Today I continue my church project and felt this is a good one for the Wednesday Walk, albeit a very short walk. I also felt this would be a good place to return to on a sunnier day and the church sadly wasn't open for a look inside.
Had we been able to, we would have seen it's 12th century Norman font and the stained glass window designed (1936) by eminent church architect Sir Ninian Comper, who created many fine windows for so many churches up and down the country. If you were to visit Westminster Abbey in London, you would see some further examples of his work there.
Located in West Berkshire, the village name of Sulhamstead translates as "Narrow Valley Homestead" derived from it's early Saxon settlers. The location once was said to have been the home to a Danish camp, just before and during the troubled times of King Alfred's reign.
The church was previously dedicated to St Bartholomew but later changed it's dedication to St Mary, possibly during the time of the plague ("Black Death").
The Rector of Sulhamstead Bannister in 1625 was the father of Samuel Morland, an inventor who demonstrated a calculating machine, speaking trumpet. He was also responsible for sorting out the complex plumbing in Windsor Castle that has remained much the same ever since (apparently!).