 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Home :: The Churchyard :: History :: Pictures :: The famous wall paintings |
|
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Welcome You are very welcome to this site. It describes the wonderful church of St Mary's Chalgrove, and the community that uses it to worship God. Chalgrove lies 10 miles south-east of Oxford, between Stadhampton and Watlington. We are a lively community of about 3000 people, with a primary school, two churches, six shops and three pubs. We are noted for Chalgrove Brook running the length of the High Street, with its large number of ducks, and for the site of the civil war Battle of Chalgrove Field in 1643, aswell as for a medieval Manor house and a number of beautiful thatched cottages. Set in a churchyard in which a number of old gravestones face south instead of eastwards as customary, St.Mary's Chalgrove reflects a long village life both interesting and different. Even today it enjoys a happy relationship with a flourishing church Pub in the village, 'The Red Lion Inn', which is vested in the Trustees of the Church Estate. St Mary's Church is a fine Grade 1 listed building dating from the 12th century. It has a famous and almost complete set of medieval wall paintings covering the chancel walls. There are toilets and utility services in the ground floor of the tower. One of the two toilets is suitable for use by disabled people and wheelchair users, and there are also facilities for changing nappies. The Church of England Benefice of Chalgrove with Berrick Salome is in the Aston & Cuddesdon Deanery of the Diocese of Oxford.The other church in the Benefice is St.Helen's Church at Berrick Salome. Our Patron is Christ Church Oxford. Church Works - Phase 4 Earlier phases of work on the fabric of the church have ensured that the exterior of the building is in good condition and more recently the works in the Tower were completed. The next phase now being considered is the interior of the chancel and nave. We have found a way forward in respect of the best way to renew the heating with an up-to-date system. We are now working on the best way to improve the lighting, keeping in mind our everyday needs and in order to best show the wall paintings. We also need to install a sound loop system to assist people with hearing difficulties, as well as taking advice whether we need a sound amplification system. In due course, it is also planned to replace the plaster which was removed many years ago because of damp. It would be good too to redecorate throughout the nave, and also to improve the South porch entrance. The Fabric and Finance Committee will continue to investigate these aspects while they visit other churches to see what can be learned from recent renovations. The views of everyone are a very welcome input to this process. Visitors You are very welcome to visit St.Mary's Church. Our postcode is OX44 7SD. From April to September inclusive the church is open from 11am to 2pm on Wednesdays and from 11am to 4pm on Sundays. At all other times the church is kept locked, except of course when there are services, but the key can be borrowed from Londis Stores or Premier News in the village centre aswell as from a number of people who are listed on a notice outside the north door. There is a selection of guide books and postcards at the back of the church, together with a Children's Church Quiz. If you have a group of people who wish to see the medieval wall paintings then please see the page "The famous wall paintings" for arrangements. 
Bob Heath-Whyte's new book of sermons is now available on line by following this link. There are also copies available to purchase in church. |
 |
|
||
| Copyright
2004© St Mary's Church, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire www.chalgrovechurch.org site design by: cmm |
||
