Steve
@portaspeciosa.bsky.social
Church crawler with a penchant for cathedrals and medieval wall paintings.
Bit of everything going on at All Saints, Nassington, Northants.
December 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Bit of everything going on at All Saints, Nassington, Northants.
A plain tub font, late Norman probably, sits solid in St Oswald Widford, Oxon. Fire extinguishers are often placed close to fonts as babies and small children are especially susceptible to spontaneous combustion. #FontsonFriday
December 12, 2025 at 4:36 PM
A plain tub font, late Norman probably, sits solid in St Oswald Widford, Oxon. Fire extinguishers are often placed close to fonts as babies and small children are especially susceptible to spontaneous combustion. #FontsonFriday
The door to The Hermitage in Frome, Somerset. Note the Epiphany chalking on the door.
December 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The door to The Hermitage in Frome, Somerset. Note the Epiphany chalking on the door.
Not quite Christmas yet, however, in anticipation, here is the nativity in sculpture in the North Aisle of St Bartholomew Ducklington, Oxon. The sculpture forms part of a C14 frieze depicting the life of the Virgin. As I showed in my recent post of a wallpainting at Cold Overton, Christ is elevated.
December 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Not quite Christmas yet, however, in anticipation, here is the nativity in sculpture in the North Aisle of St Bartholomew Ducklington, Oxon. The sculpture forms part of a C14 frieze depicting the life of the Virgin. As I showed in my recent post of a wallpainting at Cold Overton, Christ is elevated.
Heraldic Shield tiles from the mid C13 assembled beside the altar in 1901 at Dore Abbey. #TilesOnTuesday
December 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Heraldic Shield tiles from the mid C13 assembled beside the altar in 1901 at Dore Abbey. #TilesOnTuesday
Jane Austen lived in the Hampshire Village of Chawton. Between 1809 and 1817 she regularly worshipped at St Nicholas Church a 5 minute walk from her house. The church we see today she would not recognise. However, I came across the second picture in a video and we can see how much it has changed.
December 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Jane Austen lived in the Hampshire Village of Chawton. Between 1809 and 1817 she regularly worshipped at St Nicholas Church a 5 minute walk from her house. The church we see today she would not recognise. However, I came across the second picture in a video and we can see how much it has changed.
A splash of colour in Castor's angel roof.
December 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A splash of colour in Castor's angel roof.
St Kyneburgha's, Castor, Cambs, with its famous Norman tower. A lovely church and an all round gem. Photo taken in the Summer!
December 7, 2025 at 8:29 PM
St Kyneburgha's, Castor, Cambs, with its famous Norman tower. A lovely church and an all round gem. Photo taken in the Summer!
Apologies if this offends your OCD. A perfectly gorgeous ogee in the C14 stone screen at Broughton, Oxon, through which we see early Decorated period tracery in the East window.
December 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Apologies if this offends your OCD. A perfectly gorgeous ogee in the C14 stone screen at Broughton, Oxon, through which we see early Decorated period tracery in the East window.
Waiting for the sun to arrive!
December 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Waiting for the sun to arrive!
For those folk who saw fit to 'correct' me in my previous post! 😘
December 6, 2025 at 7:36 PM
For those folk who saw fit to 'correct' me in my previous post! 😘
St John the Baptist, Barnack presents another of her treasures. A remarkable 15th Century image of the Immaculate Conception. Mary is pierced by light rays emanating from a Trinity grouping (God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit). How this piece survived the Reformation is miraculous.
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
St John the Baptist, Barnack presents another of her treasures. A remarkable 15th Century image of the Immaculate Conception. Mary is pierced by light rays emanating from a Trinity grouping (God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit). How this piece survived the Reformation is miraculous.
Yes, a truly unique piece that made my heart beat a lot faster and it is astonishing that it has survived.
December 4, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Yes, a truly unique piece that made my heart beat a lot faster and it is astonishing that it has survived.
A delightful 11th Century Christ in Majesty at St John the Baptist, Barnack, Hunts. Possibly part of a Saxon altar piece.
December 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A delightful 11th Century Christ in Majesty at St John the Baptist, Barnack, Hunts. Possibly part of a Saxon altar piece.
Locked! Clearly my time’s not yet!
December 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Locked! Clearly my time’s not yet!
All Saints church, Crudwell, Wiltshire contains a rare 15th Century window showing Christ and five of the Seven Sacraments.
December 2, 2025 at 7:17 PM
All Saints church, Crudwell, Wiltshire contains a rare 15th Century window showing Christ and five of the Seven Sacraments.
Possibly my favourite 'modern' chest tomb with an effigy. Lady Eleanor Methuen who died in 1958. She was an artist and the small stature at her feet is of her as a young painter. Corsham, Wiltshire.
December 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Possibly my favourite 'modern' chest tomb with an effigy. Lady Eleanor Methuen who died in 1958. She was an artist and the small stature at her feet is of her as a young painter. Corsham, Wiltshire.
Looking across the Presbytery crossing vaults at Salisbury Cathedral from the clerestory. The scissor arches are older than those at Wells Cathedral and may well have been the inspiration for them. On the roof can be seen the 'ghosts' of the original C13 murals and their C19 update.
December 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Looking across the Presbytery crossing vaults at Salisbury Cathedral from the clerestory. The scissor arches are older than those at Wells Cathedral and may well have been the inspiration for them. On the roof can be seen the 'ghosts' of the original C13 murals and their C19 update.
The Fabulous West Window of Fairford church. The upper register contains a Resurrection view, the lower are primarily scenes of Judgement.
December 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The Fabulous West Window of Fairford church. The upper register contains a Resurrection view, the lower are primarily scenes of Judgement.
Palimpsest is such a lovely word. Here's an example in the C11 chapel of St Martin at Wareham, Dorset. Layers of decoration and script overlay each other on the Chancel arch. Gorgeous.
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Palimpsest is such a lovely word. Here's an example in the C11 chapel of St Martin at Wareham, Dorset. Layers of decoration and script overlay each other on the Chancel arch. Gorgeous.
Who said that sermons cannot be colourful? A lovely pulpit from Torbryan in Devon made from reused C15 wood from the (intact) screen. #SundaySermons
November 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Who said that sermons cannot be colourful? A lovely pulpit from Torbryan in Devon made from reused C15 wood from the (intact) screen. #SundaySermons
Fiona and I had that discussion at the time, however, both the church and www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/294... suggests St George too. His other works are more 'conventional' with the cross emblazoned on his shield, for example the attached.
November 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Fiona and I had that discussion at the time, however, both the church and www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/294... suggests St George too. His other works are more 'conventional' with the cross emblazoned on his shield, for example the attached.
When you're 100 miles from home and you suddenly remember that you didn't turn off the iron...or did you?
November 29, 2025 at 9:20 PM
When you're 100 miles from home and you suddenly remember that you didn't turn off the iron...or did you?
High up on Dartmoor the enormous granite tower of Holy Trinity Torbryan stands to show that not only the church is there but also the village. An unearthly and phenonemal church well worth the trek to visit. #SteepleSaturday
November 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
High up on Dartmoor the enormous granite tower of Holy Trinity Torbryan stands to show that not only the church is there but also the village. An unearthly and phenonemal church well worth the trek to visit. #SteepleSaturday
Two C12 dragons pulling at the rosette above the door into Egleton church in Rutland. Is it fanciful to think this is sin pulling at the purity of the experience of God who is to be found in the church.
November 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Two C12 dragons pulling at the rosette above the door into Egleton church in Rutland. Is it fanciful to think this is sin pulling at the purity of the experience of God who is to be found in the church.