Tonight we check in to our Snowdonia cottage but we have much of the day in Chester before we must leave town. Rain begins in early afternoon.
5.46 miles, rain, 56 degrees, humidity 80%.
Here is Richard’s ReLive video: https://www.relive.com/view/vdvm4MkEoxq
Despite the fact that the St. John the Baptist Church would only be open on Sunday for worship, we decided to try to enter even just for the worship service. We missed the service but were able to enter when congregants were mixing after the service.
The stained glass window over the altar (east side).
The beautiful Norman columns anchor the church.
This unusual stained glass window (The Westminster Window) represents some of the historical events which occurred in and around St. John’s in its very long history. It was placed in the church in 1890, a gift by the first Duke of Westminster, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1887.
This column has a 14th century wall painting of St. John the Baptist, patron Saint of this church. He is shown holding a book supporting a lamb, symbolizing his role as forerunner and proclaimant of Christ.
Glynn was a church member interested in answering questions and proudly showing us his church.
Our visit had to be short, as they were ready to lock up for the day.
We decided to walk the city walls—all 3 kilometers.
There is a Roman garden with baths in a city park.
We were surprised that volunteers stopped us to invite us into the Chester Castle. England has Heritage Days throughout the country this year from September 12 to 20. It was a nice break from the rain and we visited the Agricola Tower that included a chapel with traces of wall paintings from around 1240.
The Madonna of the chapel is from a later time when the military was stationed in the castle. She has an oak leaf cluster above her halo, a symbol of the regiment.
The Chester races ran through Saturday night so it was quiet on Sunday when we walked by.
It’s hard to imagine the horses and cheering on the track right next to a city wall and close to the highway.
More rain. We keep being invited to view sights along the walls, but even the Heritage Days volunteers couldn’t convince us to stop in the pouring rain.
This is the spot for which we have been searching. Alice Roberts has a tv documentary on Chester where she rappelled over the wall to investigate the border between the ancient Roman wall and later additions. Then she spoke to an Italian restauranteur about his Roman history. We are confident we found the rappelling spot on the wall, but the Italian restaurant is gone.
We have arrived at our home for the next six nights. Quite a bit of room, well situated, and nicely stocked.
6 Responses
Wow, those were one of the most detailed stain glass “storybook” we have seen. So much history presented in such an artistic form. Think you’ve exceeded the average amount of expected rain for September. Maybe it will clear up a bit. At least you have 2 sets of rain gear now in case one gets soaked.
Dan and Wendy
I know my blog was excessive in the stained glass history, but it really captured important English history I am learning.
I love the stain glass history! Hard to conceive of how old things are that you are seeing. It makes the history come to life! Rain rain go away, come again some other day
The history on the window blew me away! So many major events happened in the life of that church!
Sorry for the rain! Your pictures are certainly giving us a history lesson.
The rain is getting old, but we haven’t melted yet!