All Saints, Sudbury, Derbyshire

I crossed over the Dove into Derbyshire, and immediately turned left into the village of Sudbury. I drove through the village and past the National Trust's Sudbury Hall, where there was an unbelieveable amount of cars parked. No church spotted. Never mind, I have invested in one of those new phones and can get OS Maps on them. Problem with the signal meant a hit and miss service. I turned round and drove back into the village and parked. I asked a local and got some bum information so I risked asking another. Sure enough, as I thought, the church was alongside the Hall. So in the end I gave up and parked with the masses. Now the NT has two things here, the C17 Hall, and the Museum of Childhood. As I walked to the church and Hall I kept an eye on the front door of the house and not many people were going in here whereas most people were going to the far end and the Museum. So I also went round the hall, a good decision as the interiors are spectacular. It was the home of the Vernon family, and they have left their mark through monuments in the church.

The church itself is quite large, and I really liked it but I am a sucker for big Decorated east windows. Most of the monuments are tucked into the north chapel, from C14 worn effigies of ladies clutching their hearts, to the grandiose effigies and superstructure of John Vernon d1600 and his wife and the opulent freestanding urn to Margaret Vernon d1675. However the most touching memorial is to two Vernon children at the back of the church by the font, a plaque showing two sleeping children and foliage dating from 1862. The south sanctuary window has an unusual subject, commemorating war-time evacuated Manchester children. It dates from 2001 and is by Michael Stokes.

Christ Church, Needwood Forest, Newchurch, Staffordshire

A red brick church of 1809, which was altered c1880 (window tracery). Swooshed back curtains and velux windows in the roof indicate plainly that this is no longer a church but a private house. And further proof is found around the side where the name "The Sanctuary" appears in elaborate ironwork.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Barton under Needwood, Staffs

From the parish church I set off for a walk around the small town centre, half a mind on having something to eat or drink. The High Street was rather characterless and both pubs were closed and obviously not in regular use currently. As sign pointed down a sign road to the catholic church. It was built in the year 2000 (although see comment added below which says the church is 1960s work), the architects were Hulme Upright (Ltd?). Unlike the parish church normally, I found this open. It is a simple rectangle with triangular side dormer windows and at the street end a tower like bay with tall round headed windows which has an internal gallery above a baptistry. The altar is in the centre of the long wall opposite the entrance vestibule, which has community rooms wcs etc leading off it. Simple, functional, and rather pleasant.

St James, Barton under Needwood, Staffordshire

Friday 3rd June - On my way to a Trustees meeting, usually held in Manchester, but tonight taking place in the Derbyshire Dales so en route I decided to get in some churches, and headed straight for Barton. The church is all early C16, built by Dr John Taylor who was chaplain to Henry VIII, and the tower is dated 1517. Splendid exterior, all rather long and low-looking from outside, with battlemented parapets everywhere, the tower embellished with eight small pinnacles and the apse with four more.

The west door was open and I stepped inside but became aware that the church was in use, as several groups of people of all ages were dotted around the church. As I stood here, I was approached by a man from the other end of the church. He welcomed me and said he was happy that I looked around and take photographs. He also told me that I was fortunate as the church is normally kept locked but that they were gathered to prepare for a choral evening. To be truthful I had seen all that there was to see from the west end. Despite its fame the interior was very disappointing and the fittings were almost all Victorian or later. I took some photographs but not as many as I would have normally and certainly did not take many in the chancel as choir members started to gather here. I missed the medieval crucifixion glass incorporated into the east window, assuming the window was all Victorian like the other windows.

St Mary, Fawley, Berkshire

South of Wantage and away from the main road on the hillside is a very fine Victorian church by George Edmund Street. It was built 1865-66 and has a nave and aisles SW porch and an apsidal chancel with a south transeptal tower and pyramidal cap. Inside the arcades have polished round piers and the chancel and apse are vaulted. The fittings are all original. Older only a C17 brass to a mother and son, but I never saw it. Scaning all the pictures I took as well I cannot spot it. It may lie under the carpet in front of the low marble chancel screen, but usually such details were placed on the walls by Victorian rebuilders. If I am passing I will go inside again - it is probably somewhere very obvious.

St James, West Hanney, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Suddenly I realised at Denchworth that I was only a mile or so from West Hanney and hoping that the funeral was over and the congregation dispersed I returned here. All but one mourner had gone and the church was open with no-one inside. This was quite a treat and a church which repays a visit. Unusually the tower, in a north transept position, was partly demolished in 1939-40 as it was dangerous. The present gabled top dates from 1957 and blends in well, and gives the exterior character. The church has a Norman nave, with some windows and a very fine doorway. The north transept and chancel are EE C13 and the south transept and aisle are Dec work.

The church was restored and embellished by the architect James Brooks in a rich EE style entirely in keeping with the rest; his the raising of the nave with a clerestory and the excellent north porch. Lofty spacious interior with plenty to see. The font is Norman decorated with odd vertical strips of rosettes. The Jacobean pulpit has a back plate and sounding board dated 1649. Medieval screen to the chancel with later decoration in the panels below (BofE says C19 or C20, but I thought they could be older). The sanctuary is raised a further three steps and has goof C17 altar rails. Beyond the rails the floor is inlaid with many brasses C14-C16 in good condition.  

St James the Less, Denchworth, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Another low spreading church, Norman in origin with a south doorway of this period. The C13 added the two bayed north aisle (internally treated as transept and chapel), the south transept is the C14 and much was remodelled in the C15.The dumpy tower stands at the NW corner, and has a Perp top but the base looks to be older and is treated more like a strongroom; the aisle does not meet it. The transept has the best wall memorials although none are woth a special note. There is also a handome Perp font and a collection of brasses gathered into two groups in panels in the chancel. To take the accompanying picture I removed the wooden processional cross. Whilst driving away I remembered I had not replaced it - so apologies to the folk at Denchworth, it was me and this was the reason for it lying along one of the choir stalls! [open]

St Peter, Charney Bassett, Oxon (ex-Berks)

What a charming and most interesting little church to happen across, with a comical west tower / turret - you decide! The origins of the church are Norman and there is a fine doorway with arch decorated with faces each with two tongues(?) issuing from their mouths. It is missing its excellent tympanum but this is preserved inside over a passage squint from the later Perp north aisle. It shows a man and two gryphons biting his arms, a shame it is here as you keep trying to visualise the two parts put back together. There is no west window, and the tower is said to be Jacobean. Perp wooden pulpit. [open]

Immediately north of the church seems to be another C13 church, nave and chancel perhaps, attached to the former manor house, a grange once of Abingdon Abbey. On reading BoE it transpires this is a solar with a small chapel attached at the eastern end. The house was purchased in 1948 by the Society of Friends as a conference and retreat centre.

St Mary, Lyford, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Leaving East Hanney I joined the rear of a funeral cortege which was heading for where I was heading, West Hanney church. So I decided to go on to somewhere else. I found a charmingly sited church at Lyford, at the end of a lane with a farm for company. It was open, and undergoing some roof repairs on the south side of the nave. The bell turret is C15 and stands on strongly braced posts inside the nave. The organ may or may not be pretty or old, it was hard to tell as it was completely swathed in plastic presumably to protect it from falling dust or leaks. Comparing Cameron's pictures from about 10 years ago there was no organ in the church, so maybe the work going on outside is connected with the organ installation and it has yet to be unpacked. Not a great else to see, a very plain font with graffiti from the last 300 years, Royal Arms dated 1787 and a Jacobean incised pulpit, but it was a charming place to visit and open.

Hanney Chapel, East Hanney, Oxon (ex-Berks)

A little further into the village is Hanney Chapel, looking a fairly typical example of a non-Conformist church. this was built in the mid-C19 as a Congregational Chapel and now belongs to the United Reformed Church. It has a recessed central porch with a blank arched recess above and flanking windows. The church has been extended to the right with meeting room(s).

St James the Less, East Hanney, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Built 1856-58 to the designs of George Edmund Street "of the cheapest and simplest character" or "remarkable for its date" depending on who you read (and both are in Pevsner!). A long rectangle with unbroken roof, and cusped lights single, in pairs and in triples irregularly placed. The bellcote is placed under the eaves of the roof at the west end as in other local medieval examples. There is also a small SW porch and a later sacristy was added on the north side. The interior now subdivided and the contents dispersed; this is now a house.

St John Vianney, Wantage, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Wantage's Catholic church, in contrast to the parish church, was open and welcoming. As I was taking this exterior picture the priest approached me for a chat and was a very knowledgeable character. He was happy that I take photographs inside and pointed out the statue inside of St John Vianney which was carved by someone in the military who was not religious and presented to this church. The church dates from 1960, a simple hall with a small tower and a west vestibule with former gallery over now screened off as rooms. My camera flash started behaving erratically here, something it continued to do for the rest of the day, but not since. I wonder if it is the battery starting to malfunction rather than the camera itself. After two very dark underflashed pictures the picture of St John Vianney seemed to get an extra burst of light over exposing the flowers. The Millenium window artist is not recorded - if anyone knows please add a coment.

Wantage Baptist Church, Oxon (ex-Berks)

A very interesting church, as it is the first church designed by James Brooks, who went on to design some superb churches In London (Haggerston, Gospel Oak, Holland Park etc). This one dates from 1860.

 

St Peter & St Paul, Wantage, Oxon (ex-Berks)

A large low spreading cruciform church, at one end of the Market Place, where its east window is clearly visible. Entry was via a small open transitional door in the south transept. many of the lights inside were on and two chaps were busy at the west end of the nave preparing for either a concert or choir practice! Unusually the choir stalls are sited at the west end with the new organ. I was welcomed by the gents and they were happy for me to take pictures, although one suggested after a bit that as I seemed to be systematic perhaps I would like to donate to church funds when I left. Some quality carving in the crossing transepts area, and the transepts have eastern aisles.

 As I disappeared out of line of sight of the pair at the back one of them would suddenly walk up as if to check what I was doing. It started to get a bit annoying. I was photographing the choir stalls (misericords) when another chap came in with a camera too. He was a local historian and also took an interest in what I was doing, telling me at least twice that his drawing of the church was on the cover of the mini-guide. He was trying to sweet-talk the chaps into letting him go up the central tower, they were having none of it! Suddenly as I started to take the monuments in the chancel, I was told that I would now have to leave as the church was closing. Apparently I should have known it was only open from 1030-1230, it was on the board outside and on the website. Now when I spot an open door I don't bother to read notcieboards, do you? And neither do I check websites whilst I am out and about. Having finally made it here after many years it was annoying to be ushered out and hurried. Neither of the pair had mentioned this to me earlier, so I was a little miffed. I snapped a few (poorer) shots on my way out.

Wantage Methodist Church, Oxon (ex-Berks)

Directly opposite the School Chapel in Newbury Street is Wantage Methodist Church, a pleasant Decorated Gothic building with new halls and rooms at the rear reached from a seperate Gothic arched entrance in Church Street. The architect was R W Ordish and the church was built in 1844

Dental Surgery, Wantage, Oxon (ex Berks)

If you are looking for a new NHS dentist then look no further than this practice. Set in a former School Chapel by C E Ponting 1898-9, the waiting room is in the apse with windows by Christopher Webb, and the surgery rooms are "pods" built in the body of the chapel. The west gallery, pulpit and the organ remain in situ. This was the chapel of St Mary's School.