No Pasaran

Leatherhead Church looked like a safe bet to visit yesterday: I could go there on the train, and provided I arrived before noon the parish office would be open and even if the church was shut they'd be able to let me in. Somewhere there'd be a café for lunch and then I could go home, all nice and relaxed.

The church website is all bright and shiny and tells you everything that's going on and there's a smiling picture of the incumbent describing the church's commitment to spreading the Gospel and serving the community, etc.

What it doesn't mention is the quite important information that the church is being rebuilt. It's a fenced-off, gutted shell without a floor. All the many events can't be happening in that building, but somehow whoever's put the website together doesn't think that's relevant. I stood slightly disbelieving and watched fellows in hard hats moving around within the barrier, in front of a huge screen of plywood closing off the chancel arch.

It was a gamble to walk from there the mile-and-a-bit to Ashtead to try to look at St Giles's, not part of my original plan but an attempt to salvage something from my train fare. A big red sign pointed off the main street to 'St Giles's Parish Church, 12th century', suggesting that entry might not be problematic. There'd been a midweek service at 11am and the very grandiose newish hall next door had a lunch club on. But the church itself was locked against all comers, 12th or whatever century.