Church Micro #7632 Owlpen Multi-cache
Church Micro #7632 Owlpen
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache is not within the church yard.
Parking can be tricky you may need to park further down the lane and walk back up.
The church of the Holy Cross at Owlpen stands above the ancient Tudor Manor house in a remote and beautiful setting which has long been recognised as one of the treasures of Cotswold scenery.
The name Owlpen is believed to derive it's origin from the Saxon thane Olla who, towards the ninth century, first set up his "pen" or enclosure here, beside the Ewelme.
This sparkling stream is fed by abundant springs which have never failed to issue from the folds of the limestone hills, set about like an amphitheatre to form a hidden valley.
Owlpen church can claim a mediavel lineage equal with that of the rest of the buildings here, although little remains above the foundation courses of the old Chapel as it was before the eighteenth century.
The small chapel had been annexed to the parish of Bagpath, some three miles away, it later became united to the benefice of Uley in 1842.
It was restored in 1736and then again in 1828-29. It was enlarged at this time as the growing local population had outgrown the chapel.
The chancel now has mosaic tiles in neo-Byzantine style, work executed by Messrs Powell of the Whitefriars Glassworks. The chancel has an alabaster reredos with a marble cross, once bejeweled with amethysts. The ceiling is richly painted with star patterns and sun bursts on a blue back ground and the sanctuary floor has encaustic tiles.
The stained glass in the three west windows are also noteworthy.
Finally, the tower at the west end, with diagonal buttresses and embattled parapet, was added in 1912 and the bell recast and hung.
The baptistry below was also enriched with mosaics by Powell, with triumphant angels, standard rose trees and lilies, even the stone jambs of the windows are inlaid with mother-of-pearl and the floor set with mosaic tiles. The Norman font, all that effectively remains from the mediaevel church, was rescued from use as a cattle trough to be erected there on a restored base.
To find the cache, find the grave near the listed coordinates of John Norris (Yeoman) born 18th January ABCD and died on the 26th October EFGH.
The cache is then at: N51º(D+E)H.(C-F)(G-H)(B-D)
W002º AB.G(E-A)D
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
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Congratulations to GrahamAndLinda on your FTF!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebhaq gur onpx