High Density History: A Visit to Chester

​I am on a train right now on the way to Cambridge University to present a paper at the International Conference of Baptist Studies. My paper is entitled “Empire Day and Patriotic Education for Canadian Baptist Children, 1899-1957.” 
 
However, the last few days I made good use of time to travel to Chester (just southwest of Liverpool) to explore some Roman ruins, medieval churches, English Civil War era churches, the location of a sermon by John Wesley, and Victorian architecture. The density of these historical sites is amazing – all within a five-minute walk. In other words, a historian’s paradise. 
 
Here are some pictures (click on pictures to enlarge).

Roman ruins of wall and a colosseum.

The Chester Cathedral was impressive. Note in the bottom two pictures that the church had a court within its walls - an example of the medieval fusion of church and state functions.

Famous English Civil War battle occurred in Chester and the churches (and many other buildings) were damaged (see commentary in picture).

St. John's had a faint bit of painted medieval art still on the wall. In a society that was majority illiterate the church was the Bible for people - they learned the faith by looking at the artistic portrayals of Bible events.

Famous Anglican priest (and founder of Methodism) John Wesley preached here! The plaque is on the side wall of that church just alongside the sidewalk.

This clock is the second most photographed clock in England (Big Ben in London is the first). It is a commemorative clock for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.