St Mary Chieveley

There seems to be very little history I can find on this church and what I did came from Royal Berkshire History. 
"The Church dates back to the 13th century. It has one of only three remaining Veil Screens in England. It was used for the hanging of a veil to screen off the altar during lent but the practice was forbidden in the reformation"
The photos this week are all external because at the time of my visit the church was locked, I will try and return as it sounds like there are some interesting things to see inside

The Lychgate is the first thing you see

before going along the path to the church where if you walk across the churchyard a bit you can see the South side

Above the bell tower and left the North aisle and newere church rooms that have been added

Down to the East end

View across the churchyard to the South side of the church

The porch with doors that were firmly locked at  the time of my visit

Along the South side a few of the graves you can see there

over the path you can see more of the churchyard

Looking around it you cannot help noticing the number of older headstones

and it seems to extend quite a way

the one memorial I came across on the church wall

I have to admit the churchyard was vast for the size of the village

but was well kept

with quite a few trees around as well

Right at the far South side is a new part where the present burials take place

A couple of unusual looking crosses for ths part of the country

 




There were two Commonwealth war graves I could find in the churchyard, one looked as though it had been forgotten about

Like the cross above near the boundary

Right the memorial garden

Looking West to East across the churchyard

Some of the older headstones, some the wording has gone others sink in the ground

 I will leave you with this view of the war memorial which is fittingly outside the church

and with luck should return to  take some photos around the inside

Till Next time I wish you a wonderful weekend