St Bartholomew |
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1 & 2 - The entrance to the church is through the south door, the porch
having been added in 1905. Under the mat is a stone commemorating Stephen
Rumbold who died in 1687. The nave has four bay arcades in the Decorated style
with small stone heads above each column. |
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3
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4
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3
& 4 - The
pulpit and tester are Jacobean. This stands to the right of the chancel arch,
which is in the same style as the nave arcades. The chancel itself is slightly
out of line with the nave, representing Christ upon the Cross.
The
second view of the pulpit is taken from the corner of an enclosure occupied by
the present day choir. (See below) |
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5
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5
- General view looking east.
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6
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7
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8
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6
& 7 - show the "singing seats" currently used by the choir, and
which may well have been used by generations before them. In the centre there
is a rectangular book stand for music books, and possibly of more use to
musicians than singers. Its more modern equivalent, a rather more normal rest
for books when not in use, has ingenious flaps which open out at either end to
give more room.
All stages of the
church's musical development are represented in the church, from the old quire
seats, to a barrel organ, thence via a harmonium
(8) to the present organ at the
west end of the church.
From the Vestry Minutes
[undated], the church guide states:
There are several
entries for the replacement of bass viol strings which must have been for the
band which accompanied the singing. R E Moreau, in his book on Berrick Salome,
records that the old Sexton at Brightwell Baldwin told him that when as a boy
he was helping to clean out the tower, he came across an old bassoon.
8 -
The right hand picture shows the American organ, or harmonium, which is to be
found in the chancel in the centre of the northern choir stalls. Possibly this
dates from 1860, when the chancel was extensively "restored" (which in fact
seems to have included extensive rebuilding, including the removal old the old
Decorated east window. This restoration also swept away its 14th-Century
glass.).
The church guide quotes the 1895 restoration and says of
the old pews ' [they] were restored and oak seats took the place of the deal
seats at the west end, and a new oak seat set under the south wall replaced the
'shelf' previously occupied by 'the lads'
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9
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9
- In
the north west corner of the church stands a small barrel organ which is in
working order, having been restored in 1963.
It
was built by Walker in in 1843, and has six stops. There are three barrels,
each of which has ten "hymns or chants" - (quote from church guide).
If the harmonium replaced
it in the 1860s, the barrel organ was only in use for some 20
years
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10
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10
- The
Stone Chapel to the north of the chancel was created by John Stone in the 17th
century after he had married Catherine Carleton, heiress to the manor of
Brightwell Baldwin. Here he erected memorials to his father and grandfather who
had died in London in 1660 and 1640.
"The Trobels following
the Fathers & ye fire of London succeeding the sons death; this memorial to
their graves (not to be found after that dismall conflagration) is transmitted
to this place"
The
east wall of the chapel is filled with Baroque memorials (picture above), on
the cornice of which are a skull and crests against a background of smoke and
flames. |
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Dove's reference for the bells: |
Brightwell Baldwin, Oxon, S Bartholomew (GF), 6, 9-0-7 in
Bflat. |
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ACCESS: |
Map reference :
SU653950
The
church stands at the north western edge of the
village, and appears to be open to visitors at all
reasonable times (March 2002)
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SEARCH THIS SITE |
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This
site has been constructed by, and remains the copyright of,
its authors,
Edwin and Sheila Macadam,
Shelwin, 30, Eynsham Road, Botley,
Oxford OX2 9BP
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©
July 2001 -
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