On our way to Wales we stopped off at Dyrham to visit the wonderful stately home and church.
There has been a church on the site for 700 years, with the oldest part of the present building dating from 1280; this is the three arches between the north aisle and the nave. The tower was built about 1420, and the church was considerably enlarged and altered about 50 years later. The position of the porch is unusual in that it was built on the south side of the tower but is not attached to it.
The chapel in the south aisle was once used by the Guild of St. Denis. The guild was founded in 1520 by Sir William Denys and his wife, Lade Anne, daughter of Sir Maurice Berkeley. It was an important guild having a large number of members.
Here are the font, organ, and pulpit. The font is older than the church, being late Norman; about 800 years old.
Here is the view from the nave into the chancel. The picture behind the altar is a Triptych, painted about 400 years ago and is of Flemish origin. It depicts the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt. It stands on a shelf on the edge of which is carved the first message sent by Morse in his code: "See what God has wrought".
The is a small amount of ancient glass in the tracery in the east window.
At the east end of the south aisle is the tomb of George Wynter who died in 1581 and of his wife, Anne (below). Nearby are memorials to other members of the Wynter family.
The most famous object in the church is the fine brass of Sir Morys Russell and his wife which is at least 400 years old, Sadly the glass covering the brass reflected the windows and made photography impossible.
The church has its own website here.
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