St Mary's Church, Penny Bridge

The Church of St Mary the Virgin at Egton cum Newland (also known as Penny Bridge) has to be one of the ugliest in the kingdom, at least when viewed from the path on its approach. Other angles, especially from the side and rear, when its hideous tower is obscured, are rather more ordinary. Although the tower is Victorian, none of its windows match and it gives the frontage something of a southern Mediterranean look, but not a good one, like something one would find down a Spanish alleyway, away from the nice areas. Or does it resemble a 1990s housing development in which tasteless owners have indulged their architectural ignorance with various extensions? Whichever, I did not care for it, despite finding some church buildings boring because they seem so off-the-peg and predictable. This is certainly not one of them.

Internally, however, all is well. It all looks so normal, but without the taint of dullness. The neo-gothic brick arches and white pulpit lend a charm of which the outside remains untouched. Are not people like this? They may be physically unattractive or plain, but their personalities and minds are interesting and stimulating. Fallen humanity lusts after flesh but ignores a beautiful character. God sees some attractiveness in us, which is why He paid so a dear price that He might keep our company for ever. Therefore we ought to seek an attractiveness in others, even when their outward forms, and even some of their words and actions, are less than desirable.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

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