Church Micro 5829 ...Cople
This cache has been placed to bring you to All Saints Church, Cople.
This cache is now a sample tube (I think), clad in camo tape. The cache only contains a log - you are a geocacher, you should have a writing implement! Please note that the final cache is located outside the churchyard and is NOT accessible from inside the churchyard. Please park sensibly and safely in the village. Recommended parking is outside the church on Willington Road. I suggest that you leave you car there and walk to the final GZ.
All Saints church dominates the centre of the village and is, arguably, one of the most beautiful churches in Bedfordshire. The Church was originally built soon after 1087 by the De Beauchamp family and later became part of Chicksands Priory. It was rebuilt in the 15th century by the families who owned the local manors. In the first part of the 16th century parts of the church were extended. Only the top of the impressive and original ironstone tower is modern. The Church boasts a communion plate from around 1561, a 17th century sundial, a stain glass window installed in 1886 and six bells varying in date from the 14th century to early 20th century.
During the English Civil War Cople was in the Parliamentary camp because Sir Samuel Luke of Wood End was an important Parliamentary general. The Vicar at that time, John Gwinn, was a strong Royalist and was arrested on trumped up charges of "debauched, lewd and contentious disposition."; He was fined 100 pounds and committed to Newgate Prison, London. Later he was sent to Virginia, USA where he established the Cople parish.
Many visitors come to the Church to see the brasses all of which commemorate people who were members of the families who owned the manors in the parish and who built or rebuilt the church. The brasses date from 1400 to 1563.
In the front garden of the private house next to the church can be seen the Bier House. This is a small building from the late 19th century and was used to store the bier on which the coffins were wheeled into the church for funerals.
Please take time to explore the peace and tranquility of the churchyard. Please be respectful in the church and its grounds. When I visited the church to place the micro, I discovered some interesting features. To find the location of the final cache, you will need to visit the published coordinates and discover the same features.
Which wall is the 17th century sundial on? If North then A=1, if East then A=2, is South then A=3, if West then A=4.
The top left number on the sundial is B.
In the north-west corner, is a north-west facing door. It has C keyholes (usable or otherwise).
A few feet up to the left of the doorway is a hole in the wall. It is filled with what appears to be a wooden board with D holes in it. (Don't stand too close or you won't see the bottom hole).
The final cache can be found at North 52° 07.C(D-1)(D-A-C) West 000° 23.(8-B)CA
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
To view the church micro stats page, please click here
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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Congratulations to gogadget on being First To Find.