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November 21, 2018

Cromford, Derbyshire – St Mary’s

On Saturday 3 November we drove up to Cromford and parked by the Mills. The girls went for a wander round the shops, I went to visit St Mary’s church. Here is a website – Cromford in Prose and Poetry  – and here is the church website. The church is next to the Mill, SK 299571 – just by the bridge and across from Willersley Castle. In 1792 Sir Richard Arkwright, the owner of the Mills, built himself a mansion, now known as Willersley Castle. He then started work on the church, but sadly died before it was completed....
Categories Derbyshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
November 18, 2018

Sudbury, Derbyshire – All Saints

On Saturday afternoon (20 October) we drove across to Sudbury Hall National Trust property. Even disabled drivers have to park in the main car park and there is an electric van – but it’s not very easy to enter. We started with the Second Hand Bookshop, then did the Museum of Childhood – it’s all accessible and good fun. An interesting display about the portrayal of race – more information here. And they have a dalek. The House is not accessible for those in wheelchairs, so we went for a walk/roll through the gardens and up to the church....
Categories Derbyshire/National Trust/World War 1 Comments: 2
November 14, 2018

Torpenhow, Cumbria – St Michael

The final church visit of the day was St Michael Torpenhow – NY 206397 – website. The guidebook was first produced in 1969 “and coincided with the truly remarkable Parish Flower Festival.” Even now the PCC are meeting to plan the 50th anniversary celebrations of a remarkable Parish Flower Festival! They suggest the Britons called the small hill a ‘Pen’. The Saxons, not understanding ‘Pen’ called it a ‘Tor-pen’ a pinnacle pen. The next bunch called it the ‘how’ (hill) of Torpen. Believe it if you wish! The church dates to about 1120, and is a C12 church which...
Categories Cumbria/World War 1 Comments: 0
November 10, 2018

Bassenthwaite, Cumbria – St John

We drove north along the east side of Bassenthwaite, and found St John’s church at NY 229316. The website is here. Pevsner says the church is 1878 by David Brade of Kendal, and describes it as “expensive but ill-proportioned”, though he says the inside is better. It didn’t do a lot for either of us. Tall, must be a pain to heat, and the 1900 stained glass by Clayton & Bell is not particularly inspiring. What lifted the church for me was this lovely map of the Lake, and the three windows by W. Wilson 1961. I have done...
Categories Cumbria/World War 1 Comments: 0
November 8, 2018

Crosthwaite, Cumbria – St Kentigern

On Tuesday 9 October I wanted a day with Clare, so braved Virgin Trains to go north. She met me at Penrith station, and we drove west, past Keswick on the bypass, and into Crosthwaite. The church of St Kentigern is by the school – NY 257243, website. It always good to know where the Gas valve is! St Kentigern, also known as Mungo, is a Scottish saint. He came here in 553 AD and set up his cross in a clearing or ‘thwaite’. There have been several different churches on this site – which remained in Scotland until William...
Categories Cumbria/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 2
November 3, 2018

Chesterfield, Derbyshire – Christ Church

On Sunday 30 September there were a couple of churches in Chesterfield doing WW1 Commemoration events. Our friend Anne had been with us for the weekend and was returning to Northumberland – so Chesterfield is en route. Christ Church is at SK 385723, and has a website shared with Holy Trinity (which we visited several years ago). The Derbyshire Churches website gives it a couple of sentences: “Christ Church on Sheffield Road is the sister church to Holy Trinity and both share the same vicar, David Horsfall. The Foundation Stone of this church was laid on 5 September 1869...
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November 1, 2018

York, Yorkshire – Priory Church of the Holy Trinity

A afternoon in York on Thursday 27 September was an opportunity have supper with the kids – and do some book shopping. I left Julie in one shop and did a church visit. The Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York – grid reference SE 598866 – website – welcomes you with their stocks! Inside they welcome you with an exhibition about Faith – surely something we should all have. Apparently there is also an app – search York churches. It has been suggested that this is a very early, even Roman, site – York Minister occupies a...
Categories World War 1/Yorkshire Comments: 0
October 26, 2018

Upwell, Norfolk – St Peter

In Wiggenhall church I purchased a Church Trail. It is trail 2, “Tailors and Tank Engines”. Are there other trails? I look at the Diocese of Ely website, searched for “Church Trails”, no results found. No results for “tourism” either. I can find nothing on their website about visiting churches. I get very frustrated – actually, that’s the polite word. The trail starts at Welney, but we joined it at Christchurch. Henry Sayers, father of Dorothy, was rector here from 1917-1928. Dorothy was an adult by this stage, so only visited her parents here. The church was built in...
Categories Norfolk/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 0
October 20, 2018

King’s Lynn, Norfolk – All Saints’

The last Lynn church to blog is All Saints’. Not the easiest to find – it’s rather hidden in the Hillington Square flats – grid reference TF 621195. The website is here, and they describe their church as The Hidden Pearl. It is the original parish church of Lynn, and is referred to in a document dated 1101 relating to the building of St Margaret’s. The Saxon church was rebuilt around 1095, and was a splendid medieval church endowed by rich merchants of the parish – and there were rich merchants in this parish. After the Reformation it entered...
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October 2, 2018

Measham, Leicestershire – St Laurence

We continued south to Measham, just the other side of the A42. St Laurence church is at SK 335122 – website. It is set back off the main road, and as we walked up we were welcomed by a cleric, who turned out to be Vivien the Team Rector. She was about to give a guided tour, and got the ramp out so we could get in. She said they were working for an HLF grant, and I am very glad to see that since we visited they have been awarded £195,800. Well done – and thank you HLF, you...
Categories Leicestershire/World War 1 Comments: 4