As a result of, I assume, the presence of bats the box pews are covered with plastic sheeting which is, an understandable, shame - they looked of interest. It looks to me as if this building is in serious trouble without a massive, and costly, restoration - which is a shame as it is obviously a well loved church. The highlight here was the various C14th wallpaintings.
As to the lead thievery, it almost beggars belief: in 1995 the roof lead was replaced, in 1997 the lead was stolen from the south aisle which was then replaced, which was then stolen in 2007 and replaced with stainless steel. In late 2015 the lead was stolen from the north aisle and half of the nave and then in early 2016 the last of the nave lead was stolen. I believe the roof has now been repaired, without the use of lead, but I was shocked by the story, and the pictures of the damage you can find online.
ST SWITHIN. The W tower has an odd top. It starts with breaches, but then there is another string-course. Two tiers of lucarnes, the lower three-light Dec. The bell-openings however are Perp, of two lights with transoms. The earliest part of the church is the plain N doorway, which must belong to c.1200. The chancel follows. Its Y-traceried windows indicate the late C13. A little later are the four-bay arcades. Octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. One has a little nailhead, and so has the one pier with round abacus. The S doorway with continuous filleted mouldings belongs to the arcades. Straight-headed Dec N aisle and clerestory windows. In the S aisle is a specially pretty three-light Perp window with traceried spandrels to connect a four-centred arch with a straight top. - BOX PEWS. - PAINTINGS. In the S aisle C14 scenes: the enthronement of one bishop by two others, the beheading of a Saint, and in the jambs of the E window St Margaret and St Catherine. - PLATE. Cup of 1727-8.
OLD WESTON. There is a quaint custom among its people. Every summer on the Sunday after St Swithin’s Day they carry hay into the church from a field bequeathed to them by a lady.
There was no hay on the floor when we called, but there were fine chestnuts guarding the church, with two arcades and a chancel 600 years old, and aisles and clerestory only a little younger. The tower has been here since the 14th century, and has windows which seem half in the tower and half in the spire. One of its bells was ringing before the monks were driven from the monasteries, and a door in the south aisle has been turning on its hinges nearly 500 years. On a buttress is an old sundial. There are coffin stones with crosses carved about 1300, old corbel faces with staring round eyes, a 14th century font, and a 17th century altar table.
But we come to Old Weston to see its paintings. They have been here 600 years and are still clear. There is one of St Margaret, a graceful figure with a crown, her feet on a dragon and a book in her hand. There is St Catherine with her wheel, a scene showing the enthronement of a bishop, and odd pictures of John the Baptist leaning out of a house patiently waiting for the executioner.
There was no hay on the floor when we called, but there were fine chestnuts guarding the church, with two arcades and a chancel 600 years old, and aisles and clerestory only a little younger. The tower has been here since the 14th century, and has windows which seem half in the tower and half in the spire. One of its bells was ringing before the monks were driven from the monasteries, and a door in the south aisle has been turning on its hinges nearly 500 years. On a buttress is an old sundial. There are coffin stones with crosses carved about 1300, old corbel faces with staring round eyes, a 14th century font, and a 17th century altar table.
But we come to Old Weston to see its paintings. They have been here 600 years and are still clear. There is one of St Margaret, a graceful figure with a crown, her feet on a dragon and a book in her hand. There is St Catherine with her wheel, a scene showing the enthronement of a bishop, and odd pictures of John the Baptist leaning out of a house patiently waiting for the executioner.
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