uk

(from my UK trip in spring, 2009)

When exploring a new city, I tend to gravitate towards that town's biggest church/churches. They may no longer be the hub of activity that they were in earlier times, but odds are they're still significant. That and they tell interesting stories. Manchester Cathedral is no exception.

Model of the cathedral, in one of the side chapels. Don't pass these up if you're into the evolution of architecture. They provide interesting insight into what buildings looked like prior to WWII. For example, a model of the Dom in Mainz in Germany includes flying buttresses on the outside of the church. They're no longer there, victims of Allied bombing.

Regimental Colour (left) and Queen's Color of the 63rd (The West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot. In Great Britain, it's common for an Army regiment to have a "home church" in the city/town where it was raised. When a regiment is disbanded, its colors are often "laid up" in that church. The West Suffolk were raised in 1754, and were amalgamated (along with the 96th) into The Manchester Regiment in 1881. That regiment was subsequently merged into the King's Regiment in 1958, which was then amalgamated into the current Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (Kings, Lancashire and Border). British regiments carry two flags, or "colours." The one that is primarily the Union Jack is the Sovereign's (King's or Queen's) Colour. The Regimental Colour is usually the same background colour as the "facings" of that regiment's uniform. The West Suffolk wore the traditional red coats of the Army, with green trim. Of course, modern regiments don't take the colours into battle with them any more, but they still parade with them.

Wood carving in the side chapel dedicated to the West Suffolk and Manchester Regiments.  The Fleur-de-Lis was the central symbol of both regiments.

The "Lady Chapel." Most Catholic (and Anglican/Episcopal) churches have at least a side altar where folks with a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother can go to pray. It's also common practice at weddings for the bride and groom to make a fertility offering at an altar or chapel dedicated to Mary (usually while someone sings "Ave Maria.") This chapel is set up in modern Anglican configuration, so it appears that it is regularly used for the Eucharist.

The altar in the Fraser Chapel has an interesting altarpiece, a modern painting from Mark Cazalet. The center is a depiction of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (in feminine form), sharing a meal.  The left shows a 21st Century "St. George" freeing rather than slaying a dragon.  The release of the dragon from its chains represents the release of creative energy.  On the right is St. Denys, a 3rd Century martyr (and one of the saints to whom the Cathedral is dedicated) wandering the city centre.  St. Denys was beheaded, so he holds his head in his hands.

The octagonal-shaped Chapter House. Usually a Chapter House, the meeting area for the Bishop, Vicars, Canons, and other members of the Church's chapter, is a separate building. The Cathedral's chapter house was bombed in WWII. In an effort to restore the location quickly, a side chapel in the cathedral proper was converted for this use.

Ensign (flag) presented to the cathedral by the crew of HMS Manchester, a Royal Navy destroyer.

Very inspiring painting showing the feminine side of the Deity, something you don't see much of in Catholic churches. Of course, the CoE ordains women.

The nave of the cathedral, with the afternoon sun streaming in.

View of the cathedral tower.

from last Spring, moving to Drupal blog

Continuing with York sightseeing...
 

St. Helen's Church
 

Walking through the streets of York, on the way to the Minster.
 

Memorial to Yorkshire soldiers in the Army who gave their lives in South Africa, 1899-1902

St. Michael le Belfry, located directly across the street from York Minster

The Dean's Park, behind York Minster
 

A neat old Citroen parked just outside the Minster grounds

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The Shambles, a narrow, winding street that reminds me of "Diagon Alley" in Rowling's Potter novels

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Saturday Market

Chocolate Heaven! 

A street musician entertains the crowd in a small square near The Shambles.

At the Sign of the Prancing Mouse

Merchants Hall, with the huge arms sculpted and painted over the front door.

(from April, 2009)

Having completed my first week of teaching in Manchester, UK, I decided to get away from that city over the weekend and explore a place I've wanted to explore for years: York. 

York was originally a Roman city, constructed at the confluence of the Ouse and Foss rivers.  It became a "walled city" in medieval times and was almost made the capital of England.  It's also the seat of the Archbishop of York, who, along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, are the two "Primates" of the Church of England.  The most significant building in York (and the largest tourist attraction) is the cathedral, York Minster.  York Minster rates a YatTravel post all its own, so these are about the city proper.

I took the train to York, departing from Altrincham, taking Northern Rail from there to the Manchester Picadilly station, and changing trains to the cross-country train whose ultimate destination was Newcastle. My hotel was a Premier Inn just two blocks from the train station.

The Windmill, where I had dinner Friday and Saturday nights. The Premier Inn's main entrance is just to the left of the yellow pub. The hotel wraps around behind The Windmill.

After dinner and relaxation on Friday evening, I woke up Saturday morning ready to explore York. I entered the city through the MickelBar, one of the remaining gates in the medieval city wall:

Those crosses at the top of the gate aren't there for religious reasons, they're slits in the tower where an archer can aim a bow out and cut down would-be attackers.

The shield right above the archway is that of the Archbishop of York. The arms in the center at the top of the tower are those of Richard II. Below Richard's helm and shield are two shields bearing the arms of the City of York: St. George's Cross with the five lions of England superimposed on the cross.

View of MickelBar from the inside of the wall. The arms on the shield are those of the Kings and Queens of England from Henry IV to Elizabeth I.

MonkBar, the second of three remaining gates in the medieval wall.  The arms are those of the Kings of England including James I, Charles I, Charles II, and James II, with two shields bearing the York arms below.

Visitors are able to climb up into the two towers and walk along the wall from MonkBar to MickelBar.

Looking out over the wall. The sign on the building across the street is for "Bile Beans," a laxative product popular from the turn of the 19th Century until the 1930s. The sign has been on the wall since the 1930s, and is now properly preserved.

The River Ouse, on the western side of the city.

(from my trip to the UK last spring)

Continued from York Minster, Part 1

Wooden model of the Minster.  The floor plan shows the cross-shape of the church, with the octagonal chapter house off to the left.

The ceiling of the Chapter House, an octagonal chamber off to the side of the main church. The Chapter traditionally is the "management" of a cathedral or abbey.

The Celestial Clock that is the main feature of the Royal Air Force Memorial.

Colours of laid-up RAF units.

Chapel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, later the Duke of Wellington's Regiment

A colour of the 33rd Foot, dating to the 1840s.

Other colours of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment

York Minster, looking from the west

I've already written about my weekend in York, but York Minster was my main motivation for going to the old city.

These two photos are of the western side of the Minster. A "Minster"
is a church attached to a monastery or monastic community. York Minster
is also a cathedral, being the seat of the Archbishop of York, who is
Primate of England. (The official name of the church is Cathedral and
Metropolitan Church of St Peter.)

One enters the Minster from
the south side, where there is a lobby and then ticket booths where one
pays admission. I gladly paid the full admission for all attractions,
but now I'm wondering if you just want to go worship, would they
charge, don't know.

The church's interior. York Minster is a classic, cruciform, Gothic cathedral, one of the largest of its kind.

One
of the many lovely stained-glass windows inside. This one is near the
Western entrance. The close-up is St. Christopher carrying the Infant
Jesus.

Like Manchester Cathedral,
York Minster has several side chapels dedicated to Regiments of the
British Army. This one, the chapel of St. John The Evangelist, is
dedicated to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
The KOYLI was formed from the amalgamation of the 51st and 105th
Infantry Regiments. In 1968, they were merged into The Light Infantry.
In 2007, the LI merged with The Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles.

KOYLI colours "laid up" in the chapel. The Union Jack is the "King's Colour" and the green flag is the "Regimental Colour."

Lovely St. Michael statue dedicated to fallen officers of the KOYLI

Stained glass window in the chapel, featuring the badge of the KOYLI (close-up).

(continued in Part 2)

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(note: this is from my trip to the UK last Spring. I'm re-publishing it here in the Drupal config of the blog.)

One of the most well-known ceremonies in the world, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London is more than just a show for the tourists. The guards are real soldiers doing a real job, namely protecting their sovereign.

The Guard on duty when we arrived at Buckingham Palace was not from one of the five regiments making up the Brigade of Foot Guards (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh Guards).  Since the Guards regiments are often deployed overseas, other regiments are invited to provide the guard.  The honor on this day went to The Parachute Regiment.

While The Paras were winding up their duty at the Palace, a detachment from the Irish Guards assembles in front of Wellington Barracks, just a couple of blocks away. The 1st Batallion, The Irish Guards, had the honor this year of "Trooping the Colour" at the Queen's Birthday Parade yesterday.

While the Foot Guards (and guest Infantry regiments) are changing the guard at Buckingham Palace, the Household Cavalry change guards at Horse Guards
in Whitehall. Above, a detail from the senior regiment of the British Army, The Life Guards, proceeds from their barracks in Knightsbridge to Whitehall, to relieve the guard on duty there. They pass by the side of Buckingham Palace and march down The Mall.

All dem peoples waiting for a parade where nobody throws nothin' :-)

We staked a spot out on the "Birthday Cake," a huge statue of HM Queen Victoria that is out in front of the palace. It's so large that traffic is directed via a roundabout around the statue.  Birdcage Walk, which
runs along the side of St. James Park, is on the left, and the left-side gate of the palace is visible on the right.

A detachment from the Drum Corps of the Irish Guards escorts the Old Guard detachment from St. James Palace back to Buckingham Palace. St. James Palace is a complex of royal residences and offices originally
commissioned by Henry VIII.

The Old Guard detachment from St. James Palace marches to Buckingham
Palace. They are let in via the left-side gate, where they form up with the rest of the Old Guard to await the arrival of their replacements.

The New Guard, led by the band of the Irish Guards, having left Wellington Barracks, approaches the palace. They will swing in front of the palace and enter via the right-side gate. The band positions itself in between the Old and New Guards, around the center gate.

Conmal, the mascot of the Irish Guards. The regiment has had an Irish Wolfhound as a mascot since 1902.

Now
that the Old and New Guards are assembled in front of the palace, the process of replacing the sentries begins. A corporal of the New Guard escorts each Guardsmen assigned to the first shift to his position, reads the specific duty instructions from the clipboard in each guard box, then returns to fetch the next man. During this process, the band plays a selection of music. This day's tunes were all from James Bond movies.

As
the new sentries are posted around the palace, the Old Guard that was on duty at Horse Guards returns to Knightsbridge. This day, the Old Guard was from the Blues and Royals, who, along with the Life Guards,
make up the Household Cavalry. The Blues and Royals are so named because they are an amalgamation of the Royal Horse Guards (nicknamed "The Blues") and the 1st (Royal) Dragoons. One of the badges of the Blues and Royals represents the Eagle of the 101st Line Infantry of France under Napoleon I. The Royals captured that Eagle at Waterloo.

On special occasions, the Foot Guards will pause the guard-changing process to do a "present" to the cavalry troopers, but this was not one of those days.

Once all the sentries are replaced by the New Guard, the center gates open and the band leads the Old Guard back to Wellington Barracks.

The Paras can take pride in a job well done as they return to Wellington Barracks. 

A small detachment of the New Guard marches down The Mall to take up duties at St. James Palace.

The ceremony over, the crowd disperses.

The Irish Guards are now are responsible for the palace for the next 24 hours.

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Looks like the British are the trend-setters in airport scanner stupidity:

Heathrow is investigating claims of inappropriate behaviour after an airport worker allegedly ogled a female colleague who walked through a body scanner.

Police have confirmed a 25-year-old man was given a first instance harassment warning after an incident was reported on March 10.

The Sun reported Jo Margetson had accused a male colleague of making lewd comments about her breasts when she entered the security machine by mistake.

The "full body scanners" are going to end up being more trouble than they're worth. Coming to an airport near you. Hopefully now that the Obama administration is in control, TSA will set a proper tone for the use of these things, rather than the Bush people, who were more than happy to see TSA fail so the jobs would go back to private contractors.

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