John Vigar - Ecclesiastical Historian

13/10/2024

I have a series of live ZOOM lectures over the next few months. Just go to www.eventbrite.com and search for my name.

Eventbrite - Discover the Best Local Events & Things to Do

06/10/2024

Foxearth, St Peter and St Paul, Essex. Created by a high church clergyman. Elaborate work of high quality including glass by Charles Clutterbuck. A true period piece.

12/08/2024

Leybourne, Kent, St Peter and St Paul. Norman church (see tufa window) much altered. The USP is the heart shrine of Roger de Leybourne killed in the Holy Land in 1271. Legend tells that when King Edward I visited the church to see this monument in 1286 he donated an iron crown which is still displayed.

23/07/2024

The launch of my new book.

19/07/2024

Bobbing, Kent, St Bartholomew. Recently restored this church displays far more of interest than the rather severe exterior promises. The church dates from the fourteenth century and consists of nave, chancel, north aisle and west tower. The south chancel wall contains and outstanding square headed low side window which contains its original medieval ironwork, Next to it is a sedilia which has a small piece of carving from Canterbury cathedral Executed in Caen stone it depicts a Bishop and a priest. The Bishop is St Martial, first Bishop of Limoges. There are also some good brasses to Sir Arnold and Lady Savage. A late seventeenth century vicar of Bobbing was Titus Oates who plotted against the catholic supporters of the Stuart royal family, thus ensuring a place in English national history. Church open

04/07/2024

Cut end of Lenten veil screen at Postling, Kent, with its original polychromy. Church open daily

27/06/2024

I spent yesterday afternoon manning the Norfolk Churches Trust stand the the Royal Norfolk Show. It was extremely hot but I spoke to lots of interesting people all passionate about preserving their local church.

22/06/2024

The fifteenth century Rood Screen at Worstead in Norfolk is one of my personal favourites in a county with several dozen surviving. A few of the figures have been completely repainted but these are original, and the halos on some of them are created with gesso to give a sumptuous effect. I`m especially fond of the floral decoration on the transom. Church open daily.

18/06/2024

West Somerton, Norfolk, St Mary. Fourteenth century wall paintings. Church open daily.

25/05/2024

Anyone like to purchase these?

Almost complete set of Transactions ( one volume missing) from Issue 1 to the present day. Collection from PE33 or I can send at cost

24/05/2024

Great Maplestead, Essex, St Giles. The south chapel contains two monuments to the Deane family of Dynes Court. Sir John Deane died in 1626 and is depicted with his family above him.
His widow Anne (nee Drury) (d 1633) is comemmorated opposite in a shroud monument erected by their son Dru who lies beneath his mother.

Church open daily.

06/05/2024

Fifteenth century stained glass of The Duchess of Norfolk at Long Melford, Suffolk. Tradition says that Tenniel used this window as inspiration for the Queen of Hearts when he illustrated Alices’s Adventures in Wonderland

21/04/2024

They obviously weren’t pleased with their brass when it arrived so altered it themselves

01/04/2024

Happy April! Roundel in Biddenden Church, Kent

27/03/2024

Setting up for a large turnout this afternoon

23/03/2024

Kilndown, Kent, Christ Church. 1839 remodelled by Alexander Beresford Hope as an early Tractarian interior. Furnishings inspired by medieval work elsewhere, for example the altar by William of Wykeham’s tomb at Wi******er and the pulpit by that at Beaulieu. Church open daily.

14/03/2024

Whatcote, Warwickshire, St Peter. The star attractiopn is the incised slab to Thomas Nells, 1486. Church Open Daily.

25/02/2024

Maidstone, Kent, All Saints. A church that is often overshadowed by others in the county, but which offers the visitor some real treasures, just a selection of which are shown here.
Astley shroud memorial by William Wright, 1640
Mr and Mrs Davey by the Christmas Brothers, 1631
Sedilia 1420
John Wotton monument 1417 (underneath and behind the sedilia) paintings of Annunciation and Thomas Becket.
Monument to Lt Col Shadwell murdered by a deserter in the village of Wrotham during the Napoleonic Wars.

Outside the tomb of William Shipley, founder of the Royal Society of Arts.

12/02/2024

Sadly I’m having to sell a large number of church books.
Do let me know if you are interested in any and I can work out the postage for you.

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.Local Styles of the English Parish ChurchAddison, Sir WilliamBatsford1982HardbackVG2.5Jordan`s Guide to English ChurchesJordan, OwenKings England Pres...

31/01/2024

Leverington, Cambridgeshire, St Leonard. Amongst many other treasures the church contains an exceptional collection of medieval glass.

11/01/2024

Avening, Gloucestershire, Holy Cross. One of those churches that has something for everyone. Saxon sculptures, medieval structure, Baroque monument, Vaulted chancel, Arts and Crafts window. Church open daily.

30/12/2023

https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/whats-on/church-historian-to-share-expertise-in-five-session-course-9346316/

A church historian will be running classes spreading his wisdom and knowledge on houses of prayer across the county.

30/12/2023

Welcome to the Suffolk Church Guides online collection. To find the one of interest to you, enter the name of the church, the village, town or the postcode in the ‘search bar’. Where th…

17/12/2023

Marden, Kent, St Michael and All Angels. Suffered a fire in the 16c so anything earlier was destroyed or had to be rebuilt. Lovely hinge on the pulpit door. Glass by Patrick Reyntiens.

13/12/2023

Deeping St James, Lincolnshire. Former Benedictine Priory. An enigmatic building, the result of collapse and rebuilding. Good Romanesque architecture including a font, which shows that it was a parish church as well as monastery. Georgian Hudd for the parson to use at funerals. Church open daily.