Church Micro 2207... Barnack Traditional Geocache
Church Micro 2207... Barnack
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The tower of the church is one of its most well known features. This is because it retains spectacular work from the Saxon era. The tower and spire is of 4 stages of which the lower 2 are entirely of Saxon work, dating from circa 1000, while the superimposed belfry and spire were added approximately 200 years later. The upper stage contains 2 internal floors. The exterior of the Saxon part of the tower is in 2 stages separated by a double cornice and a 2nd elaborate cornice runs around just below the added belfry. The north, south and west faces are divided vertically into 4 vertical compartments by narrow projecting pilaster strips characteristic of the period. The walls vary in thickness from 0.91 - 1.07m (3 - 3.5 ft) in the ground storey to 0.6 - 0.76m (2 - 2.5 ft) in the 2nd storey. The east wall is thinner than the others and it has been suggested it may be the west wall of an earlier church incorporated in the tower. The corners of the tower are constructed of 'long and short' work, the quoin stones being laid vertically and horizontally alternatively. In the lower stage the size and shape of the stones and their arrangement is much more irregular than in the more carefully built upper stage, indicating 2 periods of construction. Internally the tower opens to the nave by an impressive round-headed archway over 6m (nearly 20 ft) high. Inside the tower there are 3 deeply splayed windows high up in the walls which do little to illuminate the floor and the darkness is intensified by the 19th century glass in 2 of the windows. In the west wall is a triangular-headed recess outlined in strip-work containing a stone seat. It appears to be in its original position and possibly originally had a ceremonial purpose. In detail the south face is the most interesting side; it has a round-headed doorway cut straight through the wall giving entrance to the tower. It is framed by a projecting stone strip and immediately over the door is a round-headed window, one of three lighting the interior, it is set in a rectangular frame. Above this window is a circular stone panel, the upper part is carved and the lower part has faint lines of a sundial. The 2nd stage of the tower is set back slightly and in the lower part are 2 round-headed windows between which is a vertical panel with carvings on it. The upper part has a triangular-headed opening containing a mid-wall slab pierced with a complicated pattern. Smiths of Clerkenwell made the clock on the wall circa 1870. In detail the west face has a triangular-headed window outlined in stone strip-work on the top part of the tower. The lower part of the upper stage has, on the left hand side, a tiny round-headed opening within a shallow frame while, to the right is a large triangular-headed doorway closed by a wooden door. Between these openings is another vertical slab carved similar to that on the south face and above it is a triangular-headed window with a mid wall slab perforated with four vertical slots. In detail the north face has a round-headed window similar to that on the south, on the lower stage of the tower. Above the cornice are 2 more round-headed windows with a vertical carved slab between them. The triangular-headed belfry window has a pierced mid-wall slab as on the south face. In detail the east face has a sharply pointed weathering Saxon roofline, above the present modern flat roof. 2 openings are now visible, the lower of which is a square-headed doorway formerly opening beneath the Saxon roof. The triangular-headed belfry window has a pierced wall-slab with 4 slot-like perforations. The pilaster strips on this side only descend as far as the apex of the former roof. It is also important to note the effigy of Our Lord in Glory, which is located at the east end of the north aisle. A stonemason unearthed it while carrying out work on the floor of the church. At first it appeared to be a large oblong piece of 'rag', but after excavating it properly it proved to be a rough niche containing what is known as a Majesty, or figure of Our Lord in Glory, seated with a halo or nimbus behind the head. It is reminiscent of Byzantine work with the 2 first fingers of the right hand upraised in blessing and the left hand holding a book. It is probably early 13th century work. Social history: It is not known when the first church was built on this site but it is probable that there was one in existence in the 7th century, prior to the current construction. There is a record dating back to 664, stating that the 'vill of Barnack had been granted by Wulfhere, King of Mercia, to Medehamstede abbey'. The northern side of the churchyard is interesting because the church is separated from the old manor house by a wall. The church is very close to the wall, leaving only a small strip of land in between. It is said that this part of the churchyard was usually never consecrated and was known as the devil's side, where infidels and anyone outside of the pale of the church was buried there. The south part of the churchyard was always consecrated and was the proper place for people to be buried. The cache is a small nano tube, can be done as a cache and dash. “If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication. There is also a Church Micro Stats page found via the Bookmark list”
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