Quiet reflections on traditional country churches

[Penlan]

Gwiwer

 

The little Chapel at Trewennack (Nr. Helston) is always good for the 'Roadside Pulpit' messages, very catchy with so few words...

 

....and I can't remember the last one, but it's few weeks since I passed by there.

 

Now it's time for Coombe Barton of this parish to come to the fore, when he gets the chance..........

He knows a thing or two about Chapels.

[Penlan]

If you want a really small meeting place, this one in Mousehole only had this to advise of their whereabouts :-

 

 

It's the Fanlight over the front door in a crowded row of cottages.

 

This picture is from Coombe Bartons Dogs Blog website - here .

[Burkitt]

Here's a few very different churches from the area around Bath.

 

 

This eccentric tin chapel is the Bailbrook Mission Church, north-east of Bath.Built in 1892, it's now a private home and Grade II listed.

 

 

 

St Swithin, Bathford, is so old its exact age is unknown. It's mentioned in the Domesday book, and has been dedicated to St Swithin since at least 1323. Much of the church was rebuilt in the 19th century as its congregation grew and the original structure deteriorated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Michael and All Angels in Monkton Combe is also mentioned in the Domesday book, and was rebuilt twice in the 19th century.

 

 

 

Finally, not strictly a country church, the Widcombe Baptist Church by the Kennet and Avon canal. The messages on the roof seem somewhat bizarre to my Anglo Catholic sensibilities, but they make it quite a distinctive landmark in the local area.

 

Paul

 

 

 

[Chubber]

Thanks to all who have posted some lovely pictures, Cap'n, yours are very peaceful indeed and it looks like a well-loved church. I've been re-reading some of my books recently and it seems that way back in 1954 the late great John Ahern got a little 'exercised' on the subject of modelling churches viz........

 

 

Copyright CV Russell and E Fells

Reproduced with their kind permissions.

[Kris]

Interesting addition Doug. It doesn't look like a church that I have seen out in the wild. Anyone got any ideas as to where this type of church would be found in the UK.

[Coombe Barton]

Interesting addition Doug. It doesn't look like a church that I have seen out in the wild. Anyone got any ideas as to where this type of church would be found in the UK.

Just nicked SWMBO's architecture books - looks like timber cladding is found in Sussex, Herefordshire, Essex. Much more detail I can't at the moment find.

 

Looking at the style drawn it has many of the characteristics of an extended late Saxon building.

[Oldddudders]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Romney_Church.jpg gives a flint version, perhaps. Typing "Saxon church" into Google images brought up a number of variations on JH's idea.

[Coombe Barton]

And from that Googling suggestion look at http://www.io.com/~beckerdo/games/articles/SaxonChurch/SaxonChurch.html - the one at Hursley, near Winchester, is similar to that illustrated by John Ahern.

[Kris]

Sound like it's good for south east then.

[Chubber]

There is one here which has not had the additional 'bits' added to it, but does have the little tower, at Little Somborne near Stockbridge in Hampshire.

 

http://www.baxian.or.../all_saints.htm

 

but the nearest I can find so far is here

 

http://www.bridgechu...h_meonstoke.htm

 

at Meonstoke in Hampshire

 

D

[Bernard Lamb]

Some churches have seen beter days. In this case only the tower survives, a new church being built a mile away in victorian times. Thundrige, off the A10 north of Ware.

If you don't have room for even a small church on the layout this might provide food for thought.

Bernard

[Coombe Barton]

Also found http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/ - only goes up to F at the moment

 

And this one in particular (just clicked on one of the links) http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/church.asp?p=Bishops+Sutton

 

And maybe a tin tabernacle? http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/church.asp?p=Bramdean+Common

 

Something on the Ahern lines - http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/church.asp?p=Dummer - must have a west or north door.

 

This one had the foundation laid by the then chairman of the LSWR - http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/church.asp?p=Eastleigh1

 

This could be the one that John Ahern drew - http://www.hampshirechurches.co.uk/church.asp?p=Farley+Chamberlayne

[Flying Pig]

The messages on the roof seem somewhat bizarre to my Anglo Catholic sensibilities, but they make it quite a distinctive landmark in the local area.

The tin tabernacle on Station Road, Bacton in Suffolk was similarly adorned. Approaching from the south along the B1113 one read "Prepare to meet thy God" on the gable end, which being a nice distraction just before a blind dogleg bridge over the main Norwich line was probably a self-fulfilling prophecy. Along the side of the building (perhaps on the roof - I can't remember) were the words "Be sure your sins will find you out". It used to entertain us no end.

[Penlan]

In a parralel social scene I am a Steward at a Gallery, and, looking through a catalogue of fine art this morning, I came across this church, thatched, which I thought looked very nice to add to this topic. When I looked at the church website here I could not find a view of this end of the church, which seems to have substantual buttresses for a timber and thatched 'tower' - OK it's not spot on clear, it's a painting, but very nice all the same.

 

[trisonic]

I've always thought this church was most interesting, St. Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell on Sea, Essex:

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Peter-on-the-Wall,_Bradwell-on-Sea

 

 

Best, Pete.

[Coombe Barton]

I've always thought this church was most interesting, St. Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell on Sea, Essex:

http://en.wikipedia....Bradwell-on-Sea

The only time I went there was about 40 years ago with a then girlfriend. Quite incredible place.

[trisonic]

The only time I went there was about 40 years ago with a then girlfriend. Quite incredible place.

 

 

The whole area is very atmospheric isn't it? I used to go all - night fishing close by - very enjoyable.

 

Best, Pete.

[Bernard Lamb]

The whole area is very atmospheric isn't it? I used to go all - night fishing close by - very enjoyable.

 

Best, Pete.

 

Especially that dead hulk of a nuclear power station.

It's a great winter walk from Burnham to Bradwell along the sea wall.

I find it quite ironic that the church, built partly of recycled roman bricks, has survived for well over 1000 years, while the power station, built of the latest high tech materials had a life of around 50.

 

I was on Foulness Island in April and that is realy atmosheric. Sadly both the pub and church are now closed. You can take photos of the 'public bits' but the weather was so bad that I didn't. On the rest of the island security is VERY tight.

Bernard

[wamwig]

Some churches have seen beter days. In this case only the tower survives, a new church being built a mile away in victorian times. Thundrige, off the A10 north of Ware.

If you don't have room for even a small church on the layout this might provide food for thought.

Bernard

 

Ah yes Bernard, Thundridge old church very atmospheric especially at this time of year (locals will know what I mean!)

 

My own favourite is a little further up the A10 at Buntingford and another where the Victorians moved away from http://www.layston-church.org.uk/

[PhilJ W]

I've always thought this church was most interesting, St. Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell on Sea, Essex:

 

 

http://en.wikipedia....Bradwell-on-Sea

 

 

Best, Pete.

I used to live at Burnham-on-Crouch and visited the Chapel a couple of times. It is actually built on the foundations of the Gatehouse of the Roman fort and the lower part of one of the walls has been identified as Roman. As for the Nuclear Power Station it has recently been announced that a new reactor is to be built, so there will probably be a 'golf ball' like Sizewell going up.

[DonB]

Another small church at Foremark Derbyshire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foremark

Interesting as it was built in 1662 during Cromwell's "Presidency". Is very plain inside as befits a puritanical style, and features a double-deck pulpit.

An interesting counterpoint to the church at Staunton Harold a few miles away built a few years earlier, (now a national trust property).

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stauntonharoldchurch

[petethemole]

Actually 1662 was after the Restoration (1660). I wondered whether the puritan influence would still have been as strong by then so Googled ands found this:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=qSXiWwXDhisC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=Foremark,+St+Saviour&source=bl&ots=C5EMcZoWrB&sig=VWsuHZaKvBdZe2LfrMLfj7rLSV8&hl=en&ei=IfvHTOX9Fsq6jAfz9dVv&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Foremark%2C%20St%20Saviour&f=false

 

Pete

[Bernard Lamb]

 

 

My own favourite is a little further up the A10 at Buntingford and another where the Victorians moved away from http://www.layston-church.org.uk/

 

 

That's interesting. I was not aware of these plans.

I have relations who originated in many of the villages near the A10. It gets confusing when doing family research as so many of the parish and even the county boundaries, have changed. My mother can rember in pre WW11 days taking the train to Buntingford, visiting relations in Layston and then walking the nine miles to Royston, to visit other relatives, before taking the train back to London.

I think this one is Buckland.

Bernard

[DonB]

Actually 1662 was after the Restoration (1660). I wondered whether the puritan influence would still have been as strong by then so Googled ands found this:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=qSXiWwXDhisC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=Foremark,+St+Saviour&source=bl&ots=C5EMcZoWrB&sig=VWsuHZaKvBdZe2LfrMLfj7rLSV8&hl=en&ei=IfvHTOX9Fsq6jAfz9dVv&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Foremark%2C%20St%20Saviour&f=false

 

Pete

Whoops, History never was my strong suit! SWMBO (history student, way back when) will disown me! But thanks for the reference and the plan contained within it.

Clutching at straws, I suppose the Formark church could have been started before 1660 taking a couple of years to build. It is still very much in use, sharing a vicar with other local villages.

[wamwig]

That's interesting. I was not aware of these plans.

I have relations who originated in many of the villages near the A10. It gets confusing when doing family research as so many of the parish and even the county boundaries, have changed. My mother can rember in pre WW11 days taking the train to Buntingford, visiting relations in Layston and then walking the nine miles to Royston, to visit other relatives, before taking the train back to London.

I think this one is Buckland.

Bernard

 

Indeed it does Bernard my own family history is from that area Braughing, Layston, Cottered and other local places!

 

My own layout, Ash Valley (The Buntingford Line)- when it eventually has a home, should have a church like one of these, probably something like Widford or Layston.