ESW

Over the last couple of years we have visited several churches in Nottinghamshire which I have written up here.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ire/index.html

As a county, Nottingham tends to be ignored by visitors unless they are in search of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. It has some nice countryside with places like Clumber Park as well as some very good churches. These include places like Southwell Minster with its superb Norman nave
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ell/index.html
and the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Newark upon Trent which must be one of the largest parish churches in England.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ark/index.html

It also includes tiny churches like St Nicholas in Littleborough with Saxon herringbone stonework in the walls and Saxon chancel arch.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ugh/index.html

Elston Chapel is also Norman although it has an unspoilt Georgian interior and the remains of wall paintings.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...pel/index.html

All Saint’s Church in Hawton has the most amazing Easter sepulchre and carved stonework.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html
Another Easter sepulchre is also found in St Peter’s Church in Sibthorpe.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rpe/index.html

St Giles’ Church in Holme has beautifully carved medieval pews as well as the splendid tomb of John Barton who built the south aisle specially for it.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...lme/index.html

St Gregory’s Church in Fledborough Church has some good medieval stained glass.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ugh/index.html

And finally, All Saint’s Church in Coddington was rebuilt by Bodley in 1865 and decorated by Willaim Morris and Burne Jones.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

annhig

ESW - your expertise would have been useful when DD was a student at Nottingham Trent; she spent 3 years living near/in Southwell which we came to like very much. we also visited Newark which is a nice town with a country feel.

England is full of these little corners which go largely unnoticed.

ESW

Southwell is a lovely town and has managed to keep its old fashioned feel. We were really disapponted by the amount of 'clutter' in the Minster which got in the way of photography - labels stuck on things, tables with things on and worst of all a huge great AV screen in the nave.

annhig

We only visited the Minster once, ESW, and i can't say I noticed the clutter you mention, but then we weren't trying to do any serious photography.

in fact, I think that we were the only people there, apart from the organist, who was practising.

What is an AV screen?

flanneruk

What is an AV screen?

Presumably audio-visual.

Since they were first built, England's parish churches have been used as places for the community to assemble for all sorts of things - from defence against raiders, through Mass and the services later dreamt up by the Reformers, to modern presentations - both religious and secular. They've also been used by local groups to seek assistance in charitable work, and to display what they're doing (aka "labels stuck on things, tables with things on"). Usually to help others - though of course that's not what churches are for.

Not once in the past thousand years, it appears, have any ofthese thoughtless people paid any attention to their prime role of looking pristine for 21st century photographers.

No doubt ESW's next complaint will be about unkempt PEOPLE kneeling at the altar she was trying to get into shot. Or the distracting noise made by collective prayer.

ESW

"No doubt ESW's next complaint will be about unkempt PEOPLE kneeling at the altar she was trying to get into shot. Or the distracting noise made by collective prayer."

No, I am very careful to avoid taking pictures of people praying or kneeling at the altar. There were two little girls with their mother who were busy playacting out a service in front of the high altar, so I waited until they had finished before taking any pictures. I appreciate that churches are places of worship and respect that. It is good to see them being used and as part of the community.

They are also some of the best architecture we have in this country and many are marketing themselves as tourist attractions. The photo permit for Southwell - which I did buy - cost £5 which is expensive compared with many other places. For this, it seems reasonable to expect to be able to take photographs, especially of the crossing and pulpitum which are the crowning glory of the Minster. Have you looked at the 'offending' picture or my web pages?

There was no reason why the audio visual screen had to be placed in front of the chancel crossing. It could easily have been placed at the west end - but that of course would mean that the chairs would have had to be turned around.

First impressions matter. A lot of the labels were unnecessary and intrusive. Similarly a lot of the tables contained 'clutter'.

I always have a sense of awe and wonderment when I visit a church and particularly in one that that has been used as a place of worship for centuries, as is the case of Southwell. I also appreciate that churches are living comunities and evolve over time but I also seem to remember that Matthew tells us that Jesus threw the money lenders out of the temple...

annhig

ESW, i think that you were unlucky with the AV screen [thanks for the explanation, flanner - in my defence I'm dosed up on cold medication]. That £5 photography fee probably explains why I don't remember taking any photos there - it's a bit steep for me.

ESW

I think you are right annhig and we were unlucky with the AV screen. I'd emailed Southwell the day before we visited to check there weren't any services or other activities which would get in the way of photography. They replied that there weren't but didn't tell me about the school visit or the AV screen. I admit that my criticisms of 'clutter' were probably harsher because of this, however I do feel that flanneruk's comments were unnecessarily confrontational.

annhig

I admit that my criticisms of 'clutter' were probably harsher because of this, however I do feel that flanneruk's comments were unnecessarily confrontational.>>

don't worry, ESW, he doesn't mean it personally. He's like that with everyone he likes.

ESW

I'd hate to be someone he doesn't like then....