church – The Wandering Academic

Pilgrimage Challenge 3: Wells Cathedral in a Day (Glastonbury to Wells)

By Micah Mackay To support the Pilgrimage Challenge and to read more about it, please click here. The first thing that struck me about Glastonbury was the music. On street corners buskers competed for attention – the sound of the guitar accompanied us down one street, a saxophone down the next. Having been deprived ofContinue reading “Pilgrimage Challenge 3: Wells Cathedral in a Day (Glastonbury to Wells)”

Pilgrimage Challenge 1: The South Dorset Old Stones Way

We arrived in the village of Little Bredy to the sound of the church bell bringing in the tenth hour of morning. Having not heard church bells since February this sound instantly brought me back to Oxford and how every Sunday I would open my window and be greeted by a chorus of bells, singing out across the city. The sound of that solitary bell in the middle of a small, remote Dorset village encouraged me. It was a good start.

St Mary the Virgin Part 2 – Save Our Stories Series: A Reflection

The survival of Christ’s body within this image brings to mind what is really important: what will stay with other people, long after we have gone, is the love we are able to share, the selfless acts, and the bits of beauty, we, ourselves, are able to give to others.

St Mary’s ,Tarrant Crawford: Part 1 – Save Our Stories: Wall Paintings Series

St Mary’s truly is a jewel in a church-crawler’s crown. It draws together not only the artistry of the medieval period but also its religious literature and devotional practices. The church is now a mere reflection of the glory that once was, but it nevertheless remains, in my view, quite glorious.

All Saints’, Isleworth

I stumbled upon All Saints’, Isleworth after taking a walk past Syon House on a lovely (and uncharacteristically sunny) afternoon. The first thing that struck me about this place was the fusion of the undoubtedly medieval and the even more undoubtedly modern. A fifteenth-century church tower stands tall next to the Thames. Attached to thisContinue reading “All Saints’, Isleworth”

Cerne Abbas, Dorset Part 3: St Mary’s Church

In a day and age overwhelmingly concerned with security it is rather a blessing to be able to wander into a church at any reasonable time of day and spend an hour or so exploring. Many a time have I arrived at a church to find it locked and bolted. St Mary’s in Cerne AbbasContinue reading “Cerne Abbas, Dorset Part 3: St Mary’s Church”