For 400 years, bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes and twelve other men conspired to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5th, 1605. But who were the core conspirators and where can you visit their old haunts?
A memento mori is a piece of art, sculpture or writing designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the shortness and fragility of human life. Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’.
Incredible churches, where ancient fabric dates from pre AD800, and all are still being used. These are churches to visit if you want to truly touch the past.
Bridge chapels were once a common feature of major bridges throughout Britain, today only a few survive.
Historic meeting houses sit well within their landscape, often reflecting local building traditions and materials. Today, they are an escape from the hustle and bustle.
It’s amazing how a chat with a colleague over coffee can spark an idea, that is how I came to write my book, Fifty Catholic Churches to See Before You Die : Elena Curti
Many European communities have built or use churches in the UK. If you’re visiting from Europe, there’s a little bit of home here.
Church buildings come in many varieties, from old to new, urban to rural, and big to small. Here is a beautiful selection of the smallest churches in Britain.
Many, if not most, ancient churches in the UK started off as simple wooden structures.
London is teeming with chapels of all shapes and sizes, often out of view of the main tourist routes and, sadly, many people miss them.
20th century churches are incredibly varied and interesting.
The great cathedrals of the world represent one of humanity's most glorious architectural and artistic achievements.
Once standing proudly, many lost medieval and historic church's stories live on - hidden in plain sight, waiting to be rediscovered.
St David's Day is the most important day in the Welsh calendar to celebrate our culture and heritage, but who was Dewi Sant?
Hawksmoor was responsible for six new churches in London. Each different, each is unique.
Bill Bryson chooses 14 of his favourite churches, including Durham Cathedral, The Italian Chapel in Orkney and London’s St Martin’s in the Fields.
Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was probably England’s greatest landscape designer. He even had a hand in a few churches.
Charles Dickens created some of the world's best loved fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.
A murder that shook the Middle Ages.
Sir Christopher Wren was one of Britain's most distinguished architects, best known for designing London city churches, including St Paul's Cathedral.
Warm hearted and lively Victoria is one of history’s most celebrated monarchs, she reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for 63 years (1837-1901).
The church did not always have an easy relationship with women's suffrage, but today many are rightly proud of their links to the women who have made such a difference to our society.
One journey links four nations, spans 400 years of history and connects millions of people. Discover the origins of the Separatists, through five leading passengers on the Mayflower in 1620.
The escape of Charles II from England in 1651 was a key episode in his life. The story is remembered in the traditions of Oak Apple Day, on 29 May.
Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot! But who were the core conspirators and where can you visit their old haunts.
Happy and glorious churches and cathedrals across the UK have hosted royal weddings through history. Here we take a peek inside.
Arthur, sometimes known as ‘the king that was and the king that shall be’, is recognised all over the world as one of the most famous characters of myth and legend.
Today all monarchs are crowned in Westminster Abbey but that wasn't always the case. Explore churches which have been used for coronations in the past.
The continuing adventures of Sarah & Daisy as they visit cathedrals across the UK.
I have been taking photographs of my dog Daisy in cathedrals to promote my pilgrimage on Instagram with the hashtag #CathedralDog.
Here are twelve of our favourite mountain churches. But there are many more. Sheltered in hidden valleys underneath our highest mountains, offering places of comfort after a day exploring the surrounding fells.
The UK has just over 40 tidal islands, some large, many very small. The best are home to unique churches and chapels, often with monastic beginnings and built for peace and tranquillity.
The Tyne Valley is known for its fine concentration of early churches, many built with stones recycled from the wall, arguably the best surviving concentration north of the Alps!
Incredible churches in wild landscapes. From the rugged wilds of the Cairngorms and the ancient woodlands of the New Forest to the golden shores of the Pembrokeshire Coast.
As ancient as they are beautiful, our churches are the present custodians of yew trees planted and cared for over many centuries.
What is it about the wild and mysterious landscape of Wales; and the ancient churches you stumble across, every few miles, which seem so intimately connected with it?
The sight of spectacular snowdrops carpeting churchyards is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. Search our map to find snowdrops, daffodils, aconites and more near you.
Welsh churches to rival the castle next door. Wales is said to be the castle capital of the world, but what many people don’t know is that our churches are even older than our castles.
From a world famous chapel to a medieval church on a rocky island, there are plenty of spiritual spaces to explore.
We have chosen some of our favourite seaside getaways. All have delightful churches nestling in their narrow lanes, or braving the elements on windswept clifftops.
The labyrinth motif has been used since prehistoric times. Historic labyrinths in the UK mostly date from the late 19th century, only two are medieval.
If you’re anything like us, feeling the earth beneath your boots or bike, and exploring amazing heritage and landscapes along the way you are in for a treat!
January can be great for many different reasons, a new year has just begun and think of all those churches to explore! Let's fill our Blue Monday with beauty.
We’ve got fascinating, unique and beautiful places to share. Love the one you're with, absolutely. But there’s no harm in discovering new churches to love too!
Across England there are many places with connections to the Mayflower story and worldwide there are over 35 million descendants of the passengers and crew who sailed on her.
The Twelve Days of Christmas was first published as a rhyme in 1780. Christmas and visiting churches go hand in hand, let's visit some connected to this cherished rhyme.
The first Christingle service was held in Lincoln Cathedral in 1968. Today, over 5,400 Christingles are held across the country, but here we pay tribute to those first Christingle churches.
From lullabies to drinking songs and proverbs to plague, rhyming ditties for children take many forms. But how do they link to churches?
Up and down the country there are many links between churches and former airfields.
A memento mori is a piece of art, sculpture or writing designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the shortness and fragility of human life. Churches are fascinating places to discover them.
Mozart called it ‘the King of Instruments’. The organ is usually the largest item of furniture in a church.
A century ago hundreds of thousands of simple wooden crosses marked the graves of Commonwealth soldiers along the Western Front in France and Belgium. When they were replaced with headstones many were given to churches.
There are a group of individuals for whom visiting a church enables them to practise their hobby. Read all about bells and bell ringing.
Churches offer some of the most magnificent architectural locations in the UK. From spectacular backdrops in Hollywood movies to everyday life events in favourite soap operas and from the grandest cathedral to the humblest parish church, they are as indispensable on screen as they are in reality.
The breath taking coastal landscape of Wales has held allure for pilgrims, poets and travellers for millennia. Hundreds of ancient atmospheric Welsh churches are sited within a stones throw of the water.
Taking you to some of the finest sacred places in Wales. From the mountainous wilds to a church cut off by the high tide. Stunning landscapes and little known pilgrim churches brimming with atmosphere.
From Cardiff to the Great Orme; take the back roads down the mountainous spine of Wales. Timeless simple out of the way chapels, the oldest unaltered non conformist place of worship in Wales, admire medieval glass and angel roofs.
Coastal churches to take your breath away! Modest kirks and coastal churches sit close to the shore, shaped by wind, sea, and centuries of local life. Exploring them feels like a gentle pilgrimage.
