A lightbulb moment

Changing lightbulbs used to be easy. Now, in the era of LEDs, lumens and 1001 fittings, it is a little more complicated. So a trip to B&Q.

Returning, I stopped at nearby St Oswalds Church at Winwick, for a brief look. That turned into a longer visit as it was an open day - last time I visited it all looked very sad, death watch beetles had eaten the roof and it was all covered in scaffolding.

Featured in the blip - a “Vinegar Bible”, only 30 or so from the 17th century survive. So called because the page which should be headed “the parable of the vineyard” replaces the latter word with “vinegar”. Are bible collectors like stamp collectors?

Also displayed, the marriage certificate of John Edward Smith and Sarah Eleanor Pennington. They were married here in 1887. He was the captain of the Titanic and went down with the ship in 1912. She died in 1931 after being hit by a taxi in London.

The bishops head is half covered by a floorboard, removed to take this shot. It is much older than the 14th century column which sits on it, a remnant of an earlier building. A Norman bishop, 12th century.

And an interior shot. Behind me the chancel was restored by Pugin in the 1840’s. The roof will be familiar to anyone who has been inside the Palace of Westminster. But looking this way it’s all older, and as with many churches, an eclectic mix. A nice building, and a good restoration job.