Archive for October, 2008

St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill

Originally built in the 12th century St Lawrence was rebuilt in the 13th century. It sits on the top of the hill, overlooking Southam.

east window St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill

The east window has four modern cinquefoil pointed lights built into a four-center rear-arch.

St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill St. Lawrence - Napton on the Hill Medieval 13th century stone altar

Medieval 13th century stone altar

During restoration work in the 1950s two 13th century stone altars were discovered hidden under chapel floor. Most of these medieval altars were destroyed during the reformation as they were considered to be either pagan or popish, and were replaced by wooden tables. These are two rare survivors.

Church website

Tags: , ,

28
Oct

Fawsley – St. Mary.

   Posted by: churches    in Daventry District, Northamptonshire

St Mary's - Fawsley St Mary's - Fawsley

St. Mary’s parish church at Fawsley dates from the early 13th century, much of which remains, including the tower, south porch, chancel, and nave.

Alabaster tomb - Fawsley Alabaster tomb detail - Fawsley

The alabaster free standing tomb to Sir Richard Knightley and his wife Jane Skenard, heiress to Old Aldington is c1540 and contains some fine details.

Alabaster tomb detail - Fawsley Alabaster tomb - Fawsley Font - Fawsley

The font is 13th century and the worn original carving has been reworked.

East window - Fawsley East window - Fawsley East window - Fawsley

The east window is a Victorian memorial depicting Sir Charles Knightley and his wife in the bottom left and right panels.

Brass memorial St. Mary - Fawsley Brass memorial St. Mary - Fawsley North wall monument St. Mary - Fawsley

The brass in the aisle, however, is mid 16th century monument to Sir Edmund Knightley and his wife and their six daughters. The oldest brass though is that of Thomas Knightley (1516), which shows him with his heart engraved above his portrait. The largest monument in this church though is the large monument on the north wall to the Knightley family (1566-1619). It was restored in 1930.

Medieval medallions St. Mary - Fawsley Medieval stained glass window St. Mary - Fawsley Medieval medallions St. Mary - Fawsley

the church also contains a number of peices of medieval stained glass. The oldest is the 13th century window depicting Adam and Eve. Restored in 1992 in memory of the Reverend Roy Dooley. Other windows contain 15th century medallions depicting biblical scenes that were originally at Sulgrave Manor.

Washington Window St. Mary - Fawsley Washington Shield St. Mary - Fawsley

Amongst the glass panels from Sulgrave manor, are 16th century panels depicting marital shields celebrating the marriages of members of the Washington Family. The top panel second from left celebrates the marriage of Lawrence Washington and Amy Pargiter (1538).
The bottom left panel celebrates the marriage of Robert Washington, (son of Lawrence Washington), and Elizabeth Light (1565). The top panel third from left celebrates the marriage of the second son also called Lawrence Washington to Martha Newce. Sulgrave Manor was the home of George Washington’s ancestors, and the central panel clearly shows the Washington coat of arms upon which the American flag, the ‘Stars and Stripes’, is based.

Box Pew St. Mary - Fawsley Knightley Pew St. Mary - Fawsley

The pews in St. Mary’s are medieval box pews, and in the south aisle is the high sided medieval Knightley Pew. This was designed so that the family members could attend church and not be seen by the rest of the congregation.

Squint St. Mary - Fawsley

However, with such high sides the family also couldn’t see what the priest was doing at the altar. As a result a ‘squint’ in the south wall of the chancel was made, so that they could see what the priest was doing.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

St Leonard's - Priors Marston St

Mid 13th century parish church of St. Leonard’s. The medieval tower was remodelled in 1720. Much of the interior was refitted in 1863 and 1875.

Modern stained glass St Leonard's - Priors Marston East window St Leonard's - Priors Marston Modern stained glass St Leonard's - Priors Marston

The east window is dated 1875 and the church also contains two modern stained glass windows from 1990’s in the north and south walls. The one in the south wall is dedicated to the village’s musical life.

South chancel window detail - Priors Marston South chancel windowl - Priors Marston South chancel window detail - Priors Marston

This south chancel window above has tracery of late 13th century style.

Church website.

Tags: , ,

26
Oct

Birdingbury – St Leonard.

   Posted by: churches    in Rugby District, Warwickshire

Birdingbury

St Leonard’s Birdingbury, built at the end of the 18th century and enlarged and gothicized in 1873.

Birdingbury - St Leonard's interior Birdingbury - St Leonard's interior

The screen was made from the old oak rafters in 1873.

Birdingbury - St Leonard's apse roof Birdingbury - St Leonard's interior

Tags: , ,

St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick interior

St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick. Originally built in the early to mid 13th century but the only parts of that period that still remain are the west tower. A lot of rebuilding and extending occurred in the early 14th century, including extensions to the chancel.

Interior St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick St Mary Blessed Virgin Priors Hardwick

Church website.

Tags: , , ,