View allAll Photos Tagged blithe
While I am retired per se, I have shot a LOT of portraits this month. Some I can't show until November, but I did return to the Kevin Yale Vernon Stage at NCHS on Tuesday to do portraits for Community's production of Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. The one in the middle of this collection is Ms. Adelman - she who runs the show and teaches theatre. She's a gem and we're so glad she's at the helm of the program.
Now one of Coventry's western suburbs, Allesley has a long history dating back to Norman times as witnessed by the earliest parts of the present church. All Saints is a red sandstone building distinguished externally by a handsome 13th century west tower crowned by a slightly later spire, the belfry windows having an unusual pairing on each side of one immediately on top of another, suggesting it was raised a level higher shortly after construction.
Much of the body of the church was rebuilt during the Victorian period, most specifically the chancel and south aisle which in turn replaced a Georgian rebuilding of these parts. The work was done in 1862-3 by architect James Murray and gives the church a rather restored look inside and out.
Within the eye is drawn to the Victorian chancel and the interior bright with whitewash and some rich early glass by Heaton, Butler & Bayne from the 1860s. The south nave arcade however is mostly Norman with two surviving round arches comprising the oldest part of the church. The walls in many places have a number of large memorial tablets, some with more notable sculpted detail, most of which were tidied into various corners during the Victorian restoration.
Allesley church is generally kept locked outside of service times but is a fine building worth a visit if one gets lucky with access.