Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024

This cathedral is a Birmingham hidden gem.  I have walked past the building several times and always wondered what the place was like inside.  Located on Summer Hill Terrace, the cathedral sits on the edge of the Jewellery quarter.  Summer Hill is an elevated part of Birmingham and when you stand by the cathedral you are overlooking a  busy dual carriageway that leads into Birmingham.  From here you look over the National Indoor Arena with a good view of the new shiny skyscrapers that are being built in the city centre.  The streets around the Cathedral are very narrow with a one-way system.  The church has access to parking and leaving my car I made my way to the entrance.  On this Saturday night, the service of Vespers was taking place.  Vespers is a liturgy of evening prayer.  Sunset is when the liturgical day starts.  The hymns that are sung introduce the day’s themes.   This opportunity of visiting the Cathedral to partake in the Vesper’s service was made possible through the Birmingham Heritage Week and invitation of the Church Committee of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew.    

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
The beautiful symmetry of the Cathedral.

The rain was coming down and walking through the entrance, there was a warm light flowing outwards welcoming you to the Church.  The elders of the cathedral had taken over the church in 1957 and the original stonework with repeating arches is impressive.  Overlaying this architecture was an abundance of riches with extensive chandeliers and religious icons both on the walls and at various entrances. The alter was the focus of a large collection of paintings and icons.   The Greek Orthodox congregation were very friendly and the singing was beautiful.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
An upward view of the large Chandelier
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
The beautiful arches and stonework.

Before I knew it the beautiful rendition of the Vespers service was over. One of the Church committee then explained the history of the cathedral and pointed out particular features of interest. Then we were invited to look around the cathedral and then to join everyone for refreshments in the Cathedral hall. The cathedral was full and it was difficult to get good pictures with people moving around. I went for refreshments and then made my way out. To my delight the church happened to be quiet and peaceful and I was able to move around and take pictures with my iPhone.  The symmetry of the church caught my imagination and the iPhone is good at working in low light. I particularly enjoyed viewing the icons and the many pictures around the Cathedral. The evening was very memorable and this blog is my attempt to convey the evening through text and pictures.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
A stunning icon of the Madonna and child.

__

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
Details of the alter.
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
The dome of the Cathedral

__

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew, Birmingham Heritage week, September 2024
The outside of the cathedral from Summer Hill Road

This is the link to the Birmingham Heritage week.

I have included a blog on another notable Birmingham Church for you to read.

Roundheads helmets.

On cold winter’s mornings and hot summer days, the train to Worcester Foregate Street starts at Dorridge. When I worked full time, this commuter train took me regular as clockwork, most of the time, to either Birmingham Moor Street or Snow Hill. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to stay on the train to the final destination of Worcester Foregate Street. This blog is a pictorial record of my visit to Worcester via the train.

Worcester Foregate Street
Worcester Foregate Street

Worcester Foregate street is a busy station with the London trains from Paddington passing through onto Malvern and Hereford. My photographic agenda was the River Severn, the Racecourse, the Swan Sanctuary, the Cathedral and the Commandery. After that anything was a bonus including the town centre.

Under the bridge, River Severn
Under the railway bridge over the Severn.
Cycling past the stands, Worcester Racecourse.
Cycling past the stands, Worcester RaceCourse
Worcester Racetrack.
Geometry on the terraces, Worcester Racetrack.
Worcester Racetrack
Looking towards Worcester

The River Severn was swollen and muddy brown in colour following recent rain. It is difficult to imagine what it must be like when it floods and breaks its banks. The racecourse is small but even when empty it was fun to photograph with the cyclists and joggers passing through. Walking over to the west side of the river, I moved onto the Swan Sanctuary. I had timed it well as lunch time was about to start and a large flock of swans had gathered. The sanctuary is a simple set of steps from a boat house down to the river and allows you to get amongst the flock for pictures. For photographs it is ideal as the cathedral provides a dramatic backdrop.

Swan Sanctuary, Worcester.
Swan Sanctuary, Worcester.
Swan Sanctuary, Worcester.
Swan Sanctuary, Worcester.
Winter walking along the River Severn.
Winter walking along the River Severn.
Street scene, Worcester
Street scene, Worcester

Retracing my steps, I crossed over the road bridge along the East bank making my way through Kings school Worcester to the Cathedral. There is so much to enjoy when visiting a cathedral and whilst parts of the tower were undergoing storm damage repair, there was the Norman crypt and the cloisters to explore. The west window with its spectacular stained-glass window looked down onto the nave. The Cathedral has so much history and I will have to visit again when the restoration of the Quire is completed.

Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
West window, Worcester Cathedral.
West window, Worcester Cathedral.
The crypt, Worcester Cathedral.
The crypt, Worcester Cathedral.

Next stop was the Commandery and the site of the last battle of the English Civil War. A time to brush up on my history lessons and as soon as I saw the helmets and the pikes on the canal bridge near to the building then all that knowledge came flooding back. I remember the Roundheads and Cavaliers together with all those famous figures of history including Oliver Cromwell. The battle of Worcester was the last battle in a sprawling conflict that had already seen the death of Charles I. His son, Charles, later to become Charles II came down to Worcester with a Scottish Army only to be routed by the New Model Army. Charles escaped to France not before hiding in an Oak Tree. The Commandery was the HQ of the Royalist forces, and all this history was built into the building. Even after the Civil War, it was visited by the US senators John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, soon to become Future Presidents. The Georgian rooms were particularly impressive looking out towards the gardens and the Fort Royal Hill.

Roundheads helmets.
Roundheads helmets.
Gardens of the Commandery
Gardens of the Commandery
Georgian Room
Georgian Room
Battle of Worcester memorial
Pikes and helmets outside the Commandery.

I wandered back along Friar Street past the Tudor house and Greyfriars House onto Worcester Foregate Street for my Journey home. Reflecting on my visit, Worcester has much to offer, and I enjoy exploring such places with my camera.

Friar Street and Greyfriars House
Friar Street and Greyfriars House, Worcester

Want to know more then here are some links
There is the official Visit Worcester site that has lots of information. Worcester Cathedral also has its own web site which gives lots of information. If you wish to learn more about the English Civil War and the Battle of Worcester please visit the Commandery Web site.

Pictures taken with the Fujifilm x100v and the Sony DSC-RX100M5 .


University Square

It was a beautiful Autumn day when I visited Coventry for a photowalk.  I chose Coventry as I had not been there for a while and I wanted to see the old and new cathedrals.  The other monument that I wanted to see was the steel structure that was dedicated to Frank Whittle the inventor of the jet engine.  Coventry was severely bombed during the second world war and unfortunately the town planners have made a mess of the ring road.  The entry and exits happen too fast and you need to be alert for the traffic even on a Sunday. 

Ruins of the old Cathedral
Ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral
Around the old Cathedral
Around the old Cathedral, Bayley Lane
Looking up at the old Cathedral
Looking up at the old Cathedral
Entrance to the old cathedral
Entrance to the old cathedral
Lychgate Cottages & Priory Row
Lychgate Cottages on Priory Row

The cathedrals are situated around the University area and therefore I parked on the roads around the campus and made my way to Cathedral Square.  The old cathedral ruins stand out against the sky and provide lots of details for photography.  I wandered by Bayley lane and then the quadrangle boarded by St Michael’s Avenue and Cockoo Lane.  Then I went into the Cathedral ruins.  As you will see from my photographs, there is much to take in and there is the old versus the new Cathedral with its distinctive modern architecture. 

Classic view of the statue of St Micheal, the archangel over Lucifer
Classic view of the statue of St Micheal, the archangel over Lucifer
Detail of Coventry Cathedral
Detail of Coventry Cathedral
The stained glass window
The stained glass window
Socially distanced arrangements
Socially distanced arrangements

Moving away from the square to the sixties shopping area and the Frank Whittle monument, the mood changes.  I moved on from the square and passed by the Britannia Inn. The sixties architecture strikes you straightaway especially as you make you way past the bus station down to the square where the Motor museum is situated.

Frank Whittle blows clouds onto the monument
Frank Whittle blows clouds onto the monument
Looking past the Britannia Hotel to the Frank Whittle monument
Looking past the Britannia Hotel to the Frank Whittle monument

The city is a mixture of vibrant activity around the University with the students to a feeling of listlessness as people move around the other parts of the city in an aimless way.  Hales street which is the centre of the statue and monument is outside the transport museum.  After a few pictures here, I then walked through the shopping area and I eventually came to Fords Hospital Alms House which is an old 500 year building. It is a lodging place for retired women in the City.  A place to come back to and explore especially when it is open during Heritage week.  I enjoyed my visit to Coventry.

Fords Hospital Alms House
Fords Hospital Alms House
Courtyard, Fords Hospital Alms House
Courtyard, Fords Hospital Alms House

Many of the pictures are a mixture of iPhone and Canon 5D. I took a low down picture of the cathedrals from behind a fountain on the University Square. The picture featured on the next day weather forecast as shown.

Shefali Oza with my weather photograph
Shefali Oza with my weather photograph

Finally I found some Graffiti artwork by Lucy McLaughlan around Cathedral Square. I find her monochrome style fascinating.

Lucy McLaughlan Artwork around Cathedral Square
Lucy McLaughlan Artwork around Cathedral Square

I was asked to a conference in Cologne and whilst doing the necessary preparation for work, I also get ready and planned my photographic journey for the trip.  When researching photographs of Cologne a few areas were highlighted.  The Cathedral and the River Crane Buildings were prominent in the Google pictures search.  The journey fro Birmingham was plane to Dusseldorf and I arrived into Cologne over the railway Bridge that spans the Rhine.  As the train passes over the large steel bridge into the station you get glimpses of the cathedral and the markets.  As soon as you leave the station, you walk into a square and the camera has to be taken out. The cathedral takes your breath away with its grand structure.  

There were Christmas markets around the Cathedral.  These were very pretty selling many different gifts from stars to wooden puppets.  The markets were lively with music, laughter and singing.   They are nestled in pockets around the narrow streets of the city.  

Having has a brief look in the cathedral where mass was taking place, I headed out over the steel railway bridge looking for the classic view of the city.  A feature of the bridge is all the padlocks that have been added to the fencing between the railway tracks and the pedestrian footpath.  It is a twinkling mass of brass and quite something to see.  Eventually I arrived at the promontory on the far bank where there is a large statue of Keiser Wilhelm I.  It is here where I set up my camera to take the “classic” view of the cathedral as you look back over the Rhine.  I used my Sony DSC-RX100M5 on manual to take the picture.  I rested the base of my camera on my handkerchief as there was a low stone wall to use as support.  

The settings were as follows

  • shutter speed 10 seconds
  • focal length of f/2.5
  • ISO 100

The slow shutter speed allowed for the intercity train moving over the bridge to blur and line up with the other leading lines of the bridge.  The water from the Rhine began to have a slight silky appearance to it.  The contrasting colours came out well with the silver of the cathedral and the gold of the steel bridge.  I was pleased how it turned out.

The conference took place at the University of Cologne and after two days of an intensive workshop, we had a few hours spare before travelling back to Dusseldorf airport. First off it was the cathedral and the inside architecture is a sight to see. The long imposing nave leads to the Relics of the Three Kings. It is difficult with the camera to do justice to all the wonderful stained glass windows and other structures that are present in the cathedral. I will have to return again.

Impressive interior
Cologne Cathedral
Relics of the three Kings
Relics of the three Kings
Cathedral details
The beautiful entrance door

Also I wanted to see the three skyscrapers on the Rhine called the River City Cranes.  They looked spectacular from pictures on the web.  They were half a mile south from the train station but well worth the walk.  On the way I passed another Christmas market as well with all the people activity going on.  Getting close and personal to the large structures allowed for some great architectural views of them.  They reminded me of a Star Wars troop carrier with the anterior leg supporting an outstretched flat structure.  There were many opportunities for pictures and the wide angled view from the iPhone allowed for some rather good distorted views.  I walked out onto the nearby bridge to get a better view of the structures.  They were fascinating.  

The Riverside Crane Buildings
Pictures on a bridge
Traffic on the Rhine

Then it was back along the riverfront to take pictures of the picturesque houses with various local people taking in the end of the day.  The houses were set back from the river and the cathedral spires over looked them. They were a popular place for locals to stroll along the river or sit back and people watch others.

The locals walking by
Cathedral, Churches and houses
Relaxing by the waterfront
Sidestreet view

Overall verdict, an interesting city to photograph and one to which I will return.


“Birmingham we are” is full of passion and I have been posting pictures on their Twitter account for over 3 years. It is run by Jonathan Bostock and Daniel Sturley with help from Debbie. They have successfully published the Birmingham Gem’s Calendar for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. Their web site is popular and has many followers throughout the West Midlands and beyond. Jonathan organised a visit to St Phillips Cathedral for a group of enthusiastic photographers who contribute to the @birminghamweare twitter account . The meeting was also an opportunity to meet @wasps (we all shoot photographs) collective of photographers. We met up at the St Philips Cathedral on a Saturday morning and were greeted by one of the volunteers, Andrew, who showed as around. We initially went outside and then undertook a detailed visit of the inside of the Cathedral. There were many highlights and the stained glass windows in particular were interesting both to photograph and to listen about the story about their creation.

The stained glass windows were impressive each with a story to tell
This City was built on Books
The Sacristy
Beautiful glass
Every church should have one
Andrew answering questions

There were so many other pictures taken and here is a gallery of them and if you want to see how others interpreted the Cathedral then please visit the fantastic post from Birminghamweare.

A view outside

Towards the end of November, we spent a weekend away celebrating Sandy’s birthday and we chose to go to Chester which is a familiar place to both of us. Sandy had her 18th birthday party in the Grosvenor Hotel and I had many happy visits to the place with my parents. It was lovely to go back and walk down memory lane. On the Saturday, the town was busy with shoppers and the evening more so as the City lights were being turned on for the evening. We spend some time in the Cathedral and it was lovely to linger in the building not under any rush to get back home. The next morning I got up early and went for a walk around the Roman history of the City and down to the River Dee.

The Main Street busy with Saturday shoppers
Looking
Overlooking
Browsing
Christmas star
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral
Detail in the Cathedral
The clock
The Roman Amphitheater
The Roman baths
A visit to Chester
Bridge over the River Dee
The Grosvenor Hotel looking festive.
Early morning lights