Sunday Snap – The Church in the Park

For last week's Sunday Snap we were looking at the ancient Bargate that was once a gateway in a south coast city. I asked where it was located and the answer is

Southampton

Those in the know last week were Susan, Helen, Nadine, Mich, Sarah, Cass and Kara.

For this week we are visiting a church located in a park on a ducal estate. Back in 1864 the 6^th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme commissioned a chapel to be built on this site. It was to be dedicated to St. Paul but it was never finished earning it the nickname of the 'pigeon coop'. The 7^th Duke then had it demolished in 1886 and commissioned a new chapel to be dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Its opening 1889 was not without controversy. Although the church has always officially been part of the Church of England the 7th Duke was a big supporter of the Anglo Catholic movement. Reports of the opening ceremony state that the 'rites of the Church of Rome' were used and urged the Archbishop to stop the future use of such 'superstitious services'! Although it is still a parish church within the Church of England it continues to conducts services in the Anglo Catholic tradition.

Sadly the main house of this estate was demolished in 1938 and the church was closed. The house had already suffered great damage in a fire in 1879 and again in1912. After the decline in ducal estates after the combined effects of the First World War and the Great Depression the house was abandoned. The National Trust took over the estate in 1946 and reopened the church in 1954. Major repairs to the church took in the 1980s when it was found mining subsidence was damaging the structure. This week's question is

Which National Trust park is this church located in?

We were joined last week by Susan's little girl ready for her first day at nursery. In New Zealand Betty spent a night in the clink – fear not it's now a backpackers' hostel! There was a trip to the stunning Lulworth Cove for Sarah. Having fun on two and three wheels were All about a Mummy's pair. Kara captured a watchful robin and a long tree walk. Finally, in India Bushra has been reporting on the beautiful Noida Flower Show.

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 25^th March 2016 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.jibberjabberuk.co.uk/p/sunday-snap.html" title="Sunday Snap"><img src="http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii615/ness_charles/Blog%20page%20tabs/SundaySnap_zpsec0eeddf.jpg" alt="Sunday Snap" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Google+ please tag me and I will retweet, Like, Share or +1 as appropriate. You can find me here:

Twitter: @jibberjabberuk please use the hashtag #SundaySnap

Facebook: Jibberjabberuk

Instagram:jibberjabberuk

Google+: Jibber JabberUK

An InLinkz Link-up