Winchcombe Walking Festival...

One of the many fabulous walks organised for the Winchcombe Walking Festival - from high up in the ancient village of Great Farmcote down to Saxon Winchcombe.  

Tiny St Faith's Chapel of Ease at Farmcote has late Saxon origins - and either side of the old Norman side door you can see 'lepers' squints' - small apertures created so lepers could watch church services without entering (see extra)  The communion table is topped with a large 13th century stone mensa, or altar slab. This has consecration crosses carved deep into the surface at each corner and in the centre. Stone altars such as this were removed from all churches at the Reformation, and many were broken up. This one was obviously preserved, and was reset on top of the communion table during restoration work in 1891. I love seeing traces left by previous local residents!