Vicars Close and Wells Cathedral during the recent snow.
Tags: Vicars Close Wells Somerset snow winter street houses church cathedral England
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St Mary's at Acocks Green is one of the grandest of Birmingham's suburban churches, built on a scale that cannot fail to impress, despite the absence of either a tower or spire of any kind (a steeple was originally intended but never realised). It is set back slightly from the main road in a large leafy churchyard surrounded by memorials (that almost appear to be marching towarsds it from westerly directions).
The church was built in 1866 to the designs of architect J.G.Bland and the large nave and aisles belong to this phase, the chancel was added somewhat later in 1894 to the designs of J.A.Chatwin and is of impressive proportions, being equal in height to the nave. The church was damaged by bombing in 1940 which caused the loss of the nave roof and most of the glass. Postwar restoration saw the nave roof rebuilt at a less steep pitch and the clerestories rebuilt and heightened with twin lancet windows (in place of the previous rosette oculi).
The interior has an almost cathedral-like feel owing to the proportions, the soaring chancel in particular making a fitting climax to the interior with the church's finest features, a richly sculpted alabaster reredos and a stunning east window by Morris & Co depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, mostly to the designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones. The window was fortunately removed to safety at the outbreak of war and thus happily survived the bombing that destroyed the remainder of the Victorian glass. The church is thus now mainly plain-glazed, which at least keeps it flooded with light. Many of the Victorian fittings and details still survive, such as the finely carved capitals in the nave.
St Mary's isn't normally open to visitors outside of service times so I timed my visit to coincide with a brief opening during Heritage Week in September. It may open for coffee mornings on select days (my original plane was to visit during one of these prior to Covid). The church is worth seeing for its ambituous scale and ornate sanctuary, but it is the striking Burne Jones glass that above all else justifies a visit here.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_the_Virgin,_Acocks_Green
Tags: Acocks Green church Birmingham West Midlands Victorian architecture
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Hinckley Memorial garden (May 20th 1922)is located next to Argents Mead in Hinckley.
The 4.2m tall octagonal ashlar column is on a stepped base, which is surmounted by a bronze statue of a robed angelic figure with both arms outstretched with is the Angel of Mercy. The outstretched hand of the bronze statue (Allan G. Wyon of St. Johns Wood, London) casts a shadow, which falls exactly onto the memorial cross at the 11th hour of the 11th month. Around the column there is text that reads 'To keep in mind those from this place who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919'.
The Statue faces a flight of step up to an ashlar wall with a central cross with three copper panels each side. The panels have the names of the fallen, all beneath an entablature which originally was topped by an urn at each end. On either side of the memorial are two-bay wing wall with a balustrade upper section.
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www.hinckleypastpresent.org/warmemorial.html
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www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2223
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Originally taken and posted for the GWUK group.
Guessed by Colin Underhill
Tags: GWUK GuessWhereUK bronze statue Angel of Mercy Allen G Wyon column great war WWI memorial park Castle Hill Argents Mead Hinckley Bosworth Leicestershire East Midlands
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A large organ towers over the Gothic interior of the Holy Name Church in Manchester.
The Holy Name Church is a Grade I listed building in Manchester. The church was built between 1869 and 1871 in the Gothic Revival style.
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