dials

Inside the porch

The nave looking towards the chancel arch

Iphone shot

The chancel arch, with arches leading off to the transepts

Closer view of the chancel arch, if you look to the right of the top of the arch you can see a door, this would have taken you out on the rood loft that would have been there

The altar table which is used for services

Inside the chancel with choir stalls either side

Going towards the altar

Altar and east window

Altar and east window

The old altar

A beautifully carved figure of Christ carrying the cross

Looking back through the nave to the back

The west end with a could of memorials on it, the door I assume leads to the bell ropes

Choir stall with carvings on them

The three stained glass lancet windows

Over to the right another stained glass window

There are other stained glass windows to see

This one looks to be looks to be made of medieval glass

Close up of the stained glass which is in the South transept chapel 

Look up in the chancel at the roof an see angels looking down

They are beautifully carved

Each playing a musical instrument

I could not tell you what this one is playing

The pulpit, I did not get a photo from it as I did not want to get all the lady's who were in the church in the photo

North and south aisles

Memorials on the walls

Strickland family memorials over the north door

 

 

 I was struck by the corbels around the church

 

So much so I made a second visit, these are very old and still have paint on the,
 

 

 The bottom one looks gruesome but has been damaged but looks to me like a woman with medieval headdress on

 

 

One one the other reasons for returning was the nave has angles looking down on you as well

 

 The carving is amazing

 

South transept east window

 

 It's also where you find the font, the old cover was removed as the pulley above was considered unsafe

 

Headless statue which has paint on, I could not tell you it's origin

 

 

 An unpainted statue of St John the Evangelist with the eagles claws  on his arm

 

The carvings on the ends of the pews and quite some thing to look at

 

 St Catherine

 

Other interesting items in the church

 

Floor memorials in the shape of a cross, I doubt they are original but laid when the floor was replaced 

 

I will lave you with this photo of one of the Angles  in the chancel

Till next time I wish you all a wonderful weekend