Friends of Friendless Churches
@friendlesschurches.bsky.social
We are the Friends of Friendless Churches — we rescue, repair & protect historic ‘closed’ places of worship in England & Wales.
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An update from our Director, Rachel Morley, about the upcoming repair projects.
As we look forward to completing repairs at Gumfreston, Llangua, Llanddoged, and Bodwrog, we’re also excited to announce six new repair projects for the 2025–26 financial year.
As we look forward to completing repairs at Gumfreston, Llangua, Llanddoged, and Bodwrog, we’re also excited to announce six new repair projects for the 2025–26 financial year.
This Maintenance Week we thought we’d highlight the reality of maintaining historic churches.
Although thought to be a less glamorous aspect of our work, maintenance requires great skills and expertise.
Although thought to be a less glamorous aspect of our work, maintenance requires great skills and expertise.
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
This Maintenance Week we thought we’d highlight the reality of maintaining historic churches.
Although thought to be a less glamorous aspect of our work, maintenance requires great skills and expertise.
Although thought to be a less glamorous aspect of our work, maintenance requires great skills and expertise.
Inside the Roman Catholic chapel at Biddlestone in Northumberland is an intriguing remnant from life on the home front during the Second World War.
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November 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Inside the Roman Catholic chapel at Biddlestone in Northumberland is an intriguing remnant from life on the home front during the Second World War.
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We will remember them. In our churches, there are many reminders of tragic toll of the First World War.
On the altar at St Beuno's, Penmorfa in Gwynedd is a simple cross that was carved by Emile de Vynck, a refugee from Belgium, who luckily escaped the conflict on the Continent.
On the altar at St Beuno's, Penmorfa in Gwynedd is a simple cross that was carved by Emile de Vynck, a refugee from Belgium, who luckily escaped the conflict on the Continent.
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
We will remember them. In our churches, there are many reminders of tragic toll of the First World War.
On the altar at St Beuno's, Penmorfa in Gwynedd is a simple cross that was carved by Emile de Vynck, a refugee from Belgium, who luckily escaped the conflict on the Continent.
On the altar at St Beuno's, Penmorfa in Gwynedd is a simple cross that was carved by Emile de Vynck, a refugee from Belgium, who luckily escaped the conflict on the Continent.
At its core, St Helen's, Barmby on the Marsh is a medieval structure. However, the character of this Yorkshire is largely provided by its later Georgian features.
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November 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
At its core, St Helen's, Barmby on the Marsh is a medieval structure. However, the character of this Yorkshire is largely provided by its later Georgian features.
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Today, November 1st, is All Saints’ Day. All Saints is the second most common church dedication in England, after St Mary. In rural Derbyshire, we care for a church with this very common dedication: All Saints', Ballidon.
📷© CB Newham
📷© CB Newham
November 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Today, November 1st, is All Saints’ Day. All Saints is the second most common church dedication in England, after St Mary. In rural Derbyshire, we care for a church with this very common dedication: All Saints', Ballidon.
📷© CB Newham
📷© CB Newham
‘A Georgian space in Perpendicular form, long, uniform, well-lit – it might be a schoolroom.’ This is how Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the famous architectural historian, described St Mary’s, Long Crichel in Dorset.
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October 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
‘A Georgian space in Perpendicular form, long, uniform, well-lit – it might be a schoolroom.’ This is how Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the famous architectural historian, described St Mary’s, Long Crichel in Dorset.
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In September, we hosted our first-ever working party at St Michael’s, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, showcasing the skills that are needed to repair a historic church.
October 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
In September, we hosted our first-ever working party at St Michael’s, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, showcasing the skills that are needed to repair a historic church.
With 60 days until Christmas Day, today we are asking when and why did sending Christmas cards become a popular tradition?
📷 Protective Oaks - St Baglan’s, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd - One of this year's cards
📷 Protective Oaks - St Baglan’s, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd - One of this year's cards
October 25, 2025 at 7:01 AM
With 60 days until Christmas Day, today we are asking when and why did sending Christmas cards become a popular tradition?
📷 Protective Oaks - St Baglan’s, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd - One of this year's cards
📷 Protective Oaks - St Baglan’s, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd - One of this year's cards
Inside the small medieval church of St Michael and All Angels', Gwernesney are five centuries of beautiful woodwork.
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October 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Inside the small medieval church of St Michael and All Angels', Gwernesney are five centuries of beautiful woodwork.
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At St John the Baptist's, Allington in Wiltshire, the glowing and glorious Victorian chancel is a bold dash of joyous colour injected into this otherwise relatively simple mid-19th century rebuild of a medieval church.
October 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
At St John the Baptist's, Allington in Wiltshire, the glowing and glorious Victorian chancel is a bold dash of joyous colour injected into this otherwise relatively simple mid-19th century rebuild of a medieval church.
Why do so many medieval church doors have iron studs on their exterior face?
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📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
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📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
October 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Why do so many medieval church doors have iron studs on their exterior face?
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📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
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📷 - All Images of South Door at St Mary's, Derwen, Denbighshire
St James’s, Llangua on BBC Wales!
On the 20th September, BBC Wales ran a segment on our repair project at the beautiful St James’s, Llangua in Monmouthshire.
On the 20th September, BBC Wales ran a segment on our repair project at the beautiful St James’s, Llangua in Monmouthshire.
October 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
St James’s, Llangua on BBC Wales!
On the 20th September, BBC Wales ran a segment on our repair project at the beautiful St James’s, Llangua in Monmouthshire.
On the 20th September, BBC Wales ran a segment on our repair project at the beautiful St James’s, Llangua in Monmouthshire.
The beautiful Ayshford Chapel is one of only a handful of medieval chapels of ease that continued to be used for religious services after the Reformation.
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October 13, 2025 at 7:02 AM
The beautiful Ayshford Chapel is one of only a handful of medieval chapels of ease that continued to be used for religious services after the Reformation.
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In this video, heritage plasterer Louis Cartwright explains the different options of finish for the interior walls of St Mary’s, Kenderchurch, Herefordshire.
October 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
In this video, heritage plasterer Louis Cartwright explains the different options of finish for the interior walls of St Mary’s, Kenderchurch, Herefordshire.
Despite thundery downpours and days of hot sun, repairs have continued at St Andrew’s, South Runcton, Norfolk.
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📷 An autumnal St Andrew's, South Runcton before repairs began
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📷 An autumnal St Andrew's, South Runcton before repairs began
October 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Despite thundery downpours and days of hot sun, repairs have continued at St Andrew’s, South Runcton, Norfolk.
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📷 An autumnal St Andrew's, South Runcton before repairs began
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📷 An autumnal St Andrew's, South Runcton before repairs began
It is thought that more than 80,000 stained glass windows were produced during the Victorian period.
Throughout our churches, you can find excellent examples of Victorian stained glass by some of the most noteworthy designers and makers of the 19th century.
📷 Lavers & Barraud - Llangattock
Throughout our churches, you can find excellent examples of Victorian stained glass by some of the most noteworthy designers and makers of the 19th century.
📷 Lavers & Barraud - Llangattock
October 6, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It is thought that more than 80,000 stained glass windows were produced during the Victorian period.
Throughout our churches, you can find excellent examples of Victorian stained glass by some of the most noteworthy designers and makers of the 19th century.
📷 Lavers & Barraud - Llangattock
Throughout our churches, you can find excellent examples of Victorian stained glass by some of the most noteworthy designers and makers of the 19th century.
📷 Lavers & Barraud - Llangattock
At first glance, the exterior of St Helen’s, Skeffling is rustic and rather unassuming. However, the rounded glacial cobblestones from which the church is built aren’t just any local pebbles.
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October 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
At first glance, the exterior of St Helen’s, Skeffling is rustic and rather unassuming. However, the rounded glacial cobblestones from which the church is built aren’t just any local pebbles.
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On the scaffolding that envelops the tower of Old St Matthew’s, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, our architect Kynan Simmons shows the condition of the dome stonework and our contractor Gary Payne explains the challenge of taking down the ball finial and its cast iron pedestal.
October 2, 2025 at 12:02 PM
On the scaffolding that envelops the tower of Old St Matthew’s, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, our architect Kynan Simmons shows the condition of the dome stonework and our contractor Gary Payne explains the challenge of taking down the ball finial and its cast iron pedestal.
Today, 30th September, is the feast day of St Jerome. The church at Llangwm Uchaf in Monmouthshire is dedicated to this fascinating historically important saint.
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All images © Lily Watts
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All images © Lily Watts
September 30, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Today, 30th September, is the feast day of St Jerome. The church at Llangwm Uchaf in Monmouthshire is dedicated to this fascinating historically important saint.
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All images © Lily Watts
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All images © Lily Watts
“…built for people who believe and argued not for people who believed and sang or shouted praise.” This was John Betjeman’s reflection upon the simplicity of the design of non-conformist chapels.
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September 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“…built for people who believe and argued not for people who believed and sang or shouted praise.” This was John Betjeman’s reflection upon the simplicity of the design of non-conformist chapels.
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There's Noel time like the present.... We know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but even so, our charity Christmas cards have been flying off the shelves, and it's only September.
📷 “Protective Oaks” - St Baglan's, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd.
📷 “Protective Oaks” - St Baglan's, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd.
September 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
There's Noel time like the present.... We know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but even so, our charity Christmas cards have been flying off the shelves, and it's only September.
📷 “Protective Oaks” - St Baglan's, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd.
📷 “Protective Oaks” - St Baglan's, Llanfaglan, Gwynedd.
Anne Lister died on this day, 22nd September, in 1840. Today, 185 years later, we are carrying out repairs on the church where her partner, Ann Walker, is buried.
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📷 The cupola of Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire (before repairs)
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📷 The cupola of Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire (before repairs)
September 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Anne Lister died on this day, 22nd September, in 1840. Today, 185 years later, we are carrying out repairs on the church where her partner, Ann Walker, is buried.
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📷 The cupola of Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire (before repairs)
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📷 The cupola of Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire (before repairs)
Tuxlith Chapel in Milland, West Sussex is a curious medieval gem that fell into ruins following the construction of a large Victorian church in the village in the late 19th century.
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September 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Tuxlith Chapel in Milland, West Sussex is a curious medieval gem that fell into ruins following the construction of a large Victorian church in the village in the late 19th century.
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‘The church… is not distinguished for any architectural details of importance’. This is what Samuel Lewis wrote about St Mary’s, Penllech in 1833.
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September 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
‘The church… is not distinguished for any architectural details of importance’. This is what Samuel Lewis wrote about St Mary’s, Penllech in 1833.
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Founded in 1689, Fairfield Friends Meeting House in West Yorkshire is one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in the world.
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September 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Founded in 1689, Fairfield Friends Meeting House in West Yorkshire is one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in the world.
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