Tag: christianity

The Chaotic Life of Saint Christina the Astonishing: Levitator, Tomb Dweller, Icon

Christina the Astonishing lived her life in what appeared to be constant, unapologetic chaos. Was she chosen by God? Clinically insane? Deeply eccentric? Possessed by a demon? No one knew what to make of her 900 years ago, and there’s certainly no point trying to make sense of her today. Because as her story shows, she wasn’t called Christina the Astonishing for nothing.

Religious Heresy and Public Executions: The History of the Amersham Martyrs Memorial, Buckinghamshire

Tucked within the Chiltern Hills, the town of Amersham is filled with historic buildings, charming pubs, and beautiful footpaths leading deep into the countryside. While towns as old as Amersham are filled with captivating historical tales, some events from long ago inevitably shed light on the more sinister side of humanity, and Amersham’s history is no exception. Nearly 500 years...

Devil Worship and a Ghostly Bride: The Confusing (and Eerie) History of the Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe

Located in the National Trust’s West Wycombe village in Buckinghamshire, the Hellfire Caves are a peculiar landmark alongside an otherwise idyllic high street. Extending a quarter of a mile into West Wycombe Hill, The Hellfire Caves were dug between 1748 and 1752 for two mundane reasons: the relief of local unemployment and to provide chalk for the construction of a...

Seashells and Big Dreams: How a Determined Monk Built One of the World’s Smallest Chapels on Guernsey

The Little Chapel is one of Guernsey’s most popular and beloved visitor attractions. Located in Les Vauxbelets, the non-denominational structure measures a minute 16 x 9 feet and offers a look into the mind of a determined French monk who almost singlehandedly crafted one of the world’s smallest and ornate chapels. History and Construction The current Little Chapel at Les...