Church-crawling

I discovered a new phrase the other week – “church-crawling”. I saw it in a book called “Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church” by Peter Ross but it may have come from the poet John Betjeman (he was a passionate visitor of churches).

On my cycle rides I find myself drawn to parish churches. It might be that they are the obvious place to visit in a small village. They are landmarks sometimes with wonderful architectural features to observe (Ross actually describes them as living museums). At the very least they are somewhere to pause and have a sandwich amongst the gravestones. If you are lucky enough they may even be open to take a look inside.

Peter Ross’s book is a celebration of the country (and town) church. He reminds us that they are the holders of objects that would normally be housed in a museum. Ornate examples of woodwork, stonework and brasswork just sitting there waiting to be seen.

The latest one I visited was a tiny church dedicated to St Mary Magdalene in a long vanished village called Caldecote, near Baldock in Hertfordshire. It is accessed via a hardstone dotted with abandoned cars.

There may have been a church here since Norman times but the current church dates from the 14th Century. It has not been in regular use since 1974.

The church is now owned by a charity called the Friends of the Friendless Churches. The candleholders around the church (there is no electricity) are dedicated to the memory of Ivor Bulmer-Thomas who founded the charity in 1957. I just love the name of this charity. There is also the Churches Conservation Trust which does similar admirable work but the Friends of Friendless Churches has such a warm and welcoming name!

You can donate to the charity or become a member via their website.

From now on I am going to be church-crawling!

You can view the route I took on Komoot.