Christianity | Mark Simms Photography

St David’s

St David’s with it’s Cathedral and ruined Bishop’s Palace is, by some measures, the smallest city in the United Kingdom….although in reality it’s no bigger than a large village/small town.

Named after St David, the patron Saint of Wales (who founded a monastic order on the site in the 6th century AD) the monastry (later cathedral) and settlement that grew up around it has been attracting pilgrims for over 1500 years….drawn by the Cathedral’s many relics including the remains of St David himself.

© Mark Simms Photography (2021)

Dunblane Cathedral

With parts of the building dating back to the 1100’s Dunblane Cathedral is one of Scotland’s finest medieval churches:

Dunblane Cathedral, Stirling, Scotland, UK

© Mark Simms Photography (2019)

Church of the Holy Rude

Stirling’s Church of the Holy Rude (which dates back to the 1130’s) is the only active church in the United Kingdom, apart from Westminster Abbey, to have held a coronation. It was here on 29 July 1567 that the infant son of Mary Queen of Scots, James VI, was crowned King of Scotland.

Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, Scotland, UK

© Mark Simms Photography (2019)

St Peter’s Basilica

The original church built on the site where St Peter is supposed to be buried, dates back to AD349 during the reign of the Emperor Constantine, Rome’s first Christian Emperor. However the church we see today (easily the richest and most spectacular Church I’ve ever visited….and I’ve seen a few) was largely built during the 16th and 17th centuries.

If the Sistine Chapel was a bit of a disappointment – see previous post – St Peter’s Basilica made up for this in spades. It is quite simply magnificent. Although, like the Vatican Museums, it attarcts a lot of tourists, because it is so vast you never really feel crammed-in and that certainly helps to create a positive impression.

St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Trinita dei Monti

Not the most spectacular of Rome’s churches (of which there are many) but we popped in as it holds a commanding position at the top of the Spanish Steps:

Trinita dei Monti, Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy, Europe

Merry Christmas

A few images of traditional Christian iconography from Lincoln Cathedral – Merry Christmas to all my fellow WordPress bloggers. Thanks for all the support throughout 2018.

Let’s hope that in 2019 the world can start to pull together and put an end to the divisiveness and mistrust.

Mary & Jesus, Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln, England