St Catherine, Hoarwithy

The church of St Catherine at Hoarwithy, Herefordshire, differs substantially from the usual Victorian Church of England building. Why? Well, it derives its appearance from Italian Romanesque churches. The bell tower, the rounded east end of the chancel, the loggia, the Roman tile roofs and the richly decorated, short apsidal chancel all speak of Italy rather than rural Herefordshire. It is a Grade 1 Listed building and on the day of our visit the steep path to the main entrance was covered in matting to make the ascent easier. A notice said that this had been permitted for one year during which time a more fitting finish was to be laid down.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Chapel of St Catherine, Abbotsbury

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The chapel of St Catherine of Alexandria, Abbotsbury, Dorset was built around the year 1400 on a small hill outide the village. It looks over the Dorset coast and more particularly, the 18 mile long shingle bank of Chesil Beach and, beyond, the distant Isle of Portland. It was probably an adjunct of Abbotsbury Priory and may have been used as a place of private prayer. It was always a visible beacon or sea mark that ships used for navigation, and there is a suggestion that in later times a navigation light was kept burning at the top of its stair turret.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

A window and a print

We were recently in the Italianate church of St Catherine, Hoarwithy in Herefordshire. As we walked through the relatively dark and narrow narthex we came upon this stained glass window near which someone had propped a framed print of a Renaissance "Adoration". The print benefitted from the window light and it made a nice, asymmetrical composition that prompted me to take this photograph.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5