St Peter Great Haseley

 

 

After visiting St Mary the Virgin in Great Milton  it was only a few miles to the next village of Great Haseley and St Peter's church. The church can be seen in the distance across the fields as you travel along the road to Thame. I have to admit I did not know what to expect with St Peter but was pleased with my first view when I parked up outside. Some history from Wikipedia

"The Church of England parish church of Saint Peter dates from about 1200. The three-bay arcades linking the nave with the north and south aisles are in a Transitional style from Norman to Early English Gothic, as is an external doorway that has been re-set on the west side of the bell-tower. The chancel and its arch were built late in the 13th century, and it retains all of its Decorated Gothic windows from that time. In the 14th century each aisle was extended eastwards with a fourth bay, and at the end of each aisle is a chapel with a squint into the chancel. The north-east chapel is Perpendicular Gothic, as are the bell-tower and the clerestory that was added to the nave. The Gothic Revival architect Thomas Garner restored the chancel in 1897. St Peter's is a Grade I listed building. The tower has a ring of six bells. Four of them — the present third, fourth, fifth and tenor bells — existed by 1552. In 1641 Ellis I Knight of Reading recast what are now the fourth and fifth bells and cast a new bell (now the second bell), increasing the ring to five. Late in the 1690s William and Robert Cor of Aldbourne, Wiltshire recast what is now the third bell. Thomas Rudhall of Gloucester recast the tenor bell in 1774 and cast a new treble bell in 1775, increasing the ring to six. In 1925 Gillett & Johnston of Croydon re-cast the treble and the third bells, an event watched by King George V and Queen Mary. Also in 1925 all six were re-hung in a new iron frame, which has capacity for the ring to be increased to eight.

St Peter's had a church clock by 1666, when it is first mentioned in the churchwardens' accounts. It was replaced by a new clock in 1759 or 1760. This in turn was replaced by the present clock, which was installed in 1865.

The churchyard contains one war grave from World War II, of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Muirhead, the first British Member of Parliament to die serving in the war.

St Peter's parish is now part of a single benefice with the parishes of Great Milton and Little Milton.^"

The view of the church from outside in the road

Above right the tower with the entrance to the church at the base, left a North side view showing the staircase on the side

The door wich is Norman to Early English Gothic 

The North side of the church showing the aisle

Above the North entrance door which from the look has not been used in years

Another view along the North side of the church looking West

A chapel which not doubt used as a vestry now

The East end showing the huge Chancel window

Looking across the churchyard to the South side of the church

Above the South aisle and tower

Looking East over the headstones South of the church

Above something I found very interesting the Porch on the south side of the church which is not used any more.  Right a view across the vast churchyard 

I liked the headstone of Rev Richard John Blakeway

Left pat of the churchyard where he is buried

An old chest tomb by the East end of the church which is listing over to one side and eroding

One Commonwealth War Grave of Dale Edward Gostick. When I noticed the date I felt very sad that he had lost his life in a recent conflict

Near the east end of the church are these graves

I did like this old headstone just a shame the words have eroded

An even older headstone

Above a Wooden cross the owners name gone

Lichen covered cross

Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Muirhead, the first British Member of Parliament to die serving in the war. I missed finding his grave as I was looking for a cross, after checking on Find a Grave I noticed it was near a cross leaning which is centre in left photo after cropping it I managed a clearer picture of it, I could also make out his name on the headstone in the original

Nice headstone with a vase of flowers

belonging to Christopher Hywel Edward Issac

I will leave you with this photo of a dove that is part of a cross in the churchyard and wish you all a Wonderful weekend. 

Till Next time Stay Safe 

St Mary Return Visit

While visiting St Mary the Virgin Great Milton I read a notice on the door telling me the church was open on Sunday. This gave me the opportunity to return to get photo's inside of St Mary and St Peter at Great Haseley which I visited after as it was I even visited Little Milton on the way home as that was open as well. I will be publishing St Peter over two blogs as well they were both well worth visiting. The photo's were taken using my iPhone and Canon EOS R6 camera which is the first time I have used it in a church so I am still getting used to it.

A shot to remind you were we are going today

The South entrance in the porch was still locked but the north door was open and I have to say the inside was more than I had hoped it would be

Here we looking down the nave to the chancel

Similar shot only wider angle

Going into the Chancel

 Above the altar beneath the huge chancel window in the East end

Above the altar screen which is beautifully carved

Left the Sedulla & Piscina with a

Above looking out of the chancel towards the nave

Carved chair by the North wall

Refection from the stained glass windows

Above the Lords Prayer on a panel on the East Wall 

Stained glass windows in the Chancel

The Stained Glass East Window above the Altar

Couple more of the stained glass windows

Above the Angel Corbel

The nave from the chancel arch. After meeting one of the parishioners who had come into the church he told me to look along the line of the church. It is out of line IE slight dogleg. Story goes when it was noticed that only God can make a church perfect

 

 

The nave as seen from the pulpit

Turning right towards the North aisle

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Above the Pulpit a beautiful wooden on with steps

 

Here we we have view of the North aisle left and South aisle right which I presume is the Lady chapel

When I walked in the church this tomb was one of the first things I noticed and could not wait to have  a look around it, the photos were taken using flash because it was quite dark in there. I found it after taking to a parishioner that it was not in the original position and should be in the South aisle where the lady chapel is and that it is hoped in the future it will be moved back so the area can be made into a kitchen line in many other churches. Means you can get a better look around and I will return if it gets moved

There are Three effigies these two are on the lower part and are a man with I presume his wife beside him

Above the lady showing the detail of her face.

Left the base of the tomb has figures carved in it

Above one of the coats of arms on the side of the tomb

The effigy that you can see on the top part of the tomb, it's about eye level

Standing back and viewing the top canopy of the tomb

Above the font decorated for the harvest festival

Right some of the memorials in the corner above the font

Above a section of stained glass you can see on the South Aisle

The North aisle where you can see a door and balcony

The Balcony with an entrance door and right doorway to the roodloft that used to be in the church

Left a closer view showing the door an balcony.

Right the old door that would have taken you to the rood loft 

Plaques that list bequests that have been left to the poor of the village

Memorial the Eldridge family Left and right a royal coat of arms

One of the staffs which are on the end of the aisle's in the church

Beautiful little angel on a windowsill in the chancel

There are quite a few memorials and tombs in the floor of the church, the one on the left has the coloured reflection of a window shining on it. Right memorial to Thomas Yong  who died in 1692

Above a tomb in the aisle 

Left these two tombs are in the North aisle makes me wonder if the chapel was dedicated to them

I think this roll of honour is one of the nicest ones I have see with all the names hand written

Left memorial to Johannes Smith. Right If I right this is part of a medieval twisted wreath

Beautiful eagle lectern 

Bench still decorated for Harvest festival

Leaning against the wall by the lady chapel is what looks like part of a tomb with brass in place

These could be the children or whoever was buried under it

Not the oldest on in the church but still in good condition 

 

Before I left the church the person I was talking to pointed out a few things like this carpenters mark, you could call it blatant advertising so you knew who to contact for work. I must admit I did look up for these but missed this one

 

 

 

Over in the chancel arch these blocks were the base of the Rood loft, there is one tucked under the seat to the right a little which was removed to stop people tripping over it. They are mirrored on the other side of the arch

I will leave you with this shot of some of the fruit from the harvest festival on a cabinet at the back of the South aisle.

Till Next Time Take Care, and have Stay Safe and have a wonderful weekend