Church Micro 80...Cooling Multi-cache

St James' Church in the isolated community of Cooling is well known for its association with Charles Dickens, who lived nearby in Higham, and who is thought to have set the opening to Great Expectations in its churchyard, complete with the row of children's tombstones now inevitably referred to as Pip's graves.

I think its a beautiful place and somewhere I like to visit again and again!

St James' Church dates from the late 13th century.  No evidence of an earlier building survives.  It seems likely that the de Cobham family, who held the manor from 1241, were instrumental in its construction.  The nave, chancel and the lower part of the tower were part of the initial building phase stretching into the 14th century.  The tower was completed to the height at which it now stands by about 1400.

The small stone lean-to structure on the south wall is the 19th century vestry.  The interior walls of the vestry are covered from floor to ceiling in the most unusual, yet appropriate form of decoration; they are lined with hundreds of cockle shells, mounted here in the 19th century.  This shell was worn as an emblem by pilgrims to one of the most renowned holy sites in Western Europe, the shrine at Santiago de Compostela of St James - the patron saint of Cooling church.

Finding the cache:-

Question 1: At the right hand gate at the co-ords given there is a notice board which welcomes you to the church - How many languages welcome you apart from English? AB

Question 2: Down to the left of the notice board is a sign with 4 words on it -

How many letters in first, second and last words? CDE

Question 3: Walk towards the church to next co-ords to find "Pips Graves" and answer the following -

How many lozenge shaped childrens graves are there? GH

Now do the following simple sum to work out the co-ords & sign the log -

B,(E+B). (B+C-A) H (D-E-B)

CA. (D+H-B) (B+E) (C+H+A)

It is a short walk to GZ - but can be done as a cache and dash also.

Happy Caching !

Parking - there is parking outside the church be careful on the sharp bend when walking round to the church entrance.

There are some lovely walks and caching series nearby should you want to make a day of it!