What Should we do with Crumbling Churches? Bald Explorer Full TV Ep
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- Опубліковано 15 січ 2025
- The parish church is one of the oldest buildings in the British landscape. Most of them have been here for over 900 years and some date from the Saxon period. They are ubiquitous; their steeples point above the rooftops, the bell towers chime on a Sunday, pews of some age are lined up towards the altar and their churchyards are packed with ancient headstones of once prominent members of the the locality.
The importance and role of the village, or town church, is hard to over state; and yet, these very buildings, where men, women and children have been baptized, married and sent off to life beyond (if there is such a thing) are in trouble. The parish churches are crumbling away and there is not enough people supporting the faith, attending the congregation or concerned about it's up keep.
Richard Vobes, the Bald Explorer, is on a mission to find out if we should continue to try and preserve these icons of our history or whether it is better to allow them to crumble away gracefully.
Find out more at www.BaldExplorer.com
Excellent program Richard. I've worked on churches and listed buildings most of my life so really enjoyed this one 😎
Wonderful! Thanks for watching.
Excellent video Richard. I came across your channel purely by chance today and have watched several of your videos already. Such good quality and interesting content here and well presented.
Thanks so much. I appreciate the kind words.
LOVE your series of films. Especially love your presentation and personality. We just visited your Episode 7 haunts and will do Tunbridge Wells next. Wish we could have put up a photo here of the Itchingfield Priest's House which looked so beautiful on the misty morning of 27th October 2016. John & Brenda.
Thank you so much. i do hope to have the opportunity to make more episodes.
Excellent video!! Very informative, so sad that so many churches have fallen into disrepair!
Very sad - so much part of our heritage and culture. Thanks for watching.
What an excellent episode Mr Vobes. Research, confident presentation like most others that you do. Interviews galore you have chosen interviewees very well. History lesson and filming techniques for us all to admire.
Probably days of preparation and collecting footage. All appreciated by me for sure. Thank you.
Thanks very much.
I wish I could afford a trip to the UK.It is so steeped in traditions and History!Our family's ancestors are British and I'd cherish a pilgrimage to the old world.
You would be made welcome.
I ADORE BRITISH CHURCHES! The small churches like at Kerry on the Welch boarder is a joy to visit..
Instablaster...
such a high quality video, I really did enjoy watching this one
Thanks so much
I have done stone cutting before the traditional way, its not to hard a job, I dont see why we haven't got a ready supply of stone cutters and restores, it's quite an enjoyable job restoring old buildings and churches, when they are completed, their a joy.
Always enjoy watching you Richard, thank you for taking the time and effort you put into your really well presented vids.
Thank YOU for watching. It is greatly appreciated.
I’ve just got around to watching this - wonderfully made - it must have taken ages!
When I lived at Christ’s Hospital, Itchingfield would have been my parish church and I could often hear the bells across the fields in the morning.
Great idea by the vicar who brewed as well!
I hope the brewery is still going - the video was made in 2013
rectors revenge!
I ring the bells at Itchingfield Church! It is a fun activity too! Botolph is a bit far from where I live though. Love your new episode!
It seems like it would be exciting! Good for you! I only wish I could have a chance to ring the church bells. I'll visit one day to take in the beautiful history of the UK!
I had no idea of the breadth and width of your videos! I can see the TV isn't going to be used much this week as I go through the backlog of videos you did several years ago.
Golly. Don't overdose on the videos :)
A most enjoyable watch Richard. You are right in my ball park here and indeed slip in almost unnoticed some great questions on the acceptance of faith and the pacifying of the communities to work for the greater being.
I can't see why you are not on BB2 as brilliant and so professional your like a Bald Tony Robinson. The camera guy and editing are done just like TV
Thanks so much - I did most of the camera work - the bits I am not actually in. :)
Excellent programme. Well done Richard Vobes.
So pleased you enjoyed it.
Excellent!
thanks very much.
This is another of your deeply worthwhile efforts - entertaining, informative & enriching the appreciation of our past in an ever changing world - very well done & thanks
Thank you. I aim to make more of the full length videos - they take time, but now the audience is building they become a more worthwhile investment.
Fantastic video Richard. So much great history and information given. This video is on par with anything the BBC would produce.
A very well presented video.
Thank you for sharing.
You are very kind - thank you.
Richard the Bald on his journeys through this sceptred isle!
A wonderful video. Thank you for the upload.
Theres a brilliant old church in Newton Abbot that has been converted from an old church to a soliciters office in such a way that you can still really see the old building. The ladies is in the old vestry. It still has the original door.
Such a great episode! I want so badly to come to see all of it with my own eyes and actually touch the bricks! I'd like to think that they are being looked after. I think my wife and I are becoming obsessed! The history is amazing!
Thanks, Tim.
Well done Richard. Someones got to keep up exploring despite everything.
Thanks so much.
Brilliant video Richard! I new feel I really want to go and visit a historic church!
Thanks Ed - glad you had such a lovely trip to the UK.
Oh wow, this is fantastic!!!
Geraldine Jayne Thank you. Very kind.
Thanks Lindsey.
Fantastic work as always
During the 'current troubles' (2020-1) I and I suppose others have taken to wandering around t'internet. I came across the Young Mr. Vobes and enjoyed his discourses about Worthing and it's environs - Great. Further delving as the lockdown progresses, I find that his walks are many and interesting! This one has him leaping about (well it was 8 years ago) Sussex churches and explaining some of the 'mechanics'.
Most folks nowadays are not church go-ers and - I suppose - when you're younger looking at a chrurch and its environs is something that folks avoid. If you're not interested in local history - well - yes of no particular interest. However if you're interested in history and how communities came and went - the chruch (as it was always the centre of village and town life) is a good starting point.
The first time I went into a 'disused' church I went in great trepidation - but looking at the 'furniture', wall paintings, organ (not many of those around) bell tower, w.h.y you can get a feeling of what the locality was like those many years ago.
Revel in R.V.s presentation - it will add so much more to a casual counhtry walk and mebe fill in part of the localities history - which you might not get if you just pass it by - because it's a church - and you don't 'go to church'....
Very well said. Until recently, the church and especially the church building was the centre of everyone's universe.
Such an excellent and enjoyable video!
Thanks so much Kitty!
Very interesting and great job editing.
Thanks so much Jim
How sad. As an American Episcopalian to watch my mother church crumble into the ground is disheartening at best. Perhaps an "adopt a church" program could be established here in the colonies.
Hi Philip, that sounds like a great idea. Thanks so much for the feedback.
We in America have so much... thoughts are racing through my mind... would you please contact me at pmcgee@clemson.edu my home church is: www.churchofadvent.org/
Bravo! Thoroughly enjoy it, having on my 2011 tour covering the best of southern England, visited an extremely old church in the quaint village of Castle Comb, containing some very interesting artifacts, including the inner mechanical workings of an original clock for time stamping an employees time-card. Photo to come!
Really enjoyed Richard....got me wondering if you ever considered going across the channel and showcasing traditional villages in France? Have a working holiday!!
That would be a nice idea - need to save up a bit.
so so good
T Simmons So glad you liked it!
Would the National Trust or English heritage be interested in preserving these churches ? Staunton Harold in Leicestershire has a church now owned by national trust where weddings still go on and it’s in the grounds of Staunton Harold hall and it’s currently having its roof restored
Wonderful stuff Richard. I won't attempt this one but be absolutely certain to read Betjeman's, A LINCOLNSHIRE TALE..... JB
This is very professional was this televised?
It was televised on a remote sky channel, but was made for UA-cam.
Brilliant
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks. When I lived in Sussex there was a village we visited two or three times that had a beautiful old cottage, which had a priesthole. An elderly lady lived there & for 6d would let you in & allow you to look up the chimney to see where the poor priest would have to conceal himself. Goodness knows how they coped if there was a fire in the grate.
The background music is so beautiful !
Thanks so much
History!! What would we be without it? So many stories to be told and so many old churches to cherish. Thank you, Richard, for telling this one so beautifully and sympathetically. I used to be head Chorister at Peterborough Cathedral - now there's a story to be told! Not of me (I hasten to add) but of Peterborough Cathedral! Now I live near Lewes and do strongly recommend all to watch your most insightful and interesting story about Lewes and Lewesians both past and present! There's a beautifully preserved Priest House at West Hoathly . . . . worthy of a visit? YES!
I have a podcast visit of the priest house and will return to film there in the spring!
What should we do? churches that are no longer used or little used could be sold and converted in to private houses/residences. I remember watching an episode of restoration man on channel 4 a few years back where an old church was bought and converted into a home.
I still believe they have a role to play before selling them off for private houses.
Another video I had to watch again. Excellent. I, like you Richard, am not overly religious but I do appreciate our old churches. However, when it comes to money for upkeep, and seeing how the church (collectively) has over 80 million quid, surely they can do more?
Yes, you would think so, wouldn't you?
I find the name Itchingfield intriguing. Can there have been a lot of midges there, or fleas?
I don't think it comes from the word itch! :)
@@RichardVobes Probably not but then where does it come from?
Maybe you could do a video with someone who knows about old names & likes to talk about that subject? I know a lot of people do wonder about place names.
I attended a very interesting talk once by someone who worked for Devon CC. Some place names you could never guess at unless you knew the history of the area because they included references to rivers that had changed course entirely & areas of water that had dried up, rendering certain names which would have been obvious at the time, totally puzzling now.
@@RichardVobes I bet it was Hitchingfield. Though we will probably never know.
Also very good richard did not know you did a tv show.
The Bald Explorer was aired on a TV channel some years ago. Now I prefer the freedom of UA-cam, but miss the production values of the TV discipline.
I watched another of the tv ones about the lead water. Yes the freedom now is stress free but it might be worth getting in touch with the media again, as your trips are really interesting.
I really truly enjoyed this vid Richard! Maybe its the Pk in me - lol. I am glad that England as well as Parishioners are trying to take steps to save these churches. There is just so much history there as you said. They are/were not just the religious epicenters of their areas, but social & communial as well! Thanks for the history on the Church through Egland's period. I love exploring w/ you, but also learing something as well.💒
Oh, btw...thanks for showing my Braoise family's castle again!🏰😉
- Lisa Fox, Eugene, OR
So pleased you enjoyed the video. I love making the long format videos, but they take a lot of time and work.
I'm still finding video's I haven't seen, and like.
Very interesting England.
Thought it was! I only live down the road from there so kinda thought it looked famliar :)
Excellent intro very pro
Very kind!
Our cherished churches shut their doors in the face of their loyal parishioners far too eagerly this year, Christians should remember this. save your money and let them crumble. Priests/vicars take note please.
Yes indeed it is - well spotted! :)
Love you production skills, do you mind sharing your editing software.
Happy to - I use Davinci Resolve. It's free.
Richard Vobes Thank you.
Contemporary with the Bayeux Tapestry?! That has to be saved! I wish I was rich and could help these amazing buildings.
I know these are older videos but new to me. I did notice two things about you though. I noticed you added a bit of fun to the videos, your zany part showed a bit lol and your voice seemed higher. I don’t know if it’s a different camera of just age but your voice is lower these days. I really enjoyed the churches though and sad when they collapse. Thank you
I am a bit older, and these were a different style; scripted and produced over three months.
Are history is very important and need preserving and restoration
good
Thanks
Wonderful programmes. Your knighthood should follow very soon
Warren Stutely I must make some more! Thank you so much for watching.
Its very sad churches and castles need to be restored everywhere in the uk.
What is the small half timbered cottage at 9:34? Thanks.
My question was too quickly placed! Very good documentary.
It's the old priests house for visiting clergy.
In Devon some of the churches have been converted to multi-use buildings. Kitchens & toilets are included somehow. The pews, lecterns, & shelves are put on wheels, which have brakes, so that they can be moved aside to leave space for performances, sales, dances indoor bowling etc. It means that the church is once again at the heart of the community & means local people have somewhere to meet & the classes, entertainments, meetings etc help to raise funds for the attractive old building. None of which interferes with its use as a church. So win, win, win, win!
is that boxgrove your visiting at 3.20?
pastyhead80 Yes
4:10 I see St Mary and st Blaise church
Yes That’s Boxgrove Priory
3:20
Where do you get the "Downton Abbey" style incidental scene music from ?
It is production music - Audio Network I believe.
@@RichardVobes That's great thank you for the reply, I have checked out the site and of course hundreds to choose from but do you have the name or style of the track ?
Oh golly - I haven't a clue no - it was a a few years I made that video. So sorry.
Crenellated.... 🤗👍🏻😘
Patti Smith What did I say?
Good word! :)
Also zipper guy makes me feel nervous for the future of that abandoned.
Not sure who zipper guy is. But thanks for watching!
With Christian communities dwindling now (one only needs to look at the census), this problem will be even worse. I am saying this as I love English heritage (I am an atheist myself). I love visiting churches.
Couldn't we raise some money to help to restore it to its former glory xx
9:34 If you were to sit on my gravestone, I'd come to haunt you.
Fair enough.
All these old churches should be turned into tesco expresses , at least they would be handy 🙄
Horrid suggestion!
Hi Richard, only discovered your videos (by chance) a dayvago on my mobile. Must have hitvsome 'button.
Lovedcwatching this one in particukar on Crumbling Churches. You narrated it beautifully. Well done.
Will pay something for your videos if incan u/stand PayPal. I live in Midhurst
Pamela Fitz Gerald
(from crumbling ol Dublin)!. Dublin comes from the Irish word The Black Pool. I i. E dubh (black) , linn, a. pool and many Irish cties. Like Wexford founded by the Vikings. WEISSJFORD (old Nores word for Wexford.
Mean Norse
Welcome to the fold, Pamela. So pleased you enjoyed the video.
The Christian Church needs to reinvent its self have a more spiritual and metaphysical aspect truth and forgiveness and the clergy soul be married like in Easter orthodoxy. I think orthodoxy could take off here in the UK such amazing history.
Keep those of historical significance and recycle the others
Found out a dirrect ancester really wanted Queen Mary dead but londeners would not let them through on the bridge, by the time they did get in Mary had back up and granddad+ lost his head, which some one then stole. Then his grandson signed the letter for charles 1st head. They were very naughty boys. As for the churches then either the vatican or the royal family should pay up, after they have paid compensation to all the victums of their idea's.
An interesting bunch of relatives you have there. :) Thanks so much for watching.
The more i dig into my family the crazier it gets, Game of Thrones has nothing on this lot. One + grandad was called Cnut he went into the sea and tried to stop the waves.
Sitting on a grave stone is not Honourable.
Walking down the aisle of a church then is not honourable - many people were buried underneath the stone in the aisle, and yet we walk on them without thinking.
When's part 2 of The sex detective out?
Sadly it isn't. I made that many moons ago.
Attend and support your local church?That would be taking money out of the pockets of those poor televangelist.
I guess so.
Unfortunately the reason why churches are falling to bits is simple. People rather go to a shopping centre. Community feeling has gone. But some of the churches around London are supported very well. It’s mainly our black community that keep the churches going.
Ironically you will never find an empty synagogue. Sabbath means exactly that. No working, nothing.
Nothing in the Bible against alcohol. Anywhere. More profit if he can turn water into wine.
Very true. Think of the Church Ales of the past! :)
The church it way to middle upper class and quite boring for people. I feel the spiritual side of church is lacking.
Which church was this? ua-cam.com/video/_O9ybKm1Now/v-deo.html
Lentwardine church in Herefordshire
Bb
Blimey you haven't changed much over ten years
Please don't lean on gravestones for your pleasure. Gross.
Thanks for watching
.....excellent & informative video. Well done Richard....
Thanks so much.