St Lawrence Besselsleigh

 

Normally I follow a pattern and post the churches in order of when were visited and the photos were taken, this week I am breaking this rule and showing one I visited a couple of weeks ago. St Lawrence Besselsleigh is a small village if you could call it that because it only comprises of  a few houses and a Manor. I passed it while going to work in Oxford spotting it sat back off the road one day. I always remember the church because it looked old and thought I would like to have a look at it some time. A couple of weeks ago I made the opportunity to go along. Some history of Wikipedia

"The Church of England parish church of Saint Lawrence existed by the 12th century, and the west wall, Norman south door and possibly some other parts survive from this time. The church was rebuilt in the latter part of the 13th century, which is the date of the Decorated Gothic west window of the nave and east window of the chancel. Most of the other windows are Perpendicular Gothic: that in the north wall of the chancel from the 14th century and others in the church from the 15th century.

In 1632 William Lenthall paid for St Lawrence's to be "beautified and repaired" and in 1788 William John Lenthall paid for further works on the church. The font is 17th century and the pulpit is 18th century. St Lawrence's is a Grade II* listed building.

Since 2015 the St Lawrence's Church has not been in regular use, and is not normally open for visitors"

From the road it is not easy to see now with the trees that grow nearby and hide the church. It is set off in a layby which looks like and old road which was bypassed by the present A420, I might add turning off into the layby is not easy with all the traffic that runs past.

One of the trees which obscure your view of the church is to the left 

The porch on the church is not as old as other parts of the church, above you can see the two bells in their cote

Going around he outside of the church does not take long being as it is a single cell building

Going around to the North side 

This is the north side of the churchyard which as you can see if not large 

This is looking east on the south side

A large family plot takes up the area near the west end of the church

You see this part as you walk in the gate

Nearer the church at the west end

 

Looking over to the east

 

One of the old windows which had quite clear glass 

The churchyard south of the church looking west

 

Looks a bit like wood but is stone

The Lenthall family is listed on both sides of this headstone

 

This one looks just forgotten about

 

But the inscription below is still readable 

 

Two of the Ashfield Family headstones

 

Wedge shaped tomb

 

Family tomb around the north side

While I was around the back as the church was locked I looked though the window and saw this

 

Going around the south side I took another photo of the altar

 

The church was looking more interesting

 

and even more so looking through the west window

The locked door

Where on the post I spotted this mass dial

Another mass dial on the arch.

That was it I felt I had to come back so phoned the number on the notice board to see what it would be possible to do so. I was asked by the lady  if I was there and told she would be there in 5 minuets I could not believe my luck so here is what it looks like inside

 

This how the church looks inside from the back

The altar

Another view showing the altar  & east window

Looking back to the west end

 

This is the mural you see in the last photo

 

This is looking the other way

 

 The pulpit with a sounding board above.

 

Your quite high in the pulpit and do look down on the pews

The other way showing the box pews

The font is quite small

The church also had quite a few memorials 

The was memorial for Besselsleigh I might add back then it was in Berkshire

 

There are a couple of  funerary hatchments on the walls

 

These are on the north wall

 

On the south one to rector Thomas Davies

 

Henry Foulkes and his wife Mary

 

Quite a beautiful memorial this one

 

Henry Benson Wyndham Ball Lenthall

Ronald William Amey known as Ron who was head of the Amey quarrying and construction company.

He was nearby during the war when a Bomber crashed and along with some US army personnel tried to save the crew who unfortunately all died. The pilot, Sgt DC Adamson is buried at the Commonwealth war cemetery in nearby Botley.

Norman pillar piscina with a decorated stem and scallops at the top.

 

 

An old cabinet which is unusual in that it has wooden wheels on it

 

These beautiful painted angels look down on you

 

They are a little blurry as I was zooming in with my iphone

 

They are on each side of the church

 

This may well be the foundation stone by the altar

 

 

Really like the way they retained the old oil laps

 

Which you can see have been converted to electric lamps

While walking around the churchyard I noticed these little white flower growing so I will leave you with them. 

Till next time I wish you a peaceful weekend

St John the Baptist Stanton St John (Inside)

 

Last week I showed St John the Baptist Stanton St John from around the outside and quite forgot that I have been inside to take photos so this week I will remedy that and show you around the inside of the church.

Start with another look over the churchyard towards the church. I checked the door and was surprised to find it open so not wanting to look a gift horse in the eye I went in.

The first view in the church looking from the south aisle

 Turn right and you looked down the south aisle to the altar

 Which is lit by this beautiful engraved  window

 It is quite stunning to look at

 

The Millennium Window made to mark  the year 2000 and commissioned from Miss Sally Scott this not the first piece of her work I have come across in Oxfordshire

Over to the main aisle looking down the nave

Into the chancel

The Altar and east window

Looking back through the chancel arch to the west end of  the church

Windows on the north side of the chancel

This one is on the south side and looked to have some older glass in it

Might be made to look old by the Victorians

Couple of the memorials on the north aisle wall

and a whole row of bequests now along a screen at the back where the crèche is

Memorial to Jonathan Mather and his wife Mary from around 1739 the wording is fading a little

Memorial to Margaret Wheatland dated 1741

Floor memorial in the south aisle

This one and another nearby are under a bench seat, the skull was what I noticed

This floor tomb to a couple of Grant brothers by different mothers

Thomas Burch dated 1678

Sir John Thomson who was High Sheriff and Lord Lieutenant

Steps leading to the pulpit

Where you get this view of the nave

The organ over in the north aisle

Which looks to have been added where the altar would have been

Towards the back is the font

Just over to the left of the north aisle is this doorway that would have lead to a rood loft and now just ends with a wall

I presume it would have come out up on the left in the corner

The painting in the centre is this royal coat of arms which is faded

Memorial to Lionel Davidson

Top memorial is to Edward Hamley and the one below to John Anderson Davis

This one is to Laurence Squib as far as I can make out

This one was very hard to read

along with this one

May well have been a holy water stoup

 

I will leave you here with this shot of the altar cross under the beautiful engraves window of the south aisle.

In case you have not noticed I have taken over looking after Inspired Sunday so take time to visit the other places of worship that have been posted

Till Next time Take care and have a peaceful weekend