Over the years I have gathered together old postcards or photos/cuttings of churches that I have not been able to identify and for seven years this page has been online and well over half have been solved - so mysteries no longer! Time at last to adapt these three pages into a mix of old and new puzzles. I believe that most are in the UK, probably England (unless mentioned), although with Victorian churches this is not certain. I would be grateful if any reader could offer suggestions, together with how certain they are (range 5% = not at all sure, to 100% = this is fact, don't question me!). Any clues that I have already are posted with the picture, and if identifed I will try and include these in any updates. For the other two pages of pictures click the links at the foot of the page.
I also "curate" a group on flickr - The Mystery Church - where more unsolved churches lurk awaiting identification!
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Mystery 1 [left] ** Solved **This church is dedicated to St Barnabas (I assume the spelling on the card is a misprint!). It looks a British church of the late C19 or early C20, but where?
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| Mystery 2 [right] ** New ** This "St John's Church" could be anywhere in the english-speaking world, a mid-Victorian interior. Quite a large church, the roofs in the aisles suggesting that the windows here have external gables. I would guess that this too is a British church. |
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Mystery 3 [left] ** Solved ** This church is clearly marked "Wellington Church" but which Wellington? The trees do not look English and a friend has suggested this could be New Zealand - however Wellington there is a huge city. For all my research, it was solved by dogged work by a father and son in New Zealand but there it was not. It is in fact in India. Christopher Challoner and in particular his son Jonathan, sent me this link to a picture from a similar angle, of St George's Chapel, Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, Ooty, which is near Coonoor. Clicking the left button steps down through a whole series of pictures of the chapel. Many thanks Messrs Challoner! |
| Mystery 4 [right] This church is another Victorian interior which could be anywhere but looks to be a British suburban church. The arcades have notably slim pillars. The stencilling decoration could be long gone but the church is quite distinctive and I hope someone recognises it. (Now on third version of this page!) |
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Mystery 5 [left] ** Solved **The sign in front of the church reads "Primitive Methodist Church, Highfield Road" SEPT 11th 2000 - John Oyston reports that there was a Highfield Methodist church in Wortley, Leeds. JAN 29th 2006 - David Miller informs me of a Highfield Road Methodist Church in Doncaster. My own research has came up with a Highfield Road PMC in Church Gresley, Derbyshire. DEC 5th 2006 Lynne states in a personal Email This church is Highfield Road Methodist church in Doncaster Yorkshire. I was a member there as a child. I went to sunday school and girls brigade. It was sold to a greetings card company or something like that, then was later knocked down and new houses built on the land. SEPT 20th 2012 Brian Wilkinson writes I can confirm that Mystery Church 5 is indeed Highfield Road Methodist Church, Doncaster opened in 1906. I and my family worshipped there from 1949 until it closed in 1965 I think it was. The congregation merged with that at Beckett Road Methodist Church to form St. Andrew’s Methodist Church which is still open. |
