All Saints Shirburn

Now I have visited this place a few times but did not know how to visit till I finally had a a look on a gate leading to the churchyard. You have to go to the Keyholder nearby at the  Shirburn Estate Office for the key and you can only visit during the week between 9 & 4. you can also phone the office and arrange an appointment to visit  After going to Watlington church I went along to Shirbourne. The church dates back to the 11th or 12th century and was rebuilt in 1876. It has its own Wikipedia page so I'll let you have a look at the link for more info. The church is now looked after by the Church Conservation Trust

Your fist view of the church coming in the churchyard

Little over to the West in this shot

I was told to not go outside the perimeter fence as that took you on to the private part of the estate so seeing the North side was out but I took this shot along the North wall to the chapel over the fence

Above the south chapel and on the right the east end of the church

The porch taking you in the church

Inside the church is quite dark as there are no electric lights, quite common with redundant churches

The Chancel

The chancel and altar

The altar with screen at the back

Looking back along the nave 

Another view of the nave form the chancel

left the pulpit and right the lectern which is double sided

 The view from the pulpit

Above the North transept chapel with pews in

Along part of the North aisle

Looking at the nave with the font in the foreground 

Left the font and right a funeral bier, don't often see these

I wonder when this was last used to carry some one to the churchyard

The stained glass window in the bell tower

The South transept chapel and the stained glass window in it

The West or Chancel window

Better view of the window in the Tower and right one in the chancel

In a reflective mood here

On the wall of the South transept you can see this memorial

The cross is on the South wall and on the East wall you can see this church brass

You coats of arms in a lot of churches but this one is unusual 

Above a family memorial  with coat of arms

and skull & crossbones at the base

Over on the South chapel you can see lots of family memorials

The are all from the same family

in the end of the chapel now used as a vestry are some tombs

and this mug on the table along with another memorial

You can see the roll of honour for Shirburn in the church as well

The North transept

closer shot of the inside

Part of the North chapel has now got the organ in it

Nice as it is I always think they look out of place. Right the choir  stalls and prayer desk

Outside for a quick walk around the churchyard

As it was shaded there was still frost on the ground

Though most of the headstones are suffering from neglect now even the memorial in the wall suffer

Near the East end of the church

Looking over to the South side and what looks like a row of family graves

Ivy covering headstones

Moss growing on others

Above a double headstone with moss and lichen


Left the Family group of crosses

Headstones and a family vault

Overgrown with grass and moss covered headstones

Snowdrops were everywhere

covering the churchyard

With that I will leave you with this view of the church and wish you a great May Bank Holiday Weekend

St Laurence North Hinksey

I visited this church back in 2010 and had forgotten about it until now. I used to pass by it on my way home from work as the road it is on exits to the A34 and by chance decided to stop after having my car serviced at a dealer not far from the village.
The history I found comes from Royal Berkshire History
"Until the 18th century, North Hinksey Church was a mere chapel under the control of Cumnor Parish Church. The building is mostly of 12th century date, with a western tower added a hundred years later. It features windows of various periods and a fine mid-12th century south door with chevron ornamentation and animal head stops. The church was partly restored in Victorian times.
The stonework of the tower incorporates parts of the old font as well as the head of the 13th century preaching cross, the steps and shaft of which can be seen in situ in the churchyard. It is gabled and displays one hand of the figure of a Calvary. Internal features include a number of tablets with cherubim to the 17th century Fynmore family. Other than the manor, they owned the only estate of any importance in the parish, as well as the lucrative ferry across the Thames to Oxford."

My first view of the church after walking in the churchyard

Going nearer I noticed this little fellow run off

Above left the East end of the church and right the entrance porch

The tower looked quite different to what I had come across at the time

The stained glass windows I could see from the outside looked like the would be impressive to see inside

The churchyard also was full of headstones and memorials

with a few overgrown with ivy

The path was also edged with old miss placed headstones another thing I had not seen before

The stump of a preaching cross makes a good focal point in the churchyard

A final look back to the church on the edge of the village. I only stopped off for a short time and the door was locked so I could not get photos of the inside which was probably for the best as back then I never had a tripod like I use now. There is also a church of the same name in the next village of South Hinksey which I hope to visit when I return to see Botley Commonwealth War Cemetery nearby so I will see if I can get some photos of the inside of both churches them

May I wish you a peaceful weekend

Watlington Churchyard

Going on from last week with a tour around the churchyard at St Leonard Watlington.

There is a fare bit of frontage to St Leonard but the graves are sparse here with only this Tomb chest standing out, any headstones that were here have long gone

Going along the south side of the church proves better with many older headstones on show

The one above looked particularly  old

Above another older headstone with inscription just about readable.

Left the churchyard at the east end of the church looks more recent

One of the headstones that stuck out belonging to Jennifer Piper

I did like the carving of the Jenny Wren at the top

Further along you come into an area of older headstones again

which are in an idyllic situation of woods growing around them

You will also see the headstone of
Private W.W.Lamport  nearby
 Walk on a little further and you pass a fenced marking the extension of the churchyard and the more recent burials of the parish

Turn around an you look back through the old part

Lawrence A Batten I can  only assume was a fireman from the engraving of an engine on the headstone

One point in the extension that stands out is this cross, nearby memorial tiles are let in along the stones

Above Andrew Patrick Brown who from the badge was in the US Medical Corps


Right looking across the new part of the churchyard

On the way back through the old part I noticed the marker of  General Sir John Mogg

The older part of the churchyard

The churchyard held a few more Commonwealth war graves

Bombardier Herbert Edward Jones

Private H.J.young

Private A.E.Paget

Corporal George Edward Hoar

You can see their graves amongst the other headstones

A covered wooden cross on one grave

While in another part the marker of Lt Col Fred Basset R.A and his wife Mary was in danger of being covered in grass

A crucifix serves as a monumental for one family  in the churchyard

The old churchyard with path running through the centre

An old family vault with the names still readable on it

Finally I walked out by the yew tree near the church and left for the next church on my list to visit.

Till next time Take care and have a peaceful weekend