St Andrew's Church is

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

in a central position in the village of

Sonning Sonning (traditional: ; modern: ) is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England, on the River Thames, east of Reading, Berkshire, Reading. The village was described by Jerome K. Jerome in his book ''Three Men in a Boat'' as "the most fair ...

, close to the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...

, in the English county of

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

. It is notable for its fine array of church monuments and for being the successor of an Anglo-Saxon Cathedral.

Location

The church is located close to the historic Bishop's Palace, which has long since disappeared apart from some grassy mounds. The historic Bull Inn is immediately next to the church away from the river and is owned by the church. Also adjoining the churchyard is Deanery Gardens, an early 20th-century

Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memorials ...

house with a

Gertrude Jekyll Gertrude Jekyll ( ; 29 November 1843 – 8 December 1932) was a British Horticulture, horticulturist, garden designer, craftswoman, photographer, writer and artist. She created over 400 gardens in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United Sta ...

garden, well hidden by high walls apart from a good view from the top of the church tower. Close by is the brick-built

Sonning Bridge Sonning Bridge is a road bridge across the River Thames at Sonning, Berkshire. It links Sonning with Sonning Eye (Oxfordshire) and crosses the Thames on the reach above Shiplake Lock, just short of Sonning Lock. It is a brick arch bridge compl ...

, leading over the Thames into

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

, with the Great House at Sonning, a historic public house, now a hotel and restaurant, next to it on the river.

History

Sonning was the location of an early

Saxon The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...

minster. In 909 AD, this became one of the two cathedrals of the See of Ramsbury and Sonning. Some Saxon stonework can still be seen in the church today. The north aisle dates from the 13th century and the south aisle dates from the early 14th century. However, the church as it can be seen today is largely Victorian, with major restoration by Henry Woodyer in 1852–3 and 1876. Of note is the ornate 17th-century monument to Sir Thomas Rich, now hidden in the base of the tower. In 1853, it was called "the vilest paganism imaginable". There is also a fine series of memorial brasses (largely hidden beneath the carpet). The church is a Grade II* listed building. Hugh Pearson was a notable Victorian vicar at the church, under whom many of the changes took place. Pearson Hall (the village hall) and Pearson Road in the village are named after him.

Graves

Some burials in the churchyard: * Edmund John Phipps-Hornby VC, CB, CMG, DL (1857–1947), a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

* Major General Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies VC CB CMG DSO (1878–1965), another recipient of the Victoria Cross * Brigadier Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley KBE CStJ FRACP FRCP FRCPE FRS (1891–1966), Australian physician and soldier Some burials in the church: * John Blagrave (major) * Robert Wright (bishop) * Sir Thomas Rich, 1st Baronet * William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell * Robert Palmer (MP) * Hugh Pearson

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Andrews Church Sonning Churches completed in 1852 19th-century Church of England church buildings Church of England church buildings in Berkshire Diocese of Oxford Saint Andrews Church Grade II* listed churches in Berkshire 1852 establishments in England Churches on the Thames