St Michael & All Angels Bulley

We made respectful acquaintance with some cows enjoying morning tea. Bulley Farm is beside the church, and emphasises the rural nature of this community. May God smile on you today, Elizabeth
We get permission to park at Bulley farm, next to the church.	This view of the farmhouse is from the churchyard.
Kites Nest Lane is opposite the church, and provides some parking spaces.	Then we looked at the wheat, now forming heads. Other fields are sown with rape, now in flower, and sheep graze a bit further up the road, which is single car width - I had to reverse to a layby twice.
Max is dwarfed by the size of the tombstones in front of the church. This building was restored by Sidney Gambier Parry in 1886-7. It has Saxon foundations, Norman style windows, doorway and Chancel arch. Parry added the Chancel, a North Vestry, half-timbered south porch, and a square west bell-turret with a short shingled spire. It now has modern lighting, heat and coloured glass windows in the 'polygonal aspe, by Graham Dowding 2000'.
The earliest records, indexed under Bulley at Alvin St Gloucester, is P66 VE 2/1, the Vestry Minutes from 14 Sep 1837. They appear to hold two meetings a year, at Easter to elect the Churchwarden and Overseer, and in June to set the Poor Rate. In 1837 there was a change in regulations, and the Parish had to agree to sell the Poor Houses. These were built by the Parish about 1811, each with half an acre of garden. They are four houses bounded on the north by the land of Mr Hyett in occupation of William Humphridge, on the south by the road leasing from Tibberton to Churcham, on the west by land belonging to Jonathan Davies in his own occupation, and east by land in occupation of Joseph Richardson. Money was borrowed to build the houses, and Vestry agreed to repay this debt when the sales were effected, a sum of 99 pounds 17 shillings, to Mr Wm Humphridge 34 pounds and 5.19.0 interest, to Joseph Pickering 34 pounds and 5.19.0 interest, and to Richard Moody 17 pounds with 2.19.0 interest. Plans were under way for rebuilding the Chancel and building a Gallery at the West End to increase the seating by 42 places.
View of the Nave and high windows at the West End, restored original wall and Bell-tower. The left-hand Window on the North wall still shows medieval paintwork - the red and white chevron pattern
Churcham Parish Register has notes copied on the back pages. Thus we read In August 1837 Rev George Charles Hall was Inducted as Vicar of Churcham with Bulley annexed (page 193 of P83 IN 1/9 Churcham Registry). On 31 March 1856 the school for the united parishes of Churcham and Bulley was opened.
One Memorial to an individual has been preserved inside the church. This memorial is on the North Wall, behind the Pulpit. 'Underneath this place lieth the body of Jeremiah Hooper of this Parish who died December 24, 1763, aged near 67 years' The verse reads:- I was so long with pain oppressed That wore my strength away It made me long for endless Rest Which never can decay Jeremiah Hooper was elected Churchwarden in 1838 and the next year Overseer. So 80 years after the ancestor had died, the family is still serving the Lord and the community.
The Sanctuary has been extended with three windows. In 2000 coloured glass was installed to mark the Millenium. They are 'The Beginning', 'Christ in Majesty', and 'The Future'. Sorry, the sun has washed colour from these beautiful modern windows.
The South wall with the Prayer Desk and looking towards the Nave through the massive Norman Chancel Arch. The Entry door still has its strap hinges and ring, and eight peepholes in the three panels.

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