Dorstone stands at the head of the Golden Valley, where the river Dore rises. D'Or and Dore make a wonderful wordplay, and it is indeed a wonderful and slightly hidden valley, once dominated of course by Dore Abbey at Abbeydore. Pilgrim shells welcomed us, fixed to the gate and notice boards, but this was the only church on our trail that was locked. Only, though, becauce that week they were celebrating Two Funerals and a Wedding and had valuable equipment on site - and two parishioners quickly welcomed us and returned in short order with a key. (Others were also visiting as the photos show.) The church is thirteenth century at its heart but was given a good Arts-and-Crafts makeover in the late nineteenth century, although the overambitious tower had to be cut down to size more recently. This was indeed a place of golden and warm welcome, and we were happy to part with a little of our own gold using their uptodate payment terminal. It was good to hear too of plans to reinstate the west gallery and install the usual facilities in the ample base of the tower (where the bells were reinstated recently too). All good! David Thomson | July 28, 2021 at 2:47 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: https://wp.me/poSLL-3W9 |