Churches
St Mary’s Church, Bloxham
Standing rock-solid on a hill with a 198-foot spire reaching for the skies, St Mary’s in Bloxham is hard to miss. From virtually every spot in the village, the church can be seen – which was possibly the designers’ aim. After all, as in all towns and villages, the church was the centre point…
Read MoreSt Andrew’s Church, Bishop Auckland
It is believed that St Andrew’s Church in Bishop Auckland is the largest parish church in the Diocese of Durham. And it certainly feels it when you walk into this spacious, cruciform place of worship. Massive arches, vividly coloured windows, and rich woodwork makes this church a perfect example of a 13th-century building.…
Read MoreAuld Kirk, Stow, Scotland
When Queen Margaret Tudor (wife of King James IV) stepped from her carriage in 1513, to pray at the Auld Kirk in Stow, she must have appreciated the beauty and tranquillity of the place. Then, as still today, Stow is a quiet village in the Scottish Border region, with rolling hills and green farmland…
Read MoreKelso Abbey, Scotland
The impressive ruins of Kelso Abbey’s West tower are all that survive of one of Scotland’s richest medieval Abbeys. It was built to a twin-towered, double-crossed plan unparalleled in the rest of the Kingdom. We were walking from the centre of town, along the A699, following the signs to the Abbey. Reaching the…
Read MoreSt Mary the Virgin Church, Morpeth
For me, there is nothing better than a bit of church crawling on a Saturday morning 😁. And since we are now allowed to travel slightly further afield, with the latest lifting of restrictions in England, I took full advantage last week. The quaint church of St Mary the Virgin in Morpeth, Northumberland…
Read MoreSt Andrew’s Church, Corbridge
Corbridge is a perfect destination for a daytrip when you want to go exploring in Northumberland. The little town offers delightful shops, cafes and of course remarkable historic architecture. And it is exactly this deep history that drew me to Corbridge on a sunny Sunday in February. We parked on Hill Street, directly…
Read MoreSt Mary’s Abbey, York
On a quick, work-related trip to York in December 2020, I took the opportunity to walk through the Museum Gardens. With many restrictions in place due to Covid, I thought it safer to explore an outdoor setting while I waited for the train back to Newcastle. And what a wonderful setting it is! …
Read MoreSt David’s Cathedral
St David’s is the United Kingdom’s smallest city in population (population of 1841 in 2011). It is also the resting place of St David, patron saint of Wales. And the magnificent St David’s Cathedral is located here, on the Northern edge of the city. So, it is no surprise then that visiting St David’s…
Read MoreChurch in the Attic, Amsterdam
I’m off to explore a historical secret! This has been on my bucket list for a while, so I’m very excited to be able to go on this excursion. The secret? A Catholic Church hidden in the attic of a residential house in the heart of Amsterdam. Let me explain a bit of background,…
Read MoreTynemouth Priory and Castle
With lockdown restrictions easing evermore in England, it has become possible to start history exploring again – thank goodness! Some heritage sites are starting to open, although one has to book a timeslot in advance. This is exactly what I did, so I was one of the first (post-lockdown) visitors to Tynemouth Priory and…
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