Fiona Chartres
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chartresfi.bsky.social
Fiona Chartres
@chartresfi.bsky.social
Former picture framer who loves churches, art, history and cheese...
A long vanished door at Ampney St Mary's but thankfully the fabulous Norman tympanum remains.
A very energetic lion is vanquishing the double headed curly serpent (who doesn't look bothered at all!) watched by a griffin, it's my new favourite.
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The 24 hour clock at St Mary's, Raunds is the earliest I've ever seen. Dating from the early 15thC, two angels with delicately feathered wings support it flanked by the kneeling donors.
#WednesdayWallPaintings
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
An absolutely beautiful early 20thC angel on the rail leading to the pulpit at St Peter's, Leicester.
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
November 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The lectern at St Mary the Virgin, Meysey Hampton dates from 1622 (clearly)... and still has its original book chain.
I'm assuming the inscription 'Christian Jackets' commemorates the person who possibly gave it to the church, it's lovely to see it still in use.
#SundaySermons
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The Norman tower at St Kyneburgha, Castor is stunning, every inch decorated. Built in the 12thC with the spire added in the 14thC it's an incredibly impressive sight as you approach the church.
Pevsner wasn't wrong when he said 'The glory of the church is its tower'
#SteepleSaturday
November 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
A whole pride of happy elephants on a coat of arms at St John the Baptist, Inglesham for #LesArmoiriesDuVendredi
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Arguing neighbours on the 12thC font at St Mary the Virgin, Wansford.
#FontsOnFriday
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There's something so exciting about stepping through the door of a church you've never visited before and wondering what you might find.
Feeling the tingle at All Saints, Woolstone.
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
November 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Surely it's a little bit early to be hitting the booze!
Two drinkers on a 14thC misericord at St Mary's, Fairford.
#Woodensday
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I've always envied the people who get to gaze out of this.
London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday
November 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The altar frontal at St George's, Kelmscott is made up of two 17thC Turkish hangings stitched together and was given to the church by Jane Morris. The subtle, faded colour really suits the church, nothing garish here!
#TextileTuesday
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Although this unknown lady of c.1400 at St John the Baptist, Barnack is now much damaged enough still remains to show how beautifully carved it was. Her headress and the plaited hair beneath it is shown in such stunning detail.
#MonumentsMonday
November 10, 2025 at 9:03 AM
They didn't panic at St Mary's, Tansor when they realised their round headed tower arch had gone out of fashion, they just built one of those new fangled pointy ones inside it!
#SundayStonework
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The diminutive fleche on the roof of St John the Baptist, Leicester is a lovely decorative touch with its tiny dragons.
Built by Goddard and Paget in 1884-5 it's a complete contrast to the nearby Italianate St James by H.L.Goddard, a different experience entirely.
#SteepleSaturday
November 8, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The door at Ampney St Mary is a thing of beauty, patched and repaired and surrounded by fragments of 13/14thC wall paintings.
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
It's quite full..
In my defence most of it gets used over the Christmas period.
November 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
A column swallower at St Andrew's, Eastleach Turville looking furious at being relegated to the column store.
#SundayStonework
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Resited Saxon carving at St Kyneburgha, Castor. Apparently it's Christ pointing at the moon and the sun, not learning to juggle like I first thought..
#TympanumTuesday
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Sometimes there's even a surprise waiting..
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A very bulbous and knobbly lectern at St Michael and St Martin, Eastleach Turville which was made up in the 1930s from either Elizabethan table legs or bed posts or maybe both, repurposing at its finest!
#SundaySermons
October 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The late saxon rood set into the porch at St Matthew's, Langford is a thing of beauty.
Simple and striking although sadly now headless, such a rare survival and a treat to see.
#SundayStonework
October 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
St Andrew's, Cotterstock has a very fine perpendicular font, they certainly liked their quatrefoils! The detail of the trailing vine around the base is a lovely touch too.
#FontsOnFriday
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
A beautifully precise consecration cross in the late summer sunshine at St John the Baptist, Inglesham.
#WednesdayWallPaintings
#WallsonWednesday
October 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
At All Saints, Loughborough the base of the west tower is a memorial chapel to the Taylor family, bell founders in the town since 1840. This is a detail of a very large memorial, made from bell metal, it commemorates four sons of the family who died in WW1
#31DaysofGraves
@horatioforever.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The really rather lovely altar frontal at St Peter's, Lowick is a beautifully embroidered depiction of one of the 14thC windows in the church. It shows Sir Simon de Drayton (possibly) offering a model of the church.
#TextileTuesday
October 21, 2025 at 9:49 AM