Fiona Chartres
@chartresfi.bsky.social
Former picture framer who loves churches, art, history and cheese...
The 13thC wall paintings at St John the Baptist, Cold Overton are fragmentary but still fascinating.
This is a such an unusual depiction of the nativity with Christ in the oddest manger, raised up as if it's sprouted in the night, the animals look rather surprised!
#WednesdayWallPaintings
This is a such an unusual depiction of the nativity with Christ in the oddest manger, raised up as if it's sprouted in the night, the animals look rather surprised!
#WednesdayWallPaintings
November 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The 13thC wall paintings at St John the Baptist, Cold Overton are fragmentary but still fascinating.
This is a such an unusual depiction of the nativity with Christ in the oddest manger, raised up as if it's sprouted in the night, the animals look rather surprised!
#WednesdayWallPaintings
This is a such an unusual depiction of the nativity with Christ in the oddest manger, raised up as if it's sprouted in the night, the animals look rather surprised!
#WednesdayWallPaintings
They certainly like their ball flowers at St Peter and St Paul, Langham, Rutland.
A 14thC window on the rather grand and impressive South side of the church.
#TraceryTuesday
A 14thC window on the rather grand and impressive South side of the church.
#TraceryTuesday
November 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM
They certainly like their ball flowers at St Peter and St Paul, Langham, Rutland.
A 14thC window on the rather grand and impressive South side of the church.
#TraceryTuesday
A 14thC window on the rather grand and impressive South side of the church.
#TraceryTuesday
Two tubby little cherubs with tiny wings and swirling draperies at St Peter and St Paul, Langham,Rutland.
They've obviously spent the last few centuries indulging in judgemental gossip about everyone who wanders down the path to the church door.
#MonumentsMonday
They've obviously spent the last few centuries indulging in judgemental gossip about everyone who wanders down the path to the church door.
#MonumentsMonday
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Two tubby little cherubs with tiny wings and swirling draperies at St Peter and St Paul, Langham,Rutland.
They've obviously spent the last few centuries indulging in judgemental gossip about everyone who wanders down the path to the church door.
#MonumentsMonday
They've obviously spent the last few centuries indulging in judgemental gossip about everyone who wanders down the path to the church door.
#MonumentsMonday
It's all about the chimneys at Lyddington Bede House.
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework
November 23, 2025 at 7:29 PM
It's all about the chimneys at Lyddington Bede House.
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework
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
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
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
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
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
#WednesdayWallPaintings
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
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
#WednesdayWallPaintings
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
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
November 19, 2025 at 5:39 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
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
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
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 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
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
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
Pevsner wasn't wrong when he said 'The glory of the church is its tower'
#SteepleSaturday
November 15, 2025 at 9:09 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
Pevsner wasn't wrong when he said 'The glory of the church is its tower'
#SteepleSaturday
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
A whole pride of happy elephants on a coat of arms at St John the Baptist, Inglesham for #LesArmoiriesDuVendredi
Arguing neighbours on the 12thC font at St Mary the Virgin, Wansford.
#FontsOnFriday
#FontsOnFriday
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Arguing neighbours on the 12thC font at St Mary the Virgin, Wansford.
#FontsOnFriday
#FontsOnFriday
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
Feeling the tingle at All Saints, Woolstone.
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
November 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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
Feeling the tingle at All Saints, Woolstone.
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
Surely it's a little bit early to be hitting the booze!
Two drinkers on a 14thC misericord at St Mary's, Fairford.
#Woodensday
Two drinkers on a 14thC misericord at St Mary's, Fairford.
#Woodensday
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 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
Two drinkers on a 14thC misericord at St Mary's, Fairford.
#Woodensday
I've always envied the people who get to gaze out of this.
London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday
London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday
November 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I've always envied the people who get to gaze out of this.
London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday
London Road, Leicester for #windowsonWednesday
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
#TextileTuesday
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 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
#TextileTuesday
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
#MonumentsMonday
November 10, 2025 at 9:03 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
#MonumentsMonday
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
#SundayStonework
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM
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
#SundayStonework
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
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 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
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
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
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
November 6, 2025 at 8:46 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
#Adoorableday
#AdoorableThursday
A column swallower at St Andrew's, Eastleach Turville looking furious at being relegated to the column store.
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A column swallower at St Andrew's, Eastleach Turville looking furious at being relegated to the column store.
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework
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
#TympanumTuesday
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
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
#TympanumTuesday
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
#SundaySermons
October 26, 2025 at 12:39 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
#SundaySermons
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
Simple and striking although sadly now headless, such a rare survival and a treat to see.
#SundayStonework
October 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
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
Simple and striking although sadly now headless, such a rare survival and a treat to see.
#SundayStonework
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
#FontsOnFriday
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 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
#FontsOnFriday
A beautifully precise consecration cross in the late summer sunshine at St John the Baptist, Inglesham.
#WednesdayWallPaintings
#WallsonWednesday
#WednesdayWallPaintings
#WallsonWednesday
October 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
A beautifully precise consecration cross in the late summer sunshine at St John the Baptist, Inglesham.
#WednesdayWallPaintings
#WallsonWednesday
#WednesdayWallPaintings
#WallsonWednesday