A rather eery monument stands on a quiet road in Perthshire near the village of Dunning. At first glance it appears much like a war memorial, with a raised cross and wider base, but it is older and a little cruder. Daubed in modern, white paint, are the words
Maggie Wall burnt here
1657 as a Witch
'The Beonna at All Saints' in the Lincolnshire village of Benington is a 'community hub, venue and centre' meeting in a redundant parish church. This had closed in 2003, for want of congregations, presumably, and was ‘reborn in 2019 as it combines the splendour of a medieval church with the imposing renovations of the Victorians and the comforts and convenience of the 21st century.’
I usually associate graffiti with criminal lowlives or bored, barely literate teenagers. In Cheltenham of all places, I found an example of that art form that I actually rather liked. I was surprised to see it there, but perhaps the better classes of graffiti artist are likely to operate in that city.
St. Michael's at Rampside, Cumbria, is an otherwise unremarkable building, dating to the early years of Victoria’s reign. It stands on the site of an earlier, thirteenth-century chapel built by the monks of Furness Abbey. Its present state seems rather sad but also poignant and prophetic, as detailed on its benefice’s website:
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