Church Micro 3015...Portesham Multi-cache
Church Micro 3015...Portesham
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A Church Micro at St Peter's church, Portesham.
The present building has a mainly 12th century nave which probably had aisles at both sides. In the 13th century the chancel was built (or rebuilt), the nave lengthened and the tower erected. About 1500 the chancel arch was rebuilt and the present aisles and arcades built, and a top section and winding staircase added to the tower. Later that century the south porch was built, with some 12th century material used in its outer archway.
The pulpit is Jacobean on a modern base. The opening in the wall above it once led to a wooden gallery or rood-loft supporting a crucifix above the screen (of about 1500). The gallery and crucifix were removed in Reformation times.
At the far (west) end of the north aisle there used to be a 17th century window, blocked in 1872. The late 16th century carved wooden panelling fixed to the wall may have been an overmantel or bedhead. Some say it came from a Spanish galleon.
The chancel side windows are ealy 14th century, the east window stonework is about the date of the chancel arch, 1500. The doorway in the north wall is early 13th century, the communion table 18th century. The carved head jutting from the east wall to the right of the communion table and the carved stone on the left are probably more relics of the earlier church.
The Victorian choirstalls and the front pews in the nave were removed in 1988.
At the far end of the nave was once a gallery, lit by the specially high 17th century windows in the south wall.
The font is 12th or 13th century, and is placed nedar the door to symbolise that Christian commitment begins with baptism.
In the tower there used to be three bells but one was sold as scrap in the 1950's.
You will need to head towards the war memorial and look for the unusual grave stone of John Galpin, vicar of the church for AB years. Died April 21 CDEF
The cache can be found at:
N50 40. B (C+F) B
W002 33. (C+D) (E-F) (A+B)
Checksum = 47
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.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp.