Early start with an assembly in the delightful Ripley Primary School. And then on to a wander around Fountains Abbey, including St Mary’s Studley. Pevsner describes this as one of the finest Victorian churches in England, and “a Victorian shrine, a dream of Early English glory”.

In terms of history, Frederick Vyner had been murdered by Greek bandits in 1870 in an event known as the Dilessi massacre. A significant ransom had been demanded, and in part collected, before his death. His mother, Lady Mary Vyner, and his sister, Lady Ripon, used the unspent ransom to build this church and the Church of Christ the Consoler, Skelton, in his memory. 

Extras of Fountains and Studley.