St Peter & St Paul Wantage

I originally published this blog back in 2013 and at the time decided I would revisit the church a week or so I did so in this update you will find some old photos mixed in with some of the new ones I took
 Wantage sits by the Berkshire Downs (now it is in Oxfordshire) and was once a prominent market town, they still have a market there every ween as you can see in the photo below taken back in 2013. The church itself dominates the town which is famous for  King Alfred the Great who in legend burnt the cakes . His statue  stands facing the church  in the market square (well he was born in the town) he also used to have the odd bit of underwear hung on him after school end of term party's.  The town it's self is quiet with many historical ties and has a small museum you can visit along with various coffee shops and tea houses or if you like the pubs. Wantage also was a spur for the old Wilts & Berks canal and much trade was done that way till it closed in the 19th century because of the Railway but even now the town does not have a nearby station. From Wantage you can visit much of the surrounding countryside & towns and lucky on both the days I visited it was sunny.

King Alfred the Great









  Looking towards the market square

The chancel end of the church which was having some renovation done at
 the time this has now been removed
 















And a gargoyle watching the proceedings

This is the church today

Gargoyles to pour rainwater on some unsuspecting person

The churchyard

Some of the older headstones in the churchyard.

The north side of the church

Where you can find some interesting history

and what looks like a memorial plaque

Towsey Memorial on the South Wall

 Going inside the church you are greeted by this view towards the organ

When the church was reordered about ten years ago the organ was restored and moved to the back with the loss of the view to some of the stained glass

Mind you there are some beautiful candelabras in the church

The altar in the centre of the tower and looking through towards the Chancel taken back in 2013

I had to adjust the color on this view looking to the chancel as it was very dark

The Cancel in St Peter & St Paul

The Altar and Chancel Window

Chapel with some superb stained glass windows, taken in 2013

This is the chapel when I visited in 

The Ormond Family Memorials in the chapel, the and the Mothers Union Banner

Choir stalls and rood screens 

Arches and stained glass

Tomb effigies to Sir William Fizwaryn  I think the tomb was covered with an arch at one time but some has been destroyed

The coat of arms of Sir William

There are some interesting memorials on the wall as well.

The font with font cover and the memorial near by

memorial to a Hopeful young Gentleman

The war memorial at the back of the north aisle

You can see some great stained glass in the church

The window at the end of the North aisle

 

 

The South Aisle on the left and North on the right

The Stamp family Memorial and the rater nice Pulpit

One of the floral displays in the church

couple of the very nice church brasses now on the walls

 The rood screen leading to the chapel

Floral arrangement by the Madonna & child statue

The War memorial near St Peter & St Paul

I will leave you week with a view of the sun reflecting through the glass which I took in 2013 which for some reason I could not recreate this time .
 Have a wonderful Sunday

St John The Baptist Kingston Bagpuize

St John The Baptist Kingston Bagpuize is a church I have passed by on the road many times, mainly glancing it through the gate as we drove past. It's been on my todo list for a while and on Saturday I had the chance visit while at a wood yard up the road. Unfortunatly I found the door locked but there was a list of churchwardens you can phone to gain access

This is the view of the church you see coming through the gate

Going across the churchyard gives this view which I though very pleasing as it was different to most other churches I vist.

Heading  round the west end of the churchyard

then across the churchyard to view it from this angle

South side view of the church

A.E.Henley  Royal Berkshire Regiment 6th October 1915 Age 20.

Part of the churchyard

I think this may be the church hall which has been added, nice see it's not just built on the side like many

The churchyard on the south side

One of the headstones in good condition

others not so and covered in brambles

The large tomb you see in the churchyard

and the inscription

J.A.Martin Royal Artillery 14th October 1940 age 38  

He is buried with the rest of the family in the churchyard

View across the east side of the churchyard near the entrance

Moss covered Tombs

Looking across the very neat churchyard, the far wall has a gate

leading to a newer cemetery, this part is for cremations

and nearby burials

St John The Baptist

Spring is here snowdrops can be seen growing again bringing new beginnings 

You can see the inside from my return visit here 

Enjoy your weekend