I made a point of calling at Southampton’s Gordon Memorial last month, despite the baking, evening sun. General Gordon was a Victorian, British governor of Sudan whose job was to evacuate civilians and those loyal to Britain in the wake of Muhammad Ahmad and his army, better known as the Mahdi, a false Islamic messiah.
Chichester Guildhall is now a private venue in which, appropriately, civil weddings take place. Prior to this, it was used for civil government but before the Reformation, Franciscan worship. In 1803, it hosted the trial of the poet William Blake for sedition, for having allegedly said:
Gloucester Cathedral I called at twenty-five years ago. Then, I had little interest in churches and cathedrals other than the cursory. Returning yesterday, a large choir festival was being planned and rehearsed, which gave the place a rather chaotic and cluttered feel, visitors only allowed to enter after midday, stepping over chairs and discarded barriers.
Sizergh Castle in Westmorland is one of those rather lovely country houses belonging to gentry rather than aristocracy, which in this case is the Strickland family. Perhaps for this very reason, much of the original fortified house survives. A wealthier, more fashionable family might have pulled down and rebuilt rather than made do with merely extending. Sizergh is the better for it.
01282 540 562
pastor @ martintop. org .uk
Salem Chapel, Martin Top
near Rimington, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4EG
Salem Congregational Chapel is a registered charity No. 252401 (England & Wales)
Sunday Worship 10.45am & 6.00pm