St Peter's Church, Charney Bassett

Woke up to find that yesterday's rain had cleared away, leaving behind it a morning with bright sun just starting to clear the trees and a haze of low-lying mist in the fields. Went for a walk into the village before breakfast and took this picture on the way back of the little church that sits next to Charney Manor.

Charney Manor was built as a grange by Abingdon Abbey, to house the steward appointed to look after the Abbey's lands there. Until it was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538, Abingdon Abbey was one of the great Benedictine establishments not only of England but of Europe. The church itself is very modest; the earliest parts of it date back to the 12th century. It is very simple yet attractive, well worth a look inside. Particularly interesting is a carved typanum in stone, over a side doorway in the chancel, depicting a mysterious figure between two gryphons. I shall be back here again at the end of this month, so that may be worth a photo in its own right then.