On a fine, sunny morning – Tuesday 15th August, a party of the ’Friends of Romsey Abbey’, departed by minibus, for a tour of four churches in the Avon/Woodford Valley, lead by Brian Woodruffe, a University tutor and long time friend of Dick Hewett (Event Organiser).
Our first stop was at St Andrew’s, Great Durnford, and the second St Nicholas, Wilsford. Excellent lunches followed in a marquee adjacent to the river at The Bridge Inn in Upper Woodford. In the afternoon, we visited All Saints, Middle Woodford, ending our tour at St Lawrence, Stratford-Sub-Castle.
We were given a warm welcome at all these still active churches with much appreciated refreshments at the first and the last. Whilst there have been subsequent developments, each is steeped in history from around 1100 AD and our Guide, Brian and a member of the particular church, highlighted significant features of which there are many including stained glass windows and memorials.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable, interesting and informative day which passed all too quickly and it is to be hoped that similar visits to churches of historical interest can be included in future programmes.
Grateful thanks were given to Brian for much background information and as always, Dick Hewett, organiser and driver who got us back safely to Romsey just after 5pm.
