St Bartholomew Church, Basildon

St Bartholomew's Church is the redundant Church of England parish church of Lower Basildon in the county of Berkshire, England. Built in the late 13th century, the structue was substantially renovated in 1875–1876.

Often open every day but locked up about 4pm and is worth going inside. It’s a lovely place. Kind of sad it’s not used all that much anymore but I guess there are less church-going people these days and community is somewhat diluted.

The church is surrounded by some interesting houses with one or two of them now standing empty.

I’ve been down here a couple of other times and there is a path that you can follow across a neighbouring field to the river Thames. There are some gorgeous views, with the hills in the background.

https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-churches/lobappeal

Lovely doors

You know that I love my doors and have been toying with setting up another project dedicated to them.

Jethro Tull

Not the late folk-rock musician but the man who brought to the world, the mechanised plough. Revolutionising farming overnight but at the same time causing the farmers revolt, people feared the new machines would ruin their livelihoods. Sound familiar?

Stained Glass

The interior

I love the tiles on the wall.

The church exterior

Tragic story

The marble statue of two young brothers in swimming trunks who drowned in the Thames in 1886.