On Saturday 30th September 2000, members of St. James's, led by Freda, went on a pilgrimage to Salisbury.

'Salisbury Cathedral is the single most beautiful structure in England, and the Close around it the most beautiful space.'
Bill Bryson 1995

Whether you agree with this statement or not, you cannot fail to find this historic church, that has stood there for nearly 800 years, awe-inspiring. Our visit left St. James's just after 9am and returned, following Evensong in the Cathedral, at around 8.30pm. It was a long but most enjoyable day and amazingly the weather was dry and mild! The Cedars of Lebanon in the cloister garth were planted to mark the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837!

Two groups were guided around the Cathedral and Chapter House, ours by an elderly and very erudite lady who pointed out many interesting things which might otherwise have been missed. The highlights in the Cathedral must be the Trinity Chapel and the beautiful, predominantly blue, east window by Gabriel Loire, dedicated to prisoners of conscience throughout the world, together with the embroidered altar cloth depicting 'Faith in the City' with its contrasts of wealth and poverty, comfort and suffering. This is the oldest part of the Cathedral, completed and dedicated in 1225. The tour ended in the Chapter House which houses one of only four original copies of the Magna Carta.

Following lunch at a local inn we were free to explore the city on our own before meeting for a tour of St Thomas's Church. The original church was highly decorated but most of this was destroyed during the Reformation. However a few fragments remain including three medieval paintings in the Lady Chapel. The most striking feature of the church is the Doom painting above the chancel arch depicting the final judgement, painted in about 1470.

At the time of the Reformation, the painting was obliterated by several coats of whitewash and was eventually forgotten until 1819 when the whitewash was removed, the painting recorded, and then carefully painted over again! It was finally revealed in 1881 and has since been cleaned and retouched. We sat in the choir stalls to attend Evensong at the Cathedral accompanied by the beautiful singing of the all-girl choir. An uplifting experience to end a most enjoyable day!

Source: The Spire Magazine - 2000 December