I have to admit the church did not fill me with much enthusiasm when I went inside but it could be that I had the camera settings wrong and only realised what was wrong when I got home. Looking into the history the church dates from around 1000AD and no doubt there were Christians trying to convert the heathens before that only to be push out or killed. The church sits outside the Avebury Henge beside the Manor house and is worth stopping off to look round.
The main entrance to the church is through this Lychgate erected in 1899
Here we look at the Belltower on St James where in the corner you can see an interesting piece of stone which was pointed out by one of the National Trust Volunteers
This piece of stone is thought to come from a Celtic cross and was used to form part of the north aisle
These two war graves are hidden under a Yew tree in the Churchyard
Part of the North side Churchyard
Here we look along the churchyard on the south side of the church
Wandering round you see some interesting headstones & tombs
like this large chest Tomb
even inside the church you can see a 13th or 14th century stone coffin which is believed to be that of a prior from the adjacent Benedictine Priory. It is at the back of the church near the font
One of the glories of this church is the 15th century rood loft, originally used to house the Great Rood, or large crucifix, the most revered object in the early church. In the top rail to the loft parapet are the original 17 sockets that held candles that were kept burning to light the Rood. The Rood would have been destroyed after the Reformation and the loft and screen were removed, probably following an order of 1561 from Elizabeth I. Normally the timber would have been reused but almost uniquely the Avebury church managed to hide and preserve their rood loft. The timbers were stacked against the east wall of the nave, above the chancel arch, and covered with a lath and plaster wall. This was a very risky business for all concerned but the secret was well kept and the timbers were not discovered until 1810. The rood loft was restored in the 1878 - 1884 renovations, and the loft parapet repainted with matching colours to those noted on the woodwork by the architect, Charles E. Ponting. A new panelled screen was provided below with paintings of the apostles, set against gilded fields, in the lower panels.
To the left of the screen is a carved wooden pulpit
The altar has a painted wooden panel.
which I have to say looks very impressive
Even the chancel window does the place justice though I did take this useing flash
This is one of the panels beside the Altar
The tub font is thought to be Saxon in origin while done in the chancel you can see some wall memorials
This is opposit the stone coffin and is an old bell oak frame dated 1636
Some magnificent coats of alms like this or heraldic hatchments
as they are called
and This Royal Arms are those of George III, used before 1801
I will be returning here at sometime and will take more photos but for now I hope you enjoy what I have shown. You can read more history on the church here
Taking part in Taphophile Tragics & Cemetery Sunday