logo


St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

Bywell was once a thriving market town beside the Tyne, though little now remains except the castle, a Medieval market cross, the Hall, and two churches dating from Saxon times. The tall tower of St Andrew?s is a magnificent example of Saxon building. Dating from about 850, it has massive walls 5 metres thick, clearly intended for defence; but it is much more than a defensive structure. It is built from a lovely mixture of cream, yellow, brown and even red sandstone and has the small rounded windows characteristic of the time. The body of the church dates from the 13th-century and was considerably enlarged and restored in 1871. Most of the interior dates from this Victorian restoration, including the mosaic floor of the sanctuary and the glittering reredos. There is very fine Victorian stained glass, some by the notable designer William Wailes, who is buried at the other Bywell church, St Peter?s. Inside the church, and in some places set into the outside walls, are magnificent early Medieval grave slabs. They have lovely bold carving, with emblems denoting the status of the…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

A little bit of Italy in Waterloo Street’ In the early 1820s, the Prince Regent made the old fishing towns of Brighton and Hove the most fashionable place to be. Here, St Andrew’s was built to serve wealthy society, near a gleaming new estate of terraced mansions by the sea. Set back from the sea front, the Italian Renaissance style and symmetry and grandeur of this 1827 church by the famous architect Sir Charles Barry, perfectly matches the neighbouring squares and terraces. Inside, light streams through skylights and dances through the stained glass. In 1925 Randoll Blacking added superb baldacchinos over the altar and font to fulfil the parish priest’s desire that St Andrew’s should become ‘a little bit of Italy in Waterloo Street’. The beautiful painted ceiling features the sun surrounded by a crescent moon, a comet, Saturn and stars. A series of fine 19th-century monuments offer an excellent introduction…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

Just north of Ilchester over the River Yeo, St Andrew’s is a simple Medieval church next to a farmyard. It was restored in 1878 by Charles Benson. Its site close to a large Roman cemetery beside the Fosse Way, is of outstanding archaeological importance. An excavation of the mound on which it stands could well reveal the foundations of a Saxon minster noted in…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

A mile from its village down a farm track through fields, the Old St Andrew’s Church is set beautifully against a backdrop of tall trees, with the great Abbey of Downside towering beyond. St Andrew?s is simple and unassuming outside, but the south porch is of great antiquarian interest. Inside, the church has a treasure trove of Georgian furnishings including box pews, pulpit, desk, west gallery…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

This tiny chapel, built of flint and stone, with a tiny weatherboarded bell turret, has barely been altered since it was built in Norman times. The inside is simple,…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

This tiny, charming church, which overlooks the River Till was built mainly in…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew’s is built on the Roman site of Viroconium, the fourth largest town of Roman Britain, and the evidence for the ancient town is everywhere. The gateposts are made from two Roman columns; the walls contain massive Roman stones; and the huge font is made…

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew's Church

St Andrew’s stands…

St Anthony's Church

St Anthony's Church

Behind the turreted ancestral home of the Spry family, and looks across the creek to St Mawes. Look out for what appears to be carved woodwork at the top of the walls. In fact it is an ingenious use of Cornish tin, painted to resemble wood. In…

St Arild's Church

St Arild's Church

This atmospheric church is dedicated to…