Church at Broughton Castle, a photo from Oxfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

This is the Parish Church of Saint Mary of Broughton- The church on the private grounds of the amazing Broughton Castle- and you think we have it good.. can you imagine having sufficient money to build your own church in your own Castles back yard.. Life has changed

In a region of beautiful village churches that of Broughton with North Newington is outstanding for its size, its beauty and for the continuity of its history and worship.

The first recorded rector of the parish, which has always covered both villages, was presented in 1224. His name was Benedict de Raley. The Norman font of the 12 th century may be a survival of an earlier church; but if so nothing remains of its structure.

The church as seen today is essentially the creation of a single family in the early 14 th century, enlarging and rebuilding an earlier church of which some 13 th century remnants may still be seen, notably the arcade separating the nave from the south aisle. The architectural style of the church was transitional from early English to decorated.

One may marvel at the inspiration of the family of Broughton, named after the village, who composed on this lovely site the symphony of manor house and church, hewn from local quarries of honey-coloured stone. Its setting, among gentle hills and valleys, is at the confluence of two brooks (hence the village name) whose flow was engineered into a broad moat as attractive to swans and a variety of wild life as at is to parishioners and visitors. The setting inspired craftsmen then, as it still inspires a lively parish and congregation who care for and maintain their heritage.

Little is known of the Broughtons. They were certainly living on the castle site early in the 13 th century. The last male heir died about 1376. the creative member of the family was John of Broughton who died in 1315; he was a knight of King Edward I and it was evidently he, inspired by what he saw on his travels, who brought craftsmen skilled in architecture, in the chiseling of stone into forms which still talk to us down the centuries, and in the pictorial representation of bible stories on the church walls, visual sermons to educate the then illiterate parishioners

nikkitta, jusninasirun, edge, Sonata11, joso, timecapturer, adores, SnapRJW, tyro, bornav has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

fotoguy22 (4186) 2012-05-14 16:38

Nice old church with the walkway leading the eye to the subject. Unfortunately it also leads the eye to someone wearing something very, very pink and distracting. It's not my intention to be overly critical because I really like the composition, the subject, the sky and the time of day.

Greetings from Florida..............Greg

nikkitta (5862) 2012-05-14 17:03

Hola Rich, my English friend
How very interesting and informative note to add at this very beautiful capture
Great natural soft colors and composition well balanced , the tree and the tower
Like the contrast with the beautiful spring sky
Did you take it at midday as the clock marks?

Congrats and TFS from Buenos Aires

Maria

npecanhuk (53901) 2012-05-14 17:23

Hello Richard!
Wonderful tower!
Very beautiful picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov, vertical format, slim black borders and composition are all excellent and really pleased me!
TFS - congrats,
Have a great week,
Neyvan

jusninasirun (17138) 2012-05-14 19:49

Hello Rich.
Nice setting of this church with fine tall tree in the yard. Beautiful framing with the path leading to the entrance for good depth and details.
Thanks and have a nice day.
Jusni

edge (6068) 2012-05-14 19:56

Hello Rich, Interesting shot of this church. Amazing how old it is, and yet looks like it might be available for worship. I like your composition in the vertical as it lets one see the fantastic sky and almost threatening clouds. The church looks like it is in a park-like setting with the green lawn and path in the foreground. VEry nicely done, and great notes as well. I haven't been here for a long long time, but dropped by a couple of days ago and now I have started posting again. Regards, Roger

Sonata11 (28331) 2012-05-14 20:07

Hello Richard,
An interesting composition of this an amazingly beautiful church and its architectrure . Accounted for as great in terms of color and sharpness. Beautifully photographed. I really like it. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Barbara

emka (58140) 2012-05-14 22:46

Hi Rich,
Yes, they must have hgad a lot of money to build a church for themselves. It seems a delightful place. beautiful photo, as taken from the old book. Fine composition with the road leading us to the church. I have nothing against the pink jacket.

Have a nice day

MAlgo

dta (51418) 2012-05-15 1:55

Hello Richard ,
What a beautiful old stoned church ! And its presentation is splendid , in an attractive composition with the trees and the curve of the alley . The sky is superb and adds to the cahrm of the picture .
Regards

dkmurphys (36801) 2012-05-15 2:22

Hi Rich,
Simple and attractive capture. I like the old church and the superb park in front of it. Well taken!

Daniel

timecapturer (30324) 2012-05-15 5:37

Hi Rich
so English this and quite beautiful. A strong composition with irresistable colours and light that make this magnificent spire stand out so majestically. Wonderful!

Regards - Brian.

sabermonajati (7593) 2012-05-15 5:42

hi
you shot illustrated paysage with nice detail.
regard
saber

ines8 (5838) 2012-05-15 10:46

Hi, Rich,
Splendid picture,beautiful old church, marvelous grey tones of the sky.I think that little pink stain enriches the colors of the composition...
Best regards,
ines

adores (28210) 2012-05-15 17:22

Hi Rich!
A good moment, with good light and beautiful sky! The old church seems magnificent and it's well framed, between the trees. I also like the walkway leading us to the entrance and to the people that are going in. Good light, colours and sharpness!

SnapRJW (18722) 2012-05-16 0:45

Hello Rich - This shot brought to mind the Edgar Broughton Band who I used to follow as a youngster. They were somehow related to the castle (being Broughtons) but I know not how. One thing is for sure, they were not sedate and dignified like this lovely church, they were wild, proto-punks (years before punk was a word!) Beautiful shot, nicely composed with a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. Warm regards rosemary

bayno (16195) 2012-05-16 0:58

Ciao Ric,
I really like this old tower and its clock, the light was good and perfect framing, very beautiful natural colors and excellent sharp...nice one...
have a good day...
Valter

tyro (13073) 2012-05-16 8:59

Hello Richard,

What a fine interesting note you have written here. Curiously, we have a village called Broughton near us - about 20 miles from Lanark and between us and Peebles. It's now in the Scottish Borders, not far from Tweedsmuir, but used to be in Peebleshire. Our Broughton has a lot of connections with John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir who served as Governor General of Canada but who is generally better known for his novels such as "The Thirty-Nine Steps" and "Prester John" and "Huntingtower".

And this is a fine photograph. The slightly cloudy sky has helped a lot with the lighting too - casting some fine shadows across the ground and also on the face of the church and its steeple. A very good composition, the church steeple being perfectly placed in the frame and nicely balanced by what looks like a very fine (though not so fine as others I have seen!) oak tree. The foreground pathway leads the eye nicely toward the church gate and the addition of a couple of people there adds interest.

Lovely colours, perfect exposure and stunning sharpness.

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

romanaa (7372) 2012-05-17 13:04

Hello Rich,

this picture has a strange strong light that makes it very crisp. I love the path leading into composition. Well done my friend

Best wishes

Romana

P-S-I-G (25532) 2012-05-17 22:14

Hello Rich,
I like this composition so successful with the old tree and the church. The framing is very good. Pleasant colours.
Best regards,
Fabrice