Parking attendant today at my third talk of the week, this one at Dauntsey under the glorious Doom there. Previous talks in Malmesbury for the museum on the Reformation and then on Last Judgement Art. Similar talk planned in November for Sarum Chronicle annual lecture. We’re DOOMED!

Officially a published author. Now wrestling with writing a novel 😊 Photo from last week’s book launch in Salisbury.

A few of my slides from last night’s book launch of Salisbury & District Churches.

Churches of Salisbury & District was launched last night at Salisbury Methodist Church to a large audience sitting under this magnificent floor to ceiling Creation Embroidery. The evening went very well. Thanks to the many people who attended and the glowing feedback we received.

Out to lunch, again, with my co-authors of Churches of Salisbury & District, planning tomorrow evening’s launch in Salisbury to around 100 people. Early bird prices end soon and then the RRP in shops and online sales will be £20 softback, £25 hardback.

Out in Marlborough for birthday lunch. Now back home with one eye on football and other on presentation for Salisbury & District Churches book launch on Thursday - how can I discuss 65 churches in just over 10 minutes? 😳

Piling ‘em high ahead of launch this week. 120 copies already sold and paid for at earlybird price of £15 softback & £20 hardback. Post launch price £20/£25. Churches of Salisbury & District. 264 pages: 65 churches. Launch is at Salisbury Methodist Church 6.30. 12th June.

Ready & waiting, & eagerly anticipating the arrival of the churches book this morning - all 750 copies! #SarumChronicle

First copies of the book have arrived. Hardback and softback. 750 more to follow in a couple of weeks. Rather fine though I say so myself 😊 sarumchronicle.wordpress.com/churches/

My favourite modern window in all of the Salisbury churches in the new book, which I have popped in to see a couple of times recently whilst delivering order forms to churches - Tom Denny’s magnificent pastoral scenes in Middle Woodford #Wiltshire #StainedGlassSunday

First sight of proofs for Churches of Salisbury & District book - only looseleaf pages but looks and feels good. Earlybird prices extended into early June - order via this link for posted copies or pick up at 12 June launch. sarumchronicle.wordpress.com/churches/

Another day of leaflet distribution for early bird prices for the Salisbury & District Churches book. Starting at the delicious St Mary’s at Breamore in Hampshire. Look hard and you can see Saxon traces here.

"Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." - Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own. Woolf's writing table by photographer Gisèle Freund #WomensArt

Mostly taking a break from Salisbury Churches book promotion this week (though contact me if you want a copy at early bird discount), today I popped into Bristol Cathedral for this view looking down into the Berkeley Chapel for #TraceryTuesday

Visited 8 churches today with leaflets for the Sarum Chronicle published Salisbury Churches book at an early bird discount. In the last church I was asked ‘what are you writing next?’ Good question 🤔

A vibrant Tree of Life from 1996 by Andrew Taylor in St John’s, East Grimstead, #Wiltshire which is Church number 59 in the forthcoming Churches of Salisbury & District out June 2025. Happy Easter. #StainedGlassSunday

Strange mix of experiences today when leaving leaflets for the discounted early bird price for the Salisbury Churches book. Wardens and visitors snatched them from my hands with great interest, but in 2 churches there was great fear for their future. Will they last?

Countdown to Churches of Salisbury & District, out June 2025, 264 pages, 65 churches + essays, maps & guide to visiting churches. Reduced price if ordered pre publication. Church no. 63: St Mary’s, West Dean. Another lovely Frederick Pownhall church, with apse. #SteepleSaturday

If only I always had the patience of this heron, today on the Kennet & Avon canal.

The fixtures and fittings in Sir Edward Maufe's St Columba's Church of Scotland sat simply & effortlessly well with me. Visiting this building in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was a joy. @horatioforever.bsky.social

#SteepleSaturday Last Easter spent in lovely church and village of St Neot in Cornwall. Dedicated to Saint Neotus on 14th October 1321 with tower also 14th C, though present church built between 1425 and 1530.

Daily countdown to Churches of Salisbury & District, out June 2025, 264 pages, 65 churches + essays, maps & guide to visiting churches. Church no. 64: Holy Trinity, East Grimstead. Lovely little 1857 church by Frederick Pownhall, with a #GoodFriday Alfred Bell #stainedglass

Yes, yes, yes! To be published in June. Have pre-ordered copy, and am so looking forward to reading it.

Daily countdown (if I can keep it up!) to Churches of Salisbury & District, out June 2025, 262 pages, 65 churches + essays, maps & guide to visiting churches. Church no. 65: Old St Mary, West Dean, aka Borbach Chantry. Redundant 14th C chapel, with big monuments! 📸 R Bexon.

Looks like it's going to be a great #localstudies resource.

I think I may have to buy a copy of this!

Not sure these photos quite work 😂 - delivering leaflets offering pre publication purchase of the book to some of the churches featured in it today. 6 down, 59 to go - it’s gonna be a busy week!

As a break from church book promoting this week I colourised these photos of 4 generations of dad’s maternal line, born 1915, 1891, 1868, 1842, in Edinburgh, Inverness, Portsmouth & Dublin. Colour brings them so much more to life.

Pre-publication order link: Churches of Salisbury & District. 264 pages, 65 churches,historical essays,maps,advice on church visiting. All proceeds to Sarum Chronicle. Please share: @michaeljecks.bsky.social @jpreedman.bsky.social @chartresfi.bsky.social sarumchronicle.wordpress.com/churches/

Pre-publication order link: Churches of Salisbury & District. 264 pages, 65 churches,historical essays,maps,advice on church visiting. All proceeds to Sarum Chronicle. Please share: @markkirby.bsky.social @weird-wiltshire.bsky.social @ragriggsauthor.bsky.social sarumchronicle.wordpress.com/churches/

Unpacking is a lot like watching a US election result: there are still eight boxes labelled “books”, and you tell yourself “well, I haven’t unpacked any Dahl yet. Maybe everything from here on in is a children’s book”. But you know in your heart that there are still more history books out there.

Looking forward to this publication

Out June 2025. More info coming soon. Evening Launch in Salisbury 12.6.25.

Fantastic programme of visits from @ecclsoc.bsky.social this spring and summer. Take a look and sign up.

#StainedGlass Preston on Stour #Warwickshire

Daily dose of Daffodils

youtube.com/watch?v=csAp... Hello

It's #PancakeDay! 🥞 In some parts of Wales, it was believed that if pancakes were not made and tossed on this day, there would be little prosperity during the ensuing year. #ShroveTuesday #Wales #History

The Witching Hour, Andrew Wyeth, 1977 So many of Wyeth's scenes are haunted, to me, in a wonderful manner.

"A new Scottish tartan has been created to honor the thousands of people—primarily women—executed for witchcraft in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries.” wildhunt.org/2025/02/newl... #folkloresunday

This human being clearly has lived a fulfilling life and has left behind the rewards of that for other people to enjoy

The patient predator prepares to pounce on his prey.

Salisbury Cathedral this cold evening in all its icy glory.

Mostly taking a break from social media atm to edit & improve co-written Salisbury & District Churches, published in May by Sarum Chronicle. Weekend job is to reduce the glossary from 120 items to 70ish. Meanwhile for #SteepleSaturday here is GG Scott's St Paul's Chippenham (not in the book)

For #Christmas2024 one of the best #Nativity scenes around: Harry Stammers, installed 1960-65, at St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. Sublime. Have a wonderful festive season one and all.

Another #Nativity this one from about 1870. Close up of the Magi, and some chap getting emotional behind Mary. Thomas Earp carving from a George Edmund Street design at St Bartholomew’s in Royal Wootton Bassett.

A skull needing dental transplants, or maybe just dentures in old money. Memorial to Dorothea Thistlethwayte of 1735 in Winterslow #Wiltshire #MementoMoriMonday

Time for some #Nativity scenes over the next day or two. This is a Jones & Willis window from 1902 at St George, Orcheston. I love the younger shepherd doffing his hat whilst the older one preens his beard.

A #StainedGlassSunday spot the anatomical mistake competition, for anyone so inclined. More detailed image later, but a clear error can be seen on close examination of this one. William Miller 1880 at Winterslow #Wiltshire

An explosion of colour at All Saints, Winterslow #Wiltshire #StainedGlassSunday Karl Parsons, 1931.