Church Micro 3030...Bletsoe
This cache has been placed to bring you to the church of St Mary in Bletsoe.
St Mary’s is a grade II* listed church (actually named St Mary the Virgin). The building shows evidence of development from pre-Norman times onwards, traces of which were rediscovered during the renovations in 2018 / 2019. The building has a central tower with Saxon and Norman elements, a late-13th century nave without aisles, a 14th century south transept which previously housed the organ until the 1970s and is now the vestry / storage area, a north transept incorporating the St John family chapel which includes a family mausoleum that is now closed; a 14th century chancel and a 19th century vestry which was added during the comprehensive Victorian restoration, evidence of which is seen in the panels to the tower in the nave behind the pulpit and lectern or the reredos in the chancel behind the high altar. The two main stained glass windows date from the 1860s restoration when the East Window was installed using a glassmaker from Munich while the West Window marks the life of the then Rector’s brother Harry Cheetham, a printer, taking that as a theme.
Though the cache is not within the church grounds, you may need to enter the grounds to collect the required information. Please be respectful in the church and grounds.
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The cache is a small blue gum pot (probably about 100ml capacity), only containing a log. You will need to bring your own writing implement.
To find the cache you will need to find a stone plaque in the lychgate. (Beware the interesting font for 6s and 9s! You should have a six in your letters!)
Date of death: AB/CD/19EF Aged GH (where AB is the date and CD the month)
N 52° 12.(A+H)(D-E)(B+F) W 0 30.(A+B)(F+G)(C+G)
Checksum = 42
The cache is OUTSIDE of the church grounds.
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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