The Treasures of English Churches

An unusual book launch yesterday evening on Zoom.

The author, Dr Matthew Byrne, is foremost a photographer who became interested in churches, their monuments, furniture and stained glass. He talked cogently about some of the things illustrated in his latest book from his living room in Liverpool. As he doesn’t have a computer, internet connection or mobile ‘phone this was pre-recorded. That’s what’s unusual.

This was done under the auspices of the National Churches Trust. Should you want to join this excellent charity that props up our churches you will get a copy of Dr Byrne’s book as a joining present; rather a good deal as the membership is only £30, probably less on Direct Debit, and his book costs £20 unless you are an Amazon meanie. As I’m already a member I will have to pay for mine.

At the end there was a quiz with nine questions. All the answers are in Dr Byrne’s book, putting most of us at a disadvantage as it is not being published until the middle of next month. We marked our own homework and I got six, or perhaps five and a half right. I mistook Mary Magdalene for one of the Magi who hadn’t had a haircut and I thought a font was a collection plate.

Non-swank, I did better than Vice-Patron of the NCT, HRH the Duke of Gloucester who owned up to four and a half. He gave a “rally the troops” talk at the end of which a secretary walked behind him to switch his computer to mute. Note to secretary; walk in front of HRH’s computer where the attendees cannot see you, especially if like me you have lockdown tummy.

I found it all rather poignant, remembering my Church crawl with Ludo et al two years ago, written about here. Ludo died last year, much too young with so much fizz and bounce never bottled-up. I miss him very much. Exuberant (“full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness”) is a word invented to describe Ludo; a real life Tigger.

George Martin’s Theme One was the first music broadcast on Radio 1 when it launched in 1967. This was the first full length number.