Religion and Faith – Stephen Liddell

The Fitzrovia Chapel

The Middlesex Hospital started life in the 1740’s and set up base in two terraced houses that were leased from the local landowner, Mr Goodge who is now remembered forever by the nearby tube station Goodge Street. The houses were soon later converted to accommodate 15 beds. The Middlesex was founded as a charity for… Continue reading The Fitzrovia Chapel

Rediscovery of a lost British Saint and today is his Feast Day!

Today is a Red Letter Day, or at least it was centuries ago. We still sometimes say that it is a Red Letter Day which means it is somewhat special. In the medieval times when monks and scholars would document every day regardless of whether anything happened or perhaps they’d write out the Holy Bible or the… Continue reading Rediscovery of a lost British Saint and today is his Feast Day!

Floods re-create Athelney Island – Refuge of King Alfred The Great vs the Vikings

The last few weeks and indeed months have seen much of the southern Britain inundated with big storms and seemingly incessant storms. At one point over 600 flood warnings were in place as rivers burst their banks, fields and plains flooded and houses evacuated. The floods of course are awful for everyone involved but people… Continue reading Floods re-create Athelney Island – Refuge of King Alfred The Great vs the Vikings

Digging up patients from a medieval hospital

Last week news broke on the results of a study which was set up after the discovery of a medieval cemetery in Cambridge a few years ago that just happens to have been active during the Black Death. It is thought that London possibly suffered the worth mortality rate in the world from the Black… Continue reading Digging up patients from a medieval hospital

Chad Varah and the Samaritans @ St Stephen Walbrook

A few days ago I wrote a blog on St Stephen Walbrook church but deliberately left out a very important part of its modern history, that of its vicar Chad Varah who didn’t just oversee the repairs of the church after WW2 but did something that possibly changed the world and if not did something… Continue reading Chad Varah and the Samaritans @ St Stephen Walbrook

St Stephen Walbrook Church – Prototype for that famous dome

Last week in a rather cool and stormy London, I arrived early for an appointment as I often do. This time I was attending a function at Mansion House so I decided to visit the neighbouring old Church, St Stephen Walbrook. I’m sure you’ll agree St Stephen is a fine name for a church, particularly… Continue reading St Stephen Walbrook Church – Prototype for that famous dome

Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London

There is a lady on the tube seat opposite me who has a laugh that sounds like a heavy wooden chair being scraped on a wooden floor. Every time a new person gets on the train they are alarmed by her laugh! She’s busy chatting away to her boyfriend who is very somber and serious.… Continue reading Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London

Beating the bounds

These days we all have easy access to maps and our local administration is likely run by some sort of government office, elected or otherwise. That wasn’t always the case especially in the U.K. where the role of the church was hugely important. With churches across the whole country, it was important to know what… Continue reading Beating the bounds

The oldest door in Britain

I was fortunate to be in Westminster Abbey a few days. Much of the main building is perpetually overcrowded and particularly so in midsummer. There is so much to see in terms of memorials and architecture, royal thrones and the like and yet there is one place which always seems to be empty and yet… Continue reading The oldest door in Britain

10 years ago today, my Mam died

It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago today, my mother died. Unexpectedly after having several bouts of cancer over the years but seemingly on the mend after a very recent operation. March is just a completely dead month to me. Her birthday on the 14th is quickly followed by Mothers Day and then a… Continue reading 10 years ago today, my Mam died