The National Churches Trust has asked 60 famous people to name their favourite Church. We thought we’d join in! So we’re beginning an occasional series on the blog of ‘Favourite Churches.’ We’re asking a variety of people connected with St Chrysostom’s what their favourite church is, St Chrysostom’s excepted. (We are not asking more specifically than that – so choice may be about appearance, atmosphere, community or whatever. We also are aware favourites change through time.)
Fr Julian starts us off, he writes:
St Ives Church, Cornwall
My favourite church is St. Ives Parish Church, Cornwall. Like all Cornish churches from the 14th and 15th centuries it is small and homely, built of rough hewn granite, with a tower. Dame Barbara Hepworth, a parishioner, sculpted a Madonna and Child for the Lady Chapel – she gave it in memory of her son who fell in the second world war. The church overlooks the harbour, and from the vestry you see the whole sweep of St. Ives bay. Astonishingly beautiful; but I guess my favourite because I served my title there and offered the holy sacrifice of the mass there for the first time on 30th June, 1976.
Sr Diana CHN writes:
All Saints, Breadsall
My favourite church has to be All Saints, Breadsall, in the diocese of Derby – to which I was licensed for 9 years before moving to Manchester last year.
It is a lovely old church set in a beautiful churchyard and it dates back to the 11th century. It was wonderful to be saying the daily office in the chancel knowing that prayer had gone on there for over 900 years. But of course the church is really the people – and they were very special too.
St Chrysostom's Church News and Views 