We have been here before BUT isn't this the most delightful chancel. Truly breathtaking and always a joy to visit. St Swithun, Compton Beauchamp, Berks.

Stop the train, I see a church. Somewhere in France at about 120 KPH.

Back to Meysey Hampton. A somewhat truncated image of Christ crucified. Probably mid C14.

Arguably one of the most famous parish church windows. The Last Judgement in the West Window at Fairford in Gloucestershire. The upper register is mostly from the 1860s following a storm that damaged the window in 1703, the lower register, late medieval.

The Turin Duomo Museum suggests that this statue of Mary could be C7th.

My father was a great fan of the Goons song ‘Ying tong iddle I po’ and told me that a po was aka a chamber pot. 60 years later I’ve discovered that he fibbed. This is the Po!

Madonna enthroned. First half of the C13 according to the sign underneath. Milan Duomo Museum.

Turin tends to conjure up images of gritty industry, car manufacture, etc. Those things exist, however, this is also Turin, in fact much of the centre of the City is architecturally similar. A pure joy and very few of the crowds you find in Milan, Rome or Venice.

The mid C15 tapestry of the Episodes in the Passion of Christ. I especially like the image of Gesta, the thief who mocked Christ and remained impenitent being taken by Satan. Gesmas, the other thief who repented is welcomed by an angel to Heaven. Milan Duomo Museum.

Thought this was a Buddhist temple. Turned out to be the Museum of the Cinema. Turin,

Angels holding up a balcony in Turin.

The Sanctuary of St Bernardino in Milan is a somewhat intriguing if gruesome visit. A neat ossuary designed in an exceptional style and with a C17 painted ceiling called the Triumph of Souls amongst flying angels. Looks like a library - of the dead.

You are not supposed to take photos in the Milan Duomo. However, as I seemed to be the only one obeying the edict and letting the side down therefore; I too entered delinquent mode.

Crucified Christ over the porch at Langford, Oxon. Those arms aren’t quite right and the figure of Mary and John are transposed. Still, blooming magnificent example of Saxon art.

A C15 angel holding a column in the eves of the nave vault at St Thomas, Salisbury. Part of the Passion would be my guess. The column against which Christ was flogged.

...and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. Revelations 4:3. (St Thomas, Salisbury Doom)

I do not remember who posted this originally in 2016 on what was then 'Twitter' and apologise for my poor memory. However, it makes for interesting and somewhat sober reading.

One of my colleagues @stephemmabrown.bsky.social worked on this, but that's not the only reason I'm sharing it. I adore a good map! And historical inquests are fascinating.

Remember when poetry always had to rhyme! Almost doggerel for poor Anne Biggs. St Mary Magdalen, Bath.

Just discovering this database of books as symbols in Renaissance art--a wonderful resource #EarlyModern #HerBook basiraproject.org

‘The Casting Out’, made from cement fondue (not terracotta) in the garden of the St Mary Magdalen Chapel in Bath. Made by Martin Elphick, not Michael Elphick (actor who played Boon) as we thought. Details attached.

St Mary Magdalen, Bath. Largely C15 and C19. Bomb damaged in WW 2 and east end rebuilt and extended. Formerly a genuine Leper hospital chapel and not a squint in sight! Lovely east window by Michael Farr Bell C1950 including medieval inserts. Hares not bunnies in the window?

Florence is one of those cities that people love to rave about. It's got some good church architecture, there's no doubt about that.

Fiddling about with my photo database (never wise) and came across this pencil drawn graffito in the high parts at Salisbury Cathedral. I don't think that it has any great age. The drawing next to it its dated 1897. Puff the Magic dragon?

Presumably Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac. Just in time the angel wafts a hand to stop him. Cue John Le Mesurier - “would you mind awfully if I asked you to stop that.”

What do you do with leftover columns, why, build a pulpit at Wilton, Wilts. #SundaySermons

Good morning Sunday.

Melbourne's tub font complete with gypsophila adornment. Baby's Breath seems very apt.

Mrs Jenever (Jennifer spoken with a Wiltshire Accent perhaps?) Baskerville who died in 1615 watches the world go by at Enford, Wilts.

The stillness of a summer evening. The sinking sun as the half hour bell strikes to tell us that the day is done.

Seen this described as a caution to gossips, also the kiss of Peace. What else? “Mmm, your lipstick really does taste of cherries.” (North Cadbury)

Interesting project here. So many churches I visit round Suffolk have traces of Dowsing's activities; seeing them plotted like this really hammers things home.

The glorious fan vaulted ceiling of the Wilcote Chapel at St Mary's, North Leigh. Added to the church around 1440 it's believed to have been built by Richard Winchcombe and was commissioned by Elizabeth Wilcote to commemorate her husband and son. #CeilingSaturday

I had the feeling I'd caught the lion doing something he shouldn't be when I entered the porch at St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay. That's the guiltiest expression I've ever seen! #Caturday

#CeilingSaturday There's more than the lantern at Ely Cathedral. 20 individual chocolate pieces available only to exceedingly tall people.

The 1329 chantry founded by Sir Richard Gyvenay at St Mary, Limington, Somerset. Sir Richard is probably the knight in the niche, his wife lies slightly in front of the recess. He is wearing very well detailed armour.

The rather adorable C14 #Adoorabledoor at Ashington in Somerset. There is an early very faint inscription on the door that is sadly indecipherable - so far.

Taking my daughter to a wedding at Brympton D'Evercy in Somerset last year I noticed the extraordinary lantern style bellcote. This is not a unique object, both nearby Compton Domer and Ashington churches have similar bellcotes.

The Skimmington Ride, or Charivari, at Montacute House. We see a woman told that her husband is neglecting their child. He is then paraded around the village on a thin pole (ouch) to be ridiculed and humiliated by the villagers. He seems to be enjoying the ride!

In 'The Golden Legend' St George takes the dragon prisoner and has the princess who he saved lead him into the city. Only then does he slay the dragon having told the people that if they are baptised they will be spared. At Broughton, Bucks, George lost his head to a new roof!

Blimey, there's a *lot* crammed into a too-short life here.

Old Sarum shimmers less than a mile away as we crest the hill from the West. Will we find shelter within the Castle or perhaps a kindly cleric at the Cathedral will let us sleep in his stable. Maybe entry will be denied...what then?

Hard afternoon in rural Wiltshire.

Not technically a font in the religious sense, however, a lovely lead bowl at The Cloisters in New York. #FontsonFriday

Evening walk scenery.

Poor Elizabeth Williams, d. 1622, 17 year old wife of WI Williams (?) and the elder daughter of Bishop Miles Smith of Gloucester. The poor girl died in childbirth, her infant by her side and she looking terribly fed up, and who could blame her. Her sister Margery lies opposite.

Crikey! Must’ve seemed like a god idea at the time but a hugely damaging procedure.

Two quite imposing monuments squeezed into a corner at St Peter's, Lowick, Northants. Lady Mary Mordaunt, Duches of Norfolk, d. 1705 and Sir John Herman d.1718. A miscellany of children are scattered artlessly on his tomb chest.

If anything reminds us of the need to live a good and God fearing life it’s this reminder of the trials that seemingly lie ahead of us. So I present this ominous reflection from Chaldon, Surrey for #MementoMoriMonday