Iffley Church, near Oxford

[Eric Hardy]

Iffley, near Oxford, St Mary's Church

I have visited this church at least three times over the years but exactly three years ago I decided that I must go and make a record of it. I took 90 photos in all and here is a selection.

"One of England's favourite Norman churches, heavily restored and with later insertions, but essentially as built in the 12th century. The church plan retains the original features of crossing tower, chancel and unaisled nave. Only the west and east ends have been reconstructed, largely to rectify unsympathetic 17th century alterations.
The large west window is Victorian but based on archaeological evidence".

(Simon Jenkins: England's Thousand Best Churches)

Exterior

[Eric Hardy]

Interior

[Eric Hardy]

Stained Glass

West window by John Hardman in memory of Eliot Warburton who was lost in the Amazon, January 1859.


The John Piper window






Late 15th century glass fragments in NE Nave window




Victorian stained glass in the chancel










See Post 250 for Exterior and Post 251 for Interior.

[ideasguy]

Beautiful

Do you ever wonder how the stonemasons managed to do such incredible things way WAY back then, but not nowadays.
Instead, we are blessed ( ) with the modern structures of our times.

Thank you for posting this Eric. As a retired architect, I can see why you were inclined to take 90 photos!

How did they create all those intricate ornamentations as featured in the structures?
e.g. were they moulded, carved, hewn?? 

[Eric Hardy]

They were master craftsmen, George. They had simple implements similar to modern carpenters tools. They would choose a soft stone like a sandstone then having got a rough hewn block they would get it to the right size with a saw. Then all the carving and undercutting was done with a mallet and chisels of all shapes and sizes. They would learn their craft as apprentices then some would go on to be at the top of their craft. a lot of the time they were carved in situ. We know this because often a capital has been carved only partially and is in situ incomplete. But yes, George, the modern world doesn't produce such beautiful things.

[ideasguy]

Thank you for that explanation Eric. Its truly amazing that all those beautiful and ornamental features were done manually.