St Mary's Church at Painswick dates back to around 1377. The nave and the tower were constructed in 1480 and further, the 53m high spire was added in 1632. The spire was later on reconstructed after being destroyed by lightning in 1883.
About this building
The church is known for its calm atmosphere. The local folklore of Painswick suggests that there are always 99 yews in the churchyard and the church stands at the centre of it. The altar or chest tombs present in the church stand out in the entire country. The church walls have stories to tell, one being that of the church being occupied by both sides during the English Civil War. The shot and fire damage was preserved on the external walls as evidence.
Gloucester Cathedral was built from the 11th century on the foundations of a 7th century abbey dedicated to Saint Peter. The current late Gothic structure is largely the result of developments undertaken in the 14th century by the Norman Benedictine abbot Serlo and his successors who decorated the transept and choir. The cathedral houses the tomb of King Edward II.
The Synagogue in Cheltenham is an Ashkenazi synagogue completed in 1837-39 by architect W.H. Knight. It was rebuilt in the 1950s. This brick synagogue in the Regency and Georgian style still serves as a synagogue.