Pretty without being chocolate-boxy, Penmark is a small village just outside Barry with a good…read morelocal pub and an interesting mediaeval church. Its peace is only disturbed by the aircraft taking off from nearby Cardiff-Wales airport, but it's a million miles away in character. History The village was the site of a 12th century Norman castle, overlooking a natural ravine carved by the Waycock River. Originally built in wood by Gilbert de Umfraville, it was rebuilt in stone in the 13th century. A good review of the castle (now in ruins) can be found at http://www.castlewales.com . The church was probably built around the same time, and its generous proportions may reflect the patronage of the local lord. The oldest part is the chancel arch, dating from around 1200. The tower arch dates from 1400 and most of the Perpendicular Gothic windows date from the 15th century. Charles Wesley preached here on 26th July 1777, after breakfasting in nearby Fonmon Castle. In 1811 the church is recorded as still being dedicated to St Mark, and repairs were undertaken and new seating was installed in 1893-5. In the churchyard is a preaching cross, restored in 1888, on the original mediaeval base. The church The church has a south porch, nave, chancel and tower. The most notable interior feature is the peculiar chancel arch, a simple and crude pointed arch with similarly crude zig-zag carving, dated to around 1200. More impressive is a tall and beautifully proportioned Perpendicular tower arch dating from around 1400. The nave has a well preserved staircase for a long-vanished Rood Screen. Most of the windows are perpendicular in style, dating from the later 15th century, some restored. The church has some interesting fittings and furnishings: pride of place goes to the Jacobean pulpit, from which Charles Wesley preached in 1777. The nave side altar opposite dates from 1709, and above are memorials to Jones family of Fonmon Castle. In the chancel are late 17th century alabaster memorials to the Lewis Family of Penmark Place, with coats of arms and skulls. The nave has a plain turned Norman tub font, presumably dating from the founding of the church. The church is an integral part of village life details of special services can be found in the newsletter at http://www.penmark.org . Regular services are part of the joint benefice of Benefice of Penmark with Llancarfan with Llantrithyd telephone for service times and location.

A large and very active church just off the centre of Milton. It is home to enthusiastic and…read morewelcoming Christians of the Baptist and general denominations. It has a large emphasise on children and youth, which can be quite rare in the world of church. It was a large paticipent of the Hope 2008, and brought together other local supporting churches in one place for serveral nights throughout the year. They also do alot of reachout-come in commuinity events, and charitable work. Main services on a normal time on sunday, and other services throughout the week. The building itself is fairly new and very big.

I'm not one to preach, but this lovely non-denominational Christian church is a spectacular…read morebuilding in Clifton. If religion is your thing and you're a young person looking to get involved in friendly bibled-based activities, then Woodlands might be for you. They hold a wide range of events for students. They're modern in attitude and style and have a community of around 800 worshippers. Pop along for the popular weekly lunches held between lectures on a variety of interesting subjects - religious, educational, philosophical. There's enough food for an army at bargain basement prices, and you might leave feeling spiritually nourished too, if that's your sort of thing.

This is such a funny church. Every year they have a BBQ during freshers week you pay a pound and…read morethey feed you with burgers sausages, biscuits and cakes. Great?! Only however if you get there early they place is so full by 12 that it is unlikely that you will be able to get plate. This is all part of a movement to reach out to the students that walk past their door every day, and i think it works. It is an amazing building too, with the main church and a more modern crypt beneath it.

Although not as well known as Salisbury or Canterbury, Exeter has one of the loveliest cathedrals…read morein England, and is one of the best examples of the 14th century "Decorated Gothic" style. Dedicated to St Peter, the cathedral is built on an ancient Christian site: St Boniface, the Patron Saint of Germany, was educated at a monastery close to the present location in 690. The history of the Cathedral itself dates from 1050, when the bishopric was moved here from nearby Crediton. The Normans rebuilt the church in 1114, although only the towers and some foundations remain from this period. Most of the present building dates from the rebuilding in the decorated gothic style, begun by Bishop Bronescombe in 1270, and completed over a century later. The result is a glorious harmony of late mediaeval gothic architecture, set in a tranquil green oasis just minutes from the bustle of Exeter city centre. Notable highlights of the interior include the minstrels' gallery (1350), with statues of musicans playing different mediaeval instruments, and the ceiling bosses, one of which depicts the murder of Thomas à Becket. It also has some superbly well preserved chantry chapels (intended for daily masses for the soul of the donor for whom it was built) and tombs. Because there is no central tower, Exeter Cathedral has the longest uninterrupted gothic vault in the world. Another feature is its astronomical clock (1480). There are also tombs of bishops and knights, and a startling Bishop's Throne dating from 1312, the canopy of which soars almost 18 metres high. Guided tours are available (daily - times vary). The Cathedral also has a shop and a cosy refectory, which serves light meals and snacks. Also well worth a visit is the adjacent Cathedral Library, which houses a number of manuscripts dating back to Saxon times. Its treasure is the 'Codex Exoniensis': written between 950 and 1000, this priceless work contains the most extensive single source of Old English poetry from the Anglo-Saxon period in existence. The Cathedral has a daily cycle of services, including glorious sung services, with both the Cathedral's own choir and those of visiting college choirs.

Often visit these places, but I won`t here. After all it appears to be very touristy now…read more As one kid put it " Our church has a collection after the service not before"

Bristol Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is the Church…read moreof England cathedral in the city of Bristol, and was built 1220-1877. it is located at the bottom of the steep hill In Clifton an sits majestically n the green there, and opposite the City Hall of Bristol.

We came to Bristol Cathedral as the meet-up place and 1st stop on our Bluebeard to Banksy walking…read moreTour of Bristol. The Cathedral is located in this gorgeous open square, and overlooks the Bristol City Council buildings. For me, the curlicue fanciful Victorian Architecture was most dominant, but our guide pointed out the Chapter House is dated from the medieval period and various restoration and expansion efforts were continuously pretty much undertaken over various centuries, so that now the Bristol Cathedral is a beautiful and harmonious blend of Gothic - Medieval, Tudor, Restoration and Victorian architecture. Luckily its still standing as it wasn't damaged during the WWII blitz of the city. An interesting fact our guide told us was that no member of the Bristol City Council ever comes to worship here. Instead they go to a church, which is located directly opposite this Cathedral, because back at the turn of the 19th century, the then-Councillors requested the Bristol Cathedral Bishop for them to be seated closer to the front. The Bishop refused and so they Councillors decided to build their own Church, where they could be given more prominence. If in Bristol, I definitely recommend coming to check this Cathedral out. Yelp 157/ 2019

So much good ..God bless!read more

So much good long as you're not gay.read more

One day I walked around the corner and saw a vision of glimmering white and thought I was in India…read morelooking at the palace of a king. It seemed as though this impressive building had appeared overnight! What is so great about this ornate temple, topped with several large 'shikhars' or domes, is that it's smack bang in the middle of a residential area and shopping street. The community that worship here helped to build and finance it and it is full of beautiful detail including solid hand carved wooden doors. The temple is now very much a part of the Grangetown community. According to the Shree Swaminarayan temple website, local school children visit it as part of their religious education. Tip: before you visit the temple check out their website to learn more about the history of the building, it's beautifully written as well.

This is a very attractive Victorian Roman Catholic church, just up Stow Hill from Newport City…read morecentre. History A small chapel was built on the site of the then-expanding seaport and industrial centre in 1812, but the town's continued growth meant that a larger church was soon needed, and the original chapel was demolished in 1839. The new church was built in the neo-Gothic style, with a prominent tower at the west end, which also formed the main entrance. Inside, the nave arcade was built with slender columns made of cast iron - the first such use of metal pillars in Wales. The construction of St Mary's took place around the same time as the Chartist uprising; the Chartist rioters passed the church and ordered workmen to join them, although they declined. In 1901 the original east window was replaced by one of the Assumption of the Virgin by John Hardman, who worked with the Pugins. The church The church is essentially in the Early English Gothic style, with tall lancets with shafts and hoods, and the slender piers have frilly stiff-leaf capitals. The most notable feature of the church from the outside is its tower, the muscular design of which provides a distinct contrast with the light and airy interior. Indeed, the pale pink walls with white arcades and detailing gives almost a wedding-cake like appearance. Today, the church is part of the united parish of 'All Saints' in Newport, formed in 2007 and incorporating six former parishes. Although the interior is not open outside service times, the outer doors are kept open, allowing one a good view into the nave.

A very good visitors guide to this church,with some good photos.. However,not much is said of the…read morefamous pipe organ in the gallery. And there are no photos of it. Neither is there a specification of the organ. Does not the music count for much in this church?

It's a temple affiliated to the Sikh religion on the Fishponds Road in Bristol. It was founded in…read more1958 at 8 St. Marks Road in Easton. It moved to its present address in 1977. The purpose of this temple is to worship and learn about the Sikh religion, customs and beliefs. The negative point is the disabled access is a bit limited. The requirements to enter this place are: 1) Need to remove your shoes, 2) Cover your head with the Bandanas provided by the Temple, and 3) Modest attire. If visited in Sundays/Celebration Days, free food (Langar) is served. On Sundays, generally, the free food distribution starts from roughly 13:30 PM. The Temple accepts monetary donations or physical volunteering. Inside the temple, on the first floor, the Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib, sits gracefully under a palki ( a construction), from where it is read by a priest. During the festival of Vaisakhi, the whole book is read continuously for 3 days. The Langar is absolutely yum and people from all religions are warmly welcome.