The Chairman’s A – Z of Somerset Churches
Trust Chairman, Axel Palmer, has set himself an objective of visiting a range of churches and chapels across Somerset to compile his own A – Z!
Axel reports:
“I thought as part of Ride+Stride it would be interesting to visit a variety of parishes and communities, broadly along the lines of completing my own alphabetical list – clearly, some letters require a little ingenuity!
So far, it has indeed been “interesting”! Only this week, wandering around the outside of a church (looking at the architecture, condition etc) someone watching thought I might be a drug dealer! That’s a first for me! So, note to self to dress more appropriately and looking like ‘Wurzel Gummedge’ can convey the wrong impression! (I have already had minor surgery - haircut!)
Another vignette was venturing over to Exmoor on a filthy day, driving around narrow, twisting lanes (just like Mendip!) with absolutely no traffic! I parked on a lane outside a church (obviously blocking) and then ‘out of nowhere’ came one of those huge campervans. On going back to move my car, the passenger said “this is where she was murdered you know!” Oddly enough, no, I didn’t!
East to West in Somerset
My latest trip was to walk all the way from East to West - which I managed in about 30 minutes!
East Harptree is a little village on the northern side of Mendip, dominated by Harptree Court and St Laurence, a fine twelfth century parish church.
Beside the church is a footpath to West Harptree – ditto twelfth century St Mary’s, Tilly Manor and opposite Gournay Court (residence of a cabinet minister!). An enjoyable two-hour walk across fields and around the lanes via Widcombe and Coley (and carefully negotiating my way past cows!).”
That’s letter E then!
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How can you contribute to our fundraising?
The money we raise goes to keep Somerset’s churches and chapels alive, so you can help by joining in Ride+Stride. The good news is that all it takes is a couple of clicks. Axel will brave the cold, wet, mud etc and you can obtain that warm glow of assisting by staying at home and smiling!