Now this church is quite a surprise.
The outside looks just the same as it always has but inside it's been recently modernised.
Gone are the pews, replaced by comfy chairs. It's all white and bright, with glass doors inside the old wooden entrance doors and more glass doors and walls around the side chapel.
And in the back corner a brand new kitchen area, usually squashed into a vestry or side room this looks quite strange but useful - as a church should be.
The feature that gets the church into the 100 treasures book is outside in the churchyard.
It's this gravestone with built in sundial. Each side has this rectangle recess and the angle of the sun should cast a shadow which marks the time. The sun was shining but neither side was casting a shadow that I could see and there were no markings that I could see either. The board in the first photo says that the upper edge points to the North Star.
The hammer beam roof was revealed in 1932 when a plaster ceiling was removed,compared to some I've seen it is very plain.
The font dates from C15 and has lions and woodwoses (wild men) around the shaft and shields around the bowl.
The glass ovals in the window below date from C17 and are believed to come from Innsbruck in Austria, they depict saints and secular scenes
Back Tomorrow
Sue
IT wonderful to see a church moving on with the times! I bet some of that was not popular with all in the parish!! One of the issues that the church in our village came up against was the planning and listing laws. It is often not possible to build anything such as a kitchen on. Our village church needed a toilet and eventually had to put it actually in the church.
ReplyDeleteOn the pews I think if you go back far enough most churches were empty spaces with no fixed seating or just some benches. Chairs are so much more flexible. They can be paced in different formations depending on the nature of the service. Also a great way of getting away from people claiming a pew as 'their's'.
Yes, you are right about churches being empty spaces and I like to see pews replaced. The chapel where Col's Dad was involved with had to have all wood taken out due to dry rot and chairs are so versatile for other events
DeleteAnother interest church and looks so inviting.
ReplyDeleteSt.John st Baptism was the name of the church in Isleworth, Middlesex that I was brought up in until I was married and moved away I still have a friend who worships at the church.
Have a nice weekend Sue.
Hazel c uk
So many churches I've been to have been dedicated to St Mary, nice to see a different name
DeleteChurches are becoming part of the community again, they have wonderful spaces, which can and should be used. Our local churches put on more events to get people to visit who do not attend on Sunday service.
ReplyDeleteA church that stands empty for 6 days a week seems a waste of space
DeleteWhat a practical solution to church seating AND a decent kitchen for the functions. The glass windows are wonderful but the Woodwoses are my favourites!
ReplyDeleteI walked in and didn't notice the kitchen bit at first and then thought " goodness, that's different"
DeleteIt looks so light and bright but still keeping all the old treasured original parts which is nice to merge the two. Our church took out the pews years ago but in some ways I missed them as when my two girls were little I could sit at the end by the aisle and 'trap' them in and they could kneel down and use the pew bench to put their colouring books on to draw until they went out to Sunday School!
ReplyDeletewhen I was young and went to a baptist chapel we would try and slide along the pews ( not during the service!)
DeleteIt looks lovely and very comfortable. I love a church that continues to create its own history for the future.
ReplyDeletexx
Exactly, - no good being stuck in the past
DeleteNow that church I like.
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised when I walked in at how light and homely it looked - very friendly
DeleteNot a fan of that church.....I love the smell of old wood and musty stones...and where are the PEWS???? Sold to an antique dealer?????
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of pews but realistically they are not comfortable. The stained glass is a joy, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love the classy and neat renovations to this church. It appeals to the neat freak that I sometimes am. And the thought of sitting through a sermon in a comfortable chair is much more appealing than shuffling on a numb bum on a cold, hard pew.
ReplyDeleteThere was a brass eagle lectern in St Michael and All Angels at Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire when I was little. The church blew down in a gale. I am unsure what happened to the Eagle. Mum and I used to polish it when I was about 5.
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