St. Mary, Studley Royal
#MosaicMonday
The mosaics, along with the chancel and sanctuary decoration, are inspired by the Book of Revelation, culminating in a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem
St. Mary, Studley Royal
#StainedGlassSunday
The stained glass at St Mary’s was designed by F. Weeks and made by Saunders & Co. It forms part of the church’s unified decorative scheme, contributing colour and narrative to an interior already rich with painted and sculpted imagery.
Lavish interior with extensive coloured stone and marble. Painted and gilded carvings depict saints, angels, and symbolic imagery. The chancel is especially elaborate, with shafts of coloured marble, alabaster-lined walls, a waggon roof, and a domed east bay decorated with painted angels.
St. Mary, Studley Royal
#TowerTuesday
There's a two-stage west tower with spire.
The west window, with four lights and a rose, mirrors the east window, while sculptural detail, crocketed hood-moulds, and intricate ironwork doors add to its visual interest.
The church is built from fine-grained grey limestone quarried near Markenfield Hall, with creamy white limestone from Lord Ripon’s own quarries used inside. A grey slate roof completes the exterior, while the contrast in stone contributes to the richness of both the external and internal design.
Deliberately positioned at the west end of the grand drive laid out by John Aislabie, replacing an earlier obelisk as the focal point of the landscape. Indeed, the guide explained it was built not quite facing East to line up with the drive and Ripon Cathedral beneath.
St. Mary, Studley Royal.
#SteepleSaturday
Built in High Victorian Gothic Revival, 1871–78, by William Burges for the first Marchioness of Ripon. Its construction was partly funded by ransom money linked to the 1870 Dilessi Massacre, in which her brother Frederick Vyner was killed.
Waltham Abbey
#woodensday #stainedglasssunday
The children's window was commissioned by William Burges and designed by Henry Holiday, Pre-Raphaelite artist, to fill a gap in the south aisle.
It was paid for by money donated from the children of the parish.
Waltham Abbey
#MonumentsMonday
A memorial to Harold Godwinson at his possible burial site.
Source = local guidebook
Waltham Abbey
#StainedGlassSunday
The E window and stonework are part of the 1859-60 restoration. Both the rose window, on the theme of Creation, and the three-lancet 'Jesse' window below were designed by Edward Burne-Jones.
The present East Wall is wholly Victorian, the nave was 3 times longer.
Waltham Abbey
#SteepleSaturday
According to local legend Harold Godwinson is buried here. This was also the last monastic institution to be dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540.
You were very much on my home turf, that's where I grew up
St. Peter, Charney Bassett
#FontsonFriday
St. Peter, Charney Bassett
#woodensday
Described on its listed status as C14 wood pulpit in Decorated style.
St. Peter, Charney Bassett
#TilesonTuesday
St. Peter, Charney Bassett
#SundayStonework
Some suggest that the carving depicts Alexander the Great being carried to heaven by griffins, whereas Pevsner disagrees. Guidebook suggests 5 different options but perhaps could represent man being beset by vice or temptation.
Early to mid 12th century.
Thank you for sharing this, I passed by it nearly every weekend growing up and always admired the church's rather plain architectural style but had no idea of its history...
St. Peter, Charney Bassett
#SteepleSaturday
The church stands beside Charney Manor, once an Abingdon Abbey grange. From possible Saxon beginnings the current building began in the early 12th century, grew in the 14th and 15th, then endured neglect, restoration, war damage and most recently repair.
St. Margaret, Mapledurham
#FontsonFriday
Cylindrical Norman font with diagonal bands of billet decoration atop Victorian base.
St. Matthias church, Richmond
#SteepleSaturdsy
Built in 1857 with tower completed in 1862.
Designed by George Gilbert Scott.
St. Margaret, Mapledurham.
#TilesonTuesday
Waltham St. Lawrence
#ThickTrunkTuesday
The yew tree in the churchyard is said to have been planted in 1655 by Thomas Wilkinson, the then rector.
The Blount Tomb
#MonumentsMonday
The tomb of Sir Richard Blount and Dame Cecily nee Baker. Dame Cecily holds her hands palm to palm whilst Sir Richard holds his clasped together.
The wooden panelling splits the church from the Bardolf aisle (owned privately by the Catholic Eyston family).
St. Margaret, Mapledurham
#MonumentsMonday
Memorial which refreshingly refers to Caroline as more than just "his wife".
Eyston family graves, Lords of the Manor, on the edge of the graveyard closest to the manor house.
Sir Frank Rose baronet (d.1914) whose brothers were commemorated in glass.
Thank you! Yes, I was trying something different to my usual post regarding memorials and I am glad it made it a bit more interesting.
Waltham St. Lawrence
#SermonsSunday
"The hexagonal pulpit is C19 in Jacobean style, the panelled and enriched back supporting the sounding board is early C17 and bears a shield with the date 1619 and the initials 'P.F." (Historic England)
St. Margaret, Mapledurham
#StainedGlassSunday
East window by Hardman with 15C glass preserved in the tracery. I cannot find any information out about the window commemorating the three sons. However, the three sons all fought in the Boer War.
St. Margaret, Mapledurham
#SteepleSaturday
The earliest surviving fabric is 13C stonework, though most of the structure dates from the 14C and 15C. Restored 1834 under William IV and more extensively in 1863 by William Butterfield, who altered the tower, raised the roof, and added the north porch.
Waltham St. Lawrence
#FontsonFriday
15th century octagonal font
