Holy Trinity Headington

I tried to visit this church a while ago but failed after going the wrong direction. This time I had it all planned out even phoning before hand to check where to park. The Holy Trinity Church Headington Quarry is not as old as you would think, being built in 1848 and designed by George Gilbert Scott. The foundation stone was laid by Samuel Wilberforce, the Bishop of Oxford who's idea it was to have it built there. The locals did not like the idea of the church being thrust on them so boycotted it at first.  I had found out rather a famous author was buried there so it was one of my reasons for visting.

This is  the main entrance off  Trinity road and there only a turning circle there for the local houses

I came in off Quarry road which is the back way so this was the view I had

 Looking left showed many old headstones in the churchyard

 The Preaching cross here is also the War Memorial for both wars

With crosses and wreath left from Remembrance day

 Sgt Norman Allen died on 13 Jan 1941 aged 19

The Holy Trinity Church

Looking from the east end of the churchyard

North side view showing a small extension 

Another view of the north side showing  the north  aisle

The entrance porch and bell tower

One of the reasons for visiting was to find a grave which you can just see on the left by the fir tree

It's the one to C.S Lewis

 The grave has become somewhat discolored with green agile growing from being under a tree but people visit and leave flowers

Nearby you can see other graves some which stand out more than others











 

A second wooden cross only without the crucifix

Celtic cross and headstone

Headstones & crosses C S Lewis grave is to the left if you follow the sign on the wall

A cross tilting over and an angel

Some  of the graves looked new and well tended

Others were under the yew tree

 

Two of the war graves in the churchyard

Looking across the north side of the churchyard

Looking west across the churchyard

 

Seems odd to come across another Lewis in the churchyard though this one died in 1917

Looking down the nave in the church

This is the view of the church as you come through the door

Behind you can see the stone font at the back of the church
and above this wonderful stained glass window

I got a bit out of sing taking photos on this occasion and nearly forgot to get a photo of the stone pulpit and lectern

or the the beautiful advent candle display

 The Altar & tapestry backdrop

But I was mesmerized by this stunning chancel window

Turning round in the chancel you get this view down the nave

another stood just in front of the chancel

 This tapestry I thought was amazing

The dedication on the bottom of the chancel window to the fallen from the Second World War

You can see some more nice stained glass in the church

The church organ over to the side of the chancel

headstop a the base of the chancel arch

The Mothers Union banner and some of their wok with the kneelers

The lady Chapel

The icon of the Madonna
and a statue in the nave

Not sure if it is stained glass but is a panel in front of the window in the Lady chapel

The cot of arms of is above the Narnia windo

and this is the Narnia window which for the life of me I could not get a good photo of. It's frosted glass but would need sunlight to get a photo. I ended up using flash

Headington Cemetery

Headington Cemetery was built in 1885 after it was found that in 1880 there was a urgent need fro new a new burial ground due to the expansion of the village and the fact the churchyard was full. At first it was a long cemetery road but that was renamed Dunstan after St Dunstan who was Archbishop of Canterbury and crowned King Ethelred, who allegedly had his palace nearby.
The Cemetery closed for new burials in 2003

The emblem of Oxford City Council which you will see on the gates of the cemetery's they run

and the main entrance to Heddington cemetery

first thing you see coming through the gates is this wonderful little chapel

which no doubt still looks good today as it did when it was built

The Norman stile arch doorway is a nice feature

Not far away you can see the old mortuary where the dead were stored before burial. It's now used as  the groundsmen as a canteen where they can take a brake

 I had visited the cemetery before and on this occasion I was at the Hospital next door so came in the back way

the hospital can be seen in the distance. Most of the graves you see here are the newer ones of people buried in family graves

One of the first things I noticed this time was there are a number of Commonwealth War graves, about 20 in all. These three are from the First World War

M.Woodcock died a few days before Armistice day on the 11th November. You can read about her here

 Other graves are from the second war

from different regiments
and services

 I only noticed the name on this one when I wrote the blog, he is related to M Woodcock from the First war

Headington Cemetery covers two acres  but if you head over to the corner here you heart will break

Here you will find the graves of children who have died

 Follow the path you come to this section, the path is lined with the names of a child no longer with us

The Oxford SANDS memorial

 

The headstone on the left is huge and is one of the notable stones  but I also noticed the Regimental  motives a few of them as well

on the way back up the cemetery I noticed the back of the headstone to Bill Hebborn






Harry Pollitt was another I noticed with the winged Pegasus, the words of the back told the story, Both Bill & Harry fought in6th Airborne.

 Looking round the older part of the cemetery which is left overgrown

You can see some impressive crosses in the cemetery

 along with many smaller headstones

Quite a few ornate looking crosses

Some laid over

 

or becoming lost to time. The headstone is to the first Dean of Oxford Polytechnic now Brooks University 

  Some of the headstones from other nationalities and I wonder what they say

But I will leave you today with this inscription on a headstone which I think is Wonderful. 

Happy New Year