Long Street Methodist Church and Schools is a delightful Arts and Crafts grouping of buildings designed in 1899/1901 by Edgar Wood. 

It is in my home town and, as a child, when I walked to school opposite, I was always intrigued by the way the courtyard gardens seemed to beckon me in. This grouping of buildings is a lesson on how to turn a group of buildings into a place.

Inside the church is a font with a sculpture of a mother and child by Arts and Crafts artist, Stirling Lee.

It's a striking sculpture that is full of humanity. It is so small in scale to the great nave it is situated in, but powerful beyond its size in its impact. I've been drawn to it over and over again. There is an overwhelming need to touch it and draw on its charisma.

This list entry is dedicated to the memory of David Morris. It was he who took the photograph of me photographing the mother and child sculpture.

The sculpture by Stirling Lee was a favourite of ours and whilst he took my photograph, David told me that the sculpture represented the best of humanity.

David Morris worked tirelessly to help save places like Long Street Methodist Church which, under his stewardship was granted a grade II* listing.

For me he helped make incoherent places and buildings coherent again - straightening out their narratives - until others started to understand and form invaluable connections with place, that eventually helped save them.

---

Connect with me on: Bluesky / Instagram / Facebook / X / Tumblr / Flickr / Vimeo / Pixelfed / Pinterest