Hidden Henley

It’s worth travelling a little further to see this week’s curious subject.

Here are both a telephoto and an ultra-wide angle lens view of the fine sculpture inside the part of this church which is still protected from the weather, as well as an overall view from above. This is because most of this church’s roof is missing! As you walk from nearby Crowmarsh direction towards this peculiar building, signs point out that the public footpath is surrounded by private property and notices such as “Caution guard dogs on patrol” contrast with “The Churches Conservation Trust: St John the Baptist, Mongewell. Church open today”. Much of this private land was once the Carmel College which closed in 1997. The distinctive designs of the synagogue, dining hall, amphitheatre and boathouse can still be glimpsed. The old manor house within the grounds here was used by Agatha Christie as the basis for her mansion in her murder mystery play The Mousetrap. This is now in its 75^th year in London! The site has also been a location for film shoots, including part of The Iron Lady.

This church, alongside both the River Thames and a lake, was restored in 1880-81 according to a memorial stone – and this small part is weather proof and maintained by volunteers. It contains the eye-catching sculpture in my photos and notes about its peculiar history. One of these is simply a laminated newspaper cutting from 1911 with the headline Rector sent to gaol and revealing that the Rev. Hughes from here was ordered to pay £12 in rates but he refused. He was subsequently sentenced to 28 days imprisonment!