Merry Christmas everyone, here's to a happy and healthy 2026🌲 The 13thC nativity at St Clements, Ashampstead is so beautiful, it's part of a larger cycle of the life of Virgin which took my breath away when I first saw it. I love that the ox and the ass have been left in charge of the baby.

Not a hungry chap searching for where his wife has hidden the Christmas chocolates but a medieval wheelwright checking his work is true at Ampney St Mary's. #WednesdayWallPaintings

Two rather grumpy cherubs squinting in the late summer sun at St Mary's, Purton. Possibly grumpy because someone's nicked their legs and replaced them with foliated tassels, no wonder they're holding on so tightly. #MonumentsMonday

Karl Parsons nativity window of 1921 at St Philip's, Leicester simply glows. Mary holds Jesus on her knee in the centre with a kneeling King on the left and a kneeling shepherd on the right. To be honest I did my best but photos don't really do it justice. #StainedGlassSunday

Playing hide and seek in a church is so much fun! A pointy snouted something (fox?) thinks they've found the perfect spot at St Nicholas, Hatherop. #SundayStonework

The incredibly impressive 14thC tower and spire loom over you somewhat as you approach All Saints, Oakham. The less said about the fact there's only two windows in the tower and they're off centre the better... (apparently it's to accommodate the stairs) #SteepleSaturday

A C15 bench end at Trent, Dorset. This looks as though the bird above has vanquished the Basilisk/wyvern(?) below. But what is that bird, it's not a dodo, a stylised eagle perhaps?

Today's #AdventAngels is swinging their thurible with a completely devil may care attitude at All Saints, Braunston in Rutland. Probably once part of a reredos for a long lost altar, the oval above them contains the instruments of the passion. #ThuribleThursday

For #AdventAngels today a finely carved musical angel on a 15thC misericord at St Mary's, Tansor. Formerly at Fotheringhay the quality of the carving is fantastic, the way the wings curl over. And yes they are fingering the lute not flipping the bird as I first thought... 🖕🏻 #Woodensday

Squeezed between the tombs of the Willoughby chapel and the organ at St Mary the Virgin and All Saints, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds is this lone row of medieval tiles. Only one remains of each design, a hint of how rich the decoration of the church might have been. #TilesOnTuesday

I had a very strange feeling of being watched at St John the Baptist, Barnack.. #SundayStonework

I was reminded anew how stunning the 16thC glass at Withcote Chapel is when I revisited this autumn. This is a tiny panel but the colours and detail are fabulous (try to ignore the two random reset swirly decorative pieces on the right) #StainedGlassSunday

Something a bit different for today's #AdventAngels from Manchester Art Gallery. The incredibly beautiful Illusions painted by Annie Swynnerton around 1902. A young winged girl in armour with a clear, confident gaze, ready to fight for equality and independence.

The 13thC font at All Saints, Oakham has been changed and altered over the centuries but is really rather lovely. The late 19thC or early 20thC cover compliments it perfectly and the base which looks to me like a reused capital just adds to its character. #FontsOnFriday

Double cusped arches at St John the Baptist, Inglesham. #Adoorableday #AdoorableThursday

A lovely faded fragment of swirling stylised vine at St Andrew's, Stoke Dry. #WednesdayWallPaintings

A memory of brighter days.. 🌞 This was an early start for a day of church crawling in the summer sun at St Mary the Virgin, Southwick. #TraceryTuesday

A very vibrant shop in Market Harborough today and a window display perfect for #OwlishMonday

The brass to Helyn Hardy d1486 at St Andrew's, Lyddington is fascinating because it shows her headress in such detail. It must be made of gauze or net as the wires that are supporting it are clearly visible underneath as is her little patterned cap. #MonumentsMonday

The capitals at All Saints, Oakham are full of fabulous detail. The subject matter of some of them is very much up for debate though, this fox carrying a goose and having his bum and tail pecked by goslings could be Reynard or Chaucer's Nun's Priests tale...or just a fox. #SundayStonework

This window by Karl Parsons was presented to St Philip's, Leicester by the Sunday school children in 1913. Following a reorganisation of the church it's now displayed as part of a light box which is an incredibly successful way to enjoy the colours and textures. #StainedGlassSunday #AdventAngels

A very plump, self satisfied puss in the Norman great hall of Oakham Castle. Just look at the wrinkles on that tummy! #Caturday

The door at Ampney St Mary is a thing of beauty. Sturdy, simple ironwork on lovely bleached, silvery wood. #Adoorableday #AdoorableThursday #IronworkThursday

This wall painting at St Mary's, Purton is a warning to sabbath breakers otherwise known as a Sunday Christ. He's shown as the man of sorrows surrounded by tools and farming equipment reminding people not to work and attend church. It's such a pity about the later royal arms🙄 #WednesdayWallPaintings

Such lovely graceful curves at St John the Baptist, Cold Overton. #TraceryTuesday

Seems legit...! 1920s ad It's hilarious! "Reducing unbecoming wrists"! If only that was all I had to reduce 😆 Money back guarantee- they must have gone bust ( so to speak)

An incredibly vibrant St George by Reginald Bell at St John the Baptist, Cold Overton. Commissioned by James Fountayne Montagu and installed in the church in 1926 in thanks for his safe return from WW1 and recovery from illness. #StainedGlassSunday

The lads had been told off for pulling faces at the congregation before but couldn't resist it when Sunday came round again. Fabulous capitals at All Saints, Oakham. #SundayStonework

A cold and bright late autumn day and the last church of the day as the sun disappeared was All Saints, Braunston in Rutland. The tower was apparently rebuilt in the 18thC and boasts the tiniest witches hat spire and a completely out of scale clock which was obviously important! #SteepleSaturday

The 13thC wall paintings at St John the Baptist, Cold Overton are fragmentary but still fascinating. This is a such an unusual depiction of the nativity with Christ in the oddest manger, raised up as if it's sprouted in the night, the animals look rather surprised! #WednesdayWallPaintings

They certainly like their ball flowers at St Peter and St Paul, Langham, Rutland. A 14thC window on the rather grand and impressive South side of the church. #TraceryTuesday

Two tubby little cherubs with tiny wings and swirling draperies at St Peter and St Paul, Langham,Rutland. They've obviously spent the last few centuries indulging in judgemental gossip about everyone who wanders down the path to the church door. #MonumentsMonday

It's all about the chimneys at Lyddington Bede House. #SundayStonework

A long vanished door at Ampney St Mary's but thankfully the fabulous Norman tympanum remains. A very energetic lion is vanquishing the double headed curly serpent (who doesn't look bothered at all!) watched by a griffin, it's my new favourite. #Adoorableday #AdoorableThursday

The 24 hour clock at St Mary's, Raunds is the earliest I've ever seen. Dating from the early 15thC, two angels with delicately feathered wings support it flanked by the kneeling donors. #WednesdayWallPaintings

An absolutely beautiful early 20thC angel on the rail leading to the pulpit at St Peter's, Leicester. Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb. #Woodensday

The lectern at St Mary the Virgin, Meysey Hampton dates from 1622 (clearly)... and still has its original book chain. I'm assuming the inscription 'Christian Jackets' commemorates the person who possibly gave it to the church, it's lovely to see it still in use. #SundaySermons

The Norman tower at St Kyneburgha, Castor is stunning, every inch decorated. Built in the 12thC with the spire added in the 14thC it's an incredibly impressive sight as you approach the church. Pevsner wasn't wrong when he said 'The glory of the church is its tower' #SteepleSaturday

A whole pride of happy elephants on a coat of arms at St John the Baptist, Inglesham for #LesArmoiriesDuVendredi

Arguing neighbours on the 12thC font at St Mary the Virgin, Wansford. #FontsOnFriday

There's something so exciting about stepping through the door of a church you've never visited before and wondering what you might find. Feeling the tingle at All Saints, Woolstone. #Adoorableday #AdoorableThursday

Surely it's a little bit early to be hitting the booze! Two drinkers on a 14thC misericord at St Mary's, Fairford. #Woodensday

I've always envied the people who get to gaze out of this. London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday

The altar frontal at St George's, Kelmscott is made up of two 17thC Turkish hangings stitched together and was given to the church by Jane Morris. The subtle, faded colour really suits the church, nothing garish here! #TextileTuesday

Although this unknown lady of c.1400 at St John the Baptist, Barnack is now much damaged enough still remains to show how beautifully carved it was. Her headress and the plaited hair beneath it is shown in such stunning detail. #MonumentsMonday

They didn't panic at St Mary's, Tansor when they realised their round headed tower arch had gone out of fashion, they just built one of those new fangled pointy ones inside it! #SundayStonework

The diminutive fleche on the roof of St John the Baptist, Leicester is a lovely decorative touch with its tiny dragons. Built by Goddard and Paget in 1884-5 it's a complete contrast to the nearby Italianate St James by H.L.Goddard, a different experience entirely. #SteepleSaturday

The door at Ampney St Mary is a thing of beauty, patched and repaired and surrounded by fragments of 13/14thC wall paintings. #Adoorableday #AdoorableThursday

A column swallower at St Andrew's, Eastleach Turville looking furious at being relegated to the column store. #SundayStonework

Resited Saxon carving at St Kyneburgha, Castor. Apparently it's Christ pointing at the moon and the sun, not learning to juggle like I first thought.. #TympanumTuesday