Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Robert Taylor 1828
Dove Bell ID: 50936 Tower ID: 18291 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Besselsleigh: St Lawrence
Overview
Grid reference: SP 456 10
The church of St Lawrence can be found south west of Oxford on the main road to Swindon (A420). The origins of the church at Besselsleigh, or Bessels Leigh are 12th century. Of this date, perhaps only the west wall remains, the rest extended and rebuilt in the next century. St Lawrence is a very simple building, rectangular in plan with five openings on the south side and three on the north. The chancel and nave are under one long roof and at the west end, integral to the gable there is a twin bellcote, the bells suspended in small openings.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, chancel and south porch
Dimensions:
Chancel 30ft x 15ft (9.1m x 4.5m) Nave 34ft by 13ft 9in (10.3m x 4.1m)
Footprint of Church buildings: 156 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The origins of the church at Besselsleigh, or Bessels Leigh are 12th century. Of this date, perhaps only the west wall remains, the rest extended and rebuilt in the next century. Additional windows were added in the 14th and 15th century before a restoration in the 17th century at the hands of the Lenthall family who had taken over the Manor House. The interior seating is mostly of the 18th century. Minor, sensitive restoration was undertaken in the 19th century.
Historically the church is connected to the Lenthall family with several important monuments inside the nave and chancel. William Lenthall was Speaker of the House of Commons and a prominent figure in the Civil War. Lenthall was responsible for restorations in 1632 and 1657 and his descendant also undertook a further phase in 1788.
Exterior Description
St Lawrence is a very simple building, rectangular in plan with five openings on the south side and three on the north. The chancel and nave are under one long roof and at the west end, integral to the gable there is a twin bellcote, the bells suspended in small openings.
The approach to the church is to the south side and the path leads to a small porch, a mixture of 17th and 19th century work around the Norman archway and door into the building. On either side of the porch are oak supports tied into the wall for additional support. West of the porch there is an area of blind wall which shows signs of a blocked opening and could correlate with the introduction of the gallery at the west end.
The south elevation has three sturdy buttresses each with two weatherings creating effectively four bays including the porch. The three windows are all 15th century, of two lights each and under square heads. The two furthest to the east and on either side of the priest’s door are shorter than the other.
The east and west elevations both have similar 13th century three light stepped windows under pointed arches. The north elevation has three of the buttresses seen on the south elevation but all against the chancel wall. In between two at the west of the chancel there is a mid-14th century window under a pointed arch with two cusped lights and a cusped foil overhead. Immediately beyond the third buttress there is a shallow projecting section, with a slight extension of the roof, no more than a foot or so deep. This has a single tiny slit and is the location of the rood stair.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is rustic, the prevalence of dark woodwork giving a warm and intimate atmosphere. There is no chancel arch, instead between two posts an oak lintel with three shallow arches reaching north to south and pendants hanging down. Above the lintel is a plaster tympanum painted a bright sky blue with an gold inscription on the west face under the Lenthall arms recording restorations by William Lenthall in 1632 and 1657. On the east face there is no illustration but an inscription in Latin recording a further restoration by John Lenthall in 1788. Other than the tympanum, the distinction between nave and chancel is not obvious.
The entire church is narrow with a single central aisle, other than the gallery, sanctuary and doorways the building is filled with furniture. In the nave there are high backed benches with panelled ends and in the chancel tall and simple 18th century box pews.
At the west end a central stair leads to the gallery. The balustrade is blind with pierced detailing.
The nave roof is 19th century timber but the cornice below is 17th century and has small angels holding arms with the Lenthall quarterings. The floor of the nave is tiled with simple red tiles; the chancel has a set of more elaborate tile with geometrical designs.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Small oak table with turned legs. VCH suggests late 17th century.
Reredos
19th Century
Stone arcade below the window with a series of 5 cusped blind arches topped by a frieze with floriate carving.
Pulpit
18th Century
Positioned immediately west of the chancel arch. Tester overhead. Simple panelling with minimal detailing.
Lectern
Wooden ledge attached to box pew
Font (object)
An unusual font found at the west end in front of the gallery, perhaps 17th century. Tall and slender, a bowl and stem design. The bowl shallow with garland swags around the outside.
Rail
18th Century
18th century; oak rail with simple balustrade. Removed from the church in the 19th century and returned in 1954.
Bells
Diameter: 20.5" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Wokingham foundry
Dove Bell ID: 50937 Tower ID: 18291 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 456 10
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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