Category Archives: Churches

Time travelling: A place of kings and “holy air…”

Posted on February 18, 2019 by

“Holy air encased in stone” … that is how Sir John Betjeman described the crypt at Repton, and it was this that we had come to see… we hoped. On a previous visit, the crypt had been locked. This time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, archaeology, Churches, historic sites, Photography, Sacred sites, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Time travelling: St Wystan’s

Posted on February 16, 2019 by

We finally made it through the outer door of St Wystan’s church in Repton…and stopped. Two huge columns flank the inner door and, scattered around the porch are fragments of ancient masonry. carved medieval grave slabs and Saxon crosses. It … Continue reading →

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Time travelling: Ivar the Boneless and the Bone-yard…

Posted on February 15, 2019 by

Repton today is no more than a small Derbyshire village, but once it was the capital of Mercia, one of the most powerful realms of its era. For three hundred years, Mercia encompassed most of what would eventually become the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Churches, france and vincent, historic sites, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Time travelling: The ghosts of Repton…

Posted on February 14, 2019 by

After our visit to the wonderful church at Breedon, with its wealth of carved Saxon stonework, it seemed only right to call at Repton, less than ten miles away… and probably much closer in the days when horse and foot … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Churches, Folk Tale, france and vincent, historic sites, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Time Travelling: Monumental memories

Posted on February 9, 2019 by

We could not leave Breedon on the Hill without mention of the Shirley family who left their mark on the little church in no uncertain terms. In fact, as soon as you enter the nave, your eye is immediately drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Art, Churches, History, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Time travelling: Fantastic beasts and where to find them…

Posted on February 8, 2019 by

The reason I had long wanted to take my companion to the church at Breedon on the Hill was carved in stone. On my first ‘accidental visit’, I had been astounded by a collection of cross shafts tucked away in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Art, Churches, Don and Wen, dragons, History, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 44 Comments

Time travelling: Ancient sanctity

Posted on February 7, 2019 by

We entered through the porch door, surprised to find ourselves in a kind of antechamber. From the outside, there is no suggestion that you will be anywhere other than in the main body of the church and I had forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, ancient mound, Ancient sites, Churches, Don and Wen, England, france and vincent, History, Photography, symbolism, Templars | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Time travelling

Posted on February 6, 2019 by

Nearly five years ago and with strict instructions from my writing partner about ‘not finding things’ on my way north without him, I had accidentally found Breedon on the Hill and we had been ‘going to’ go there together ever … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Churches, Don and Wen, England, historic sites, Landscape, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

A visit to Tissington

Posted on January 30, 2019 by

The day was bitterly cold. Icy winds and heavy skies meant that it was definitely not the weather for tramping the moors on search of ancient stones. Instead, we had a run out to Tissington, knowing that one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Art, Churches, Don and Wen, mystery, Photography, Spirituality, Stuart France and Sue Vincent, symbolism, The Silent Eye | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

Ashbourne

Posted on January 28, 2019 by

Pre-Raphaelite glass sits in walls pitted by Cromwellian gunfire, while a 1950s reredos graces a chancel that dates back to 1241. That’s why I love these old churches… the history of a community is written within their walls in wood … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Art, Churches, Doomsday: The Ætheling Thing, England, historic sites, Photography, Sacred sites, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments