Forthcoming Events.

I am running a series of ZOOM lectures, both new and repeated titles over the next few months. I give each lecture live (they are not recorded) and places are limited. Click on the link to book.

Dear friends and followers

The summer has flown by. I hope you have had an enjoyable time. I haven`t got much to report this time as I`m getting ready to move house.

I`m delighted to announce the publication of my latest book Churches of Sussex. It is a brand new look at fifty churches which I think give the best overview of ecclesiastical and architectural history in the county. I have spent a lifetime visiting Sussex churches and I hope my love for the county shines through.

It has been a busy few months for me. I have lead my first day tour of the year taking a large group to visit four churches in SW Cambridgeshire. As a bonus we were able to visit the church in Royston which was severely damaged by fire a few years ago to see the astonishing rebuild which has created a light interior. Coincidentally I will be attending the topping out ceremony at another fire-damaged church, Beachamwell in Norfolk, later in the month.

Royston risen from the ashes

April saw my annual Spring Tour which visited 22 churches in the Lincolnshire Wolds and Marshes. We stayed at the North Shore Hotel which was on the beach in the residential part of Skegness. Amongst the many highlights were - Haugh, a tiny Norman church with important memorials; Spilsby with a huge collection of medieval and early modern monuments and Bratoft with a spectacular painting of the Spanish Armada. Locals came to make us welcome and in a couple of instances provided us with delicious home made refreshments.

It`s been a busy few weeks for me as I continue to research my Churches of Essex book for publication in 2025. I`m now at the stage of revisiting the churches to photograph them for the book and have been delighted to have been accompanied by some eminent historians on my travels. My Churches of Sussex volume is scheduled for publication on 15th July 2024.

Over 25 years ago I had a knock on my door from a couple researching a 200 year old diary they had purchased from a secondhand bookshop. It has hardly crossed my mind since but I`m delighted to say that the fruits of their research have appeared in a splendid little book which I have throughly enjoyed. Here is the link:

Finding Rosamond

I am sadly having to sell some of my collection of church books. Just let me know if you would like to purchase any - postage will be charged at cost.

Happy New Year to you all.

It`s a quiet time of year when churchcrawling is only for the dedicated - so why not sit comfortably at home and attend my 4 session Zoom course exploring the wonderful Churches of Norfolk?

Wishing you and those you love a very Happy Christmas.

Detail of a stained glass window by Christopher Webb at Isfield Church, Sussex.

John

Welcome to my roundup of jottings from the past couple of months. It`s been a busy autumn season with lots going on including the group tour of Somerset Churches which visited 18 churches near Clevedon. We finished in a monsoon-like downpour but otherwise managed to escape the worst of the Mendips weather. Highlights included candlesticks of Eltonware, Butterfield donuts, foliate heads and a thirteenth century screen. The April 2024 tour to Lincolnshire is already full and planning for Autumn 2024 (October 14th - 17th, save the dates) is progressing.

Thirteenth century screen at Clapton in Gordano, Somerset.

JOHN VIGAR`S CHURCHES OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS AND MARSH

MONDAY 8th to THURSDAY 11th April 2024

Join me for a tour exploring a wide variety of churches. Staying at the North Shore Hotel on the edge of the Golf Links at Skegness on a DBB basis. The tour starts at Skegness Station at 2.00pm and ends there at 1.00pm on Thursday (suggested train from London at 11.06 change at Grantham. On Thursday the Skegness return train leaves at 1.15pm). This year two lunches are included in the price, meaning there will be no extras to pay, and the tour includes all coach travel.

We hope to visit the following, subject to availability.

Now that autumn is upon us it`s time to offer you three new Zoom lectures.

Pre-Conquest Churches

A Thousand Years of Cats in Churches

Exploring Monmouthshire Churches

I was absolutely delighted when Christopher Howse wrote about me in his column in the Daily Telegraph last Saturday. He featured my new book, Churches of Cambridgeshire which came out last week, and in a subsequent Tweet said it was the sort of book that would make you get out on your bike. You can buy it online, or if you want to help me out I can send you a signed copy for £15. Just drop me an email.

I`m delighted to announce my October Residential Church Tour. It will run from 16th October for 3 nights.

Join me for a coach tour exploring a wide variety of churches. Staying at the Walton Hall Hotel on the clifftop at Clevedon on a DBB basis. The tour starts at Yatton Station at 2.00pm and ends there at 1.30pm on the Thursday (Monday train from London at 11.32 change at Bristol. On Thursday the Yatton return train is at 13.59). This year lunch is included in the price, meaning there are no extras to pay.

A few weeks ago I travelled north the town of Seaham where I was able to photograph a church that I had wanted to see for some time. For many years I`ve owned the original architects drawing dating from 1862 when it was substantially enlarged. It had been built to serve the mining community at Seaham and the churchyard contains memorials to the nearly 200 men lost in two underground explosions. I was delighted to see that it is still in use and that the churchyard is well maintained.

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I also visited Beamish Museum where I especially wanted to visit St Helen`s Church, re-erected there from Eston in Yorkshire. Dating from the 17th and 18th centuries the interior is dominated by two Commandment Boards which I supplied to them 9 years ago. They fit in very well as you see from the photograph. Incidentally the box pews came from Somerset!

Welcome to my February round-up

I still have some places left for the 3 day tour to Wales in April. Please email me for further information This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Next week`s lavishly illustrated ZOOM lecture is on the fascinating story of the Church Building Commission, the Incorporated Church Building Society and the 1851 Religious Census. Join me will you? 

John Vigar Zoom lecture

In May I`m leading a tour of Essex Churches to raise funds for the Friends of Essex Churches. It`s a self drive tour just off the M11.

In March my Zoom lecture tells the story of the Chancel - its purpose, construction and the things we find in it. Expect some surprises! Book with this link

Chancel Zoom lecture

Also in March I return to Kent to speak to the Friends of Kent Churches on `Some interesting Church Fonts`.

As ever, the Calendar tab on my website will show you all my activities.

Until next time, take care and I hope to see you soon.

John

Now that the frenzy of New Year has passed I felt it a good time to update you on some of my future events. The following are all public events and in addition to my private bookings:

Zoom lectures coming up 

13th February   The 1851 Religious Census and Incorporated Church Building Society

16th March The Chancel of the English Parish Church The Chancel of the Parish Church

2nd September for the Society of Geneaologists, 

The following are in-person events

29th April in-person lecture for the Friends of Kent Churches at Lenham Village Hall, Interesting Church Fonts in Kent 

24th May guided tour of 4 North Essex Churches for the Friends of Kent Churches, own transport required.

23rd June in-person lecture at Hemblington Church, Norfolk in aid of the Friends of Hemblington Church.

South Wales Church Tour, April 24th to 27th.

There are still places left on this tour which starts and ends at Cardiff Central Station. Three nights, visiting approx 20 churches, the majority of which are not normally open. DBB accommodation and coach travel included. Full details are here S Wales Tour

I`m currently writing a new volume of Sussex Churches but am pleased to annouce the launch of Churches of Cambridgeshire as July. It is already available for pre-order from your normal bookseller.

I always love hearing from you so please do drop me a line via the contact box on www.johnevigar.com

John Vigar`s CHURCHES IN SOUTH WALES TOUR 2023

Monday April 24th to Thursday April 27^th 2023

Join us for a tour exploring a wide variety of churches. Staying at the Iconic Angel Hotel opposite Cardiff Castle Hotel on a DBB basis. The tour starts and ends at Cardiff Central Station at 1.30pm.

ROATH, ST MARGARET
Stunning Victorian church built by Lord Bute as his family mausoleum. Colourful interior. Glass by Burlison and Grylls and altar by Comper

ROATH, ST GERMAN
Bodley designed church of great renown. 1881. `Strong, lithe and thin`.

I`m delighted to publish my Winter 2022 series of Zoom lectures which are now available to book. As usual they are richly illustrated and  cover both English and Welsh churches.

21st November Commandment and Benefaction Boards

1st December Pulpits and Lecterns

4th January Love Everlasting? Hand-Holding Church Monuments

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  It doesn`t seem that long ago that we were anticipating the arrival of summer - and here it is.

I`m still taking bookings for my coach tour of Leicestershire Churches Tour which runs from the 10-13 October. It really will be a good selection of churches, many of which are difficult of access. Next Spring we will be visiting South Wales. More details on that one in a month or so.

I have just finished writing Churches of Cambridgeshire which will be out next Spring but my other three volumes in the set (Norfolk, Hampshire, Kent) are all currently available from your chosen outlet.