Description

YARNTON CHURCH LANE
SP4711 (West side)
13/159 Church of St. Bartholomew
07/12/66

GV I

Church. C12 origins; rebuilt in mid/late C13; early C17 clerestory, Spencer
chapel and south-west tower of 1611 and south porch of 1616 for Sir Thomas
Spencer of Yarnton Manor. Coursed limestone rubble; ashlar tower and Spencer
Chapel. Stone slate porch and chancel roofs; shallow-gabled lead roofs. Chancel
with south chapel, aisled nave, south porch and south-west tower. Late C13
cinquefoiled 3-light east window; C13 lancet and Norman lancet to north side of
chapel. Spencer Chapel has Perpendicular-style 5-light east window and 2
three-light south windows with panel tracery and restored mullions; crenellated
parapet. North side of nave has C17 arched doorway with imposts and studded
door, C15 Perpendicular 3-light window with panel tracery and C15 two-light
window; partly restored C15 Perpendicular 3-light window with panel tracery to
west; label mould over early C17 two-light hollow-moulded round-arched
clerestory window. South side of nave: label mould over plain C14 two-light
window; restored C13 lancets; 2 similar early C17 clerestory windows; early C17
porch has shallow chamfered arch over C17 studded door. Crenellated parapet to
nave. Early C17 four-storey tower: 3-light Perpendicular window with panel
tracery to west; stair-turret to south has steps to C17 studded door; label
moulds over C17 hollow-moulded rounded-arched window and similar 2-light
windows; crenellated, parapet. Interior: chancel has fine C15 Nottingham
alabaster reredos depicting Adoration of the Magi, The Betrayal, Christ carrying
the Cross and Pieta. Early C17 carved woodwork, with strapwork and
classical-style arches, to stalls. Two-bay late C16/early C17 roof with
arch-braced collar-truss and windbraces. Mid C13 chancel arch of 3 orders with
hollow-chamfered arches and triple shafts. Spencer Chapel: very fine early C17
richly-carved screen with strapwork cresting and obelisks over screen which has
carved putti heads to cornice, fluted columns and arches carved with strapwork,
bosses and zigzag. C12 tub-shaped stone font on moulded wooden base; fine early
C17 panelled stalls with ball poppyheads, and early C17 seats with panelled
backs set on turned legs and with ventilated vestment cupboards beneath seats;
Parish hearse, with turned legs, donated 1820. Nave: pulpit and reading desk
have fine early C17 carving; C15 octagonal font with trefoiled tracery to stem
and foliate, quatrefoil and animal carvings; C15 bench ends with poppyheads to
west ends of nave and south aisle and late C18 box pews to east of south aisle;
screen to tower made in 1854 from Jacobean panels and carved strapwork and
balusters; early C17 four-bay roofs with arch-braced moulded tie-beam trusses
with moulded beams. Late C13 four-bay south arcade with double chamfered arches
set on round piers. Porch has early C17 moulded plaster cornice with lions'
masks and unicorns to frieze, with fleur-de-lys, and rampant lions on shields
beneath; fine early C17 studded door with strap hinges and Norfolk latch set in
plain C12 doorway with moulded imposts. Wall paintings: C15 fragments over
chancel arch, including Nativity. Monuments: monumental brass in nave, by Thomas
Knowles, depicts figure of William Fletcher, d.1826, set on Gothick carved tomb
chest: C19 wall tablets. Spencer Chapel Monuments: large monumental memorial by
Jasper Hollemans for Sir William Spencer, d.1609, and wife has, Spencer griffin
and crest flanked by obelisks surmounting Corinthian columns which frame
recumbent effigies set in elaborately carved arch with figures of children below
and rich Flemish carving throughout. Large Baroque monument by John Nost for Sir
Thomas Spencer, d.1684, and wife: Spencer crest set in shaped pediment with
acanthus scrolls and flaming urns above architectural frame with figures of Sir
Thomas with his wife, sons and daughters. Oval wall tablet to Jane Spencer, d.
1689, framed by finely carved festoons of flowers. Oval wall tablet to Margaret
Mordant, d.1706, set in architectural frame with flaming urn set in scrolled
pediment flanked by Doric pilasters with festoons and cherubs. Monument to
Charlotte Augusta, Duchess of Marlborough, d.1850, depicts marble relief with
mother, angel and children. Stained glass: chancel has much C15 stained glass,
mostly donated in early C19 and including cherubims and birds, and C17 and C18
Flemish glass in north-west window. Spencer Chapel has "largest collection in
the country of early C17 armorial glass" (Pevsner). Nave windows have much fine
reset C15 glass including monks and saints, C16-17 armorial glass and early C14
donor figure in north-west corner; south aisle has C18 Flemish glass of saints
to east, C15 figures of cherubim and saints. West window has C14 and C15
roundels, saint's head and canopy.
(Buildings of England: Oxfordshire: pp864-7; National Monuments Record)

Listing NGR: SP4776511675

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17528214

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey