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Introducing the Parish Churches App: a photographic archive and guide to England's parish churches. Available on Android, Apple iOS, Windows and Apple Mac. parishchurches.org/parishchurch... 1/6

Lost Lincolnshire church A highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app parishchurches.org/parishchurch... Some churches I have recorded are either in a very poor state or gone. St Helen, Ashby-by-Partney is now closed and in a worse state than shown here in 2019.

An early work by Inigo Jones A highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app parishchurches.org/parishchurch... This monument of c.1610 commemorates Frances, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Needham. The design was by Inigo Jones, and his drawing survives.

Amazing 15th century stained glass at Morley, Derbyshire: Legend of the Holy Cross Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app parishchurches.org/parishchurch... Its ten scenes, each with a Latin caption in black letter, run across the lights from the top.

Amazing stained glass at Morley, Derbyshire: St Robert of Knaresborough Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app parishchurches.org/parishchurch... Its C15 panels tell the legend of St Robert of Knaresborough, the only existing example of this story in stained glass.

Wobbly God The central boss of the 15th century vaulted porch at Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, depicts the Trinity. Perhaps the masons were drunk: not only was the boss set askew to the ribs of the vault, but God, seated on his heavenly throne, has a distinct lean.

Roof angels with musical instruments Late-15th / early-16th century angels at Bitchfield, Lincolnshire. The first plays a trumpet, the second holds a scroll, the third plays panpipes, the fourth holds something now broken off, the fifth plays a lute, the sixth holds a crown of thorns.

Tournai marble font at Thornton Curtis, Lincolnshire One of seven mid 12th-century fonts in England. It is carved from a black carboniferous limestone found near Tournai, Belgium. The sides have lions and animal hybrids, each side with two pairs.

Effigy of Elizabeth de Montfort, Baroness Montagu (d.1354), Oxford Cathedral. She was the mother of eleven, including the 1st Earl of Salisbury. She endowed St Frideswide’s Priory with the land now known as Christ Church Meadow. Much of the original paint remains on the effigy.

Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app parishchurches.org/parishchurch... The Thornham Parva Retable Made in the 1330s, probably for the Dominicans at Thetford. The largest surviving medieval English altarpiece, found in a stable loft at Thornham Hall in 1927.

Highlight from last week’s new entries in the Parish Churches app. parishchurches.org/parishchurch... The 12th century tympanum at Aston Eyre, Shropshire. Christ rides into Jerusalem on an ass, palm over his shoulder, as a man lays a branch at its feet. Red paint remains on his nimbus.

A skeleton for Tanfield The monument to Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer may be found at Burford, Oxfordshire. He and his wife lie on a tomb chest under a canopy. In a recess beneath is a life-size skeleton - a memento mori. Erected in 1628 and probably by William Wright.

Visitors' book Old books in churches are rare. This one, from 1891, is at Yaxley, Suffolk and is still in use. Edward Cobb's first visit was with his wife, Emma Frances. He was born in Yaxley and was 35. Thomas Wells, a hat and cap manufacturer, was 49. J. Farrow says he's a postman.

Bad Saints The early 16th century chancel screen at Eye, Suffolk. In 1961 Pevsner called the paintings of the saints on the dado "all bad". They aren't too bad - perhaps he was in a grumpy mood that day. Shown here: St Thomas of Canterbury and St Cecilia.

A monument with its original stained glass The tomb of Joan, Lady Cornwall (erected c.1325) at Asthall (Oxon.) is a rare survival. Her effigy lies under a canopy. The glass above depicts the Crucifixion. The shields are of her husband, Sir Richard, & her two sons Edmund & Geoffrey.

Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app. parishchurches.org/parishchurch... St Mary, South Dalton, Yorkshire East Riding. By J. L. Pearson. Work began in March 1858 and was finished in 1861, at a cost of £25,000, paid by Beaumont Hotham, 3rd Baron Hotham.

Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app. The monument to Sir John Hotham, 2nd Baronet (d.1689), South Dalton, Yorkshire. A skeleton lies on a half-rolled mat beneath the effigy of a man in armour supported by four Virtues. parishchurches.org/parishchurch...

Highlight from last week's new entries in the Parish Churches app. Norman doorway, Riccall, Yorkshire. The doorway features carvings of a multitude of people and animals including a wyvern, lions, a dog, St Michael, Adam & Eve, and a dove. parishchurches.org/parishchurch...

Cartmel Priory in the morning mists.

Glass castle This stained glass is at All Saints, King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire. It dates from c.1485-1509 and was probably originally in Barnack Manor House - a panel like this was documented there by Dr. John Bridges in the early 18th century.

Bookish architecture This huge monument to Sir Henry (d.1630) & Mary Yelverton is squeezed into the east end of the north aisle of Easton Maudit church (Northants). It features a superstructure made from piles of books. Two bedesmen with cushioned heads support the canopy.

St Leonard, Sherfield English, Hampshire 1902-4 by Fred Bath for Louisa Baring, Lady Ashburton to commemorate her daughter.

Military effigy, most likely of Sir Roger Woodlock of Braishfield. This effigy of the early 14th century is at Michelmersh, Hampshire. It is one of the best of its date in the county. Sir Roger rests his head on two pillows flanked by angels and his feet rest against a stag.

Version 3.2 of the Parish Churches app has been released. Available on Apple, Windows and Android. parishchurches.org/parishchurch...

Monumental brass of Sir William de Septvans (d.1323). A fine early brass at Chartham, Kent. His emblem is a winnowing-fan, a play on the family name. It is displayed on his shield and surcoat. The figure is 1.8 metres long.

The magnificent alabaster tomb of William Phelip, 6th Baron Bardolph (d.1441) & Joan, Lady Bardolph (d.1447) at St Mary, Dennington, Suffolk. Sir William fought with Henry V at Agincourt. In 1438 the couple obtained a royal licence for a chantry at Dennington.

St George and the Dragon. c.1290. Kirkham Priory, Yorkshire East Riding.

Beachamwell St Mary, Norfolk was destroyed by fire during conservation in 2022. Permission for full restoration has now been granted. I was fortunate to record this church in 2009 and it is in my Parish Churches app. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202... parishchurches.org/parishchurches.html

Painted Ruins These panels are part of a complete scheme of chancel decoration at St John, Upper Hopton, Yorkshire West Riding. They are by James Eadie Reid (1868-1928), painted in 1906. They include the Synod of Whitby (664 AD) and the ruins of Whitby Abbey.

Monument to Richard & Frances Beaumont (he d.1692) at Kirkheaton, Yorkshire West Riding. Two busts set against a marble curtain. Probably by John Nost.

Archer and Monster This 12th century tympanum at St Leonard, Ribbesford, Worcestershire features an archer shooting at a many-legged monster with a small head. A hound runs beneath them.

There is now a page on my website which is automatically generated each week at 09:30 UTC. It gives a summary of what has been added and updated in the Parish Churches App database: parishchurches.org/stats/pcpa-p...

The Brass Snowflake This 18th century chandelier is at Helmsley, Yorkshire North Riding. These fittings are often overlooked, and yet there are many examples - mainly 18th century - in churches across the country. I record them as part of my project. parishchurches.org

The late 15th-century St George and the Dragon at Pickering, Yorkshire North Riding. To the lower right is the Hermit from the large painting of St Christopher.

A camel. This camel misericord, of the late 15th or early 16th century, may be found in the choir stalls at St Mary, Old Malton, Yorkshire North Riding.

St Mary's Priory Church, Old Malton, Yorkshire North Riding The church of the Gilbertine priory. The façade is of c.1200 with a 15th century five light window. The north arcade dates from the late-12th century but was remodelled c.1500 after a fire.

The late 15th century wall paintings at Pickering, Yorkshire North Riding. I recorded the church in 2012 but my images of the paintings were not my best work, so I revisited and photographed them again yesterday.

Striated Moon.

14th century monsters The tower arch at Plungar, Leicestershire, features some small carvings. Clockwise, top left we have a dragon/lizard, a monster mouth eating a ballflower ("Appetite for Destruction" vibes), A two-legged beast with man's head & a fox? bishop being eaten by tiny dragons.

Skulls and Shrouds. This early 17th century monumental brass to Henry Millner (d.1635) is at Wickenby, Lincolnshire. Lying on a plinth is the shrouded corpse of Henry. Above are the arms of Milner (sable, a chevron between three snaffle-bits or) flanked by skulls on urns.

Packed with monuments. Some people have asked where the image from yesterday's Parish Church App announcement was taken. It is the chancel at St Mary's, Bottesford, Leicestershire. An unusual view taken from five metres up and giving a clear view of the Rutland tombs.

Early bricks. The ruins of Midley church in Kent stand alone in a field. The church is probably of the 15th century and was falling into ruin by 1573. Of particular note are the courses of brick between the stone and flint rubble of the walls.

Three Sisters. Stained glass by the Royal Bavarian Art Institute for Stained Glass of c.1894 at Horsford, Norfolk. At the top are the Pyramids and the Alps - the sisters died in Cairo and Davos, 1891-3, presumably having been sent there to convalesce after contracting TB.