Churches & Castles is one of  London IVC’s longest running groups, having been in existence for over 50 years, its exact origins are lost in the mists of time. Our events involve visits to historic houses and places of interest. They are usually  reached by public transport. We have visited such places  to Lewes, Fulham Palace and Bletchley Park.

Important anniversaries in recent years were celebrated with visits to Down House the home of Charles Darwin (200th anniversary of his birth), the Handel House Museum (250th anniversary of his death) and two exhibitions at the British Library and the Whitgift Centre in Croydon celebrating the 500th anniversay of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne.

Visits are also arranged to places that have been the subject of extensive work such as the Whitechapel Art Gallery and the new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries at the V&A. This year we plan to visit the new Experience Greenwich exhibition at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich and in the autumn, Strawberry Hill when it re-opens to the public.

A very important part of each event are the refreshment stops when we chat over lunch and /or tea which gives an ideal opportunity for socialising and making friends. I hope this brief introduction to the Churches and Castles group has wetted your appetite and you will join us on some of our visits. I look forward to meeting you.


Helen Gentry