See Churches Through a Stonemason’s Eyes
A Special Evening with Andrew Ziminski

Come and see churches through the eyes, and hands, of a master stonemason in a talk that beautifully complements this year’s Rural Strides theme, Legacy of Belief.

• Wednesday 4th March
• Doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start (with option of earlier church tour with Rev Will Hughes)
• St Peter’s Church, Petersfield
• Tickets: £5 via Rural Strides website

Most of us step into a church and admire the beauty, but few of us truly see it. Stonemasons do. Working inches from extraordinary art and architecture every day, they notice the details the rest of us pass by and understand how buildings are put together, breathe, age, crack, settle and survive. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Andrew Ziminski to Petersfield for a special talk on his work and his acclaimed book Church Going.

Andrew is one of the most respected stonemasons in the country. His hands have worked on Salisbury Cathedral, St Paul’s, the Roman Baths in Bath, and even prehistoric monuments like West Kennet Long Barrow near Avebury. For decades he has read Britain’s greatest sacred and historic spaces in stone.

His book, Church Going, has been called the “church-crawler’s bible” – and for good reason. Published last October, it was named Book of the Year by The Times, Telegraph and BBC History Magazine. It’s thoughtful and packed with stories you won’t find in guidebooks.

This evening isn’t just about masonry. It’s about why churches matter, how they are built, how they age and how they’re saved. Whether you love history, architecture, walking or simply beautiful places, this talk will deepen your appreciation of churches as extraordinary heritage assets – and why they need our support.

All profits to support church conservation, with funds being split between St Peter’s and Hardham in West Sussex, whose remarkable frescoes are threatened by rising moisture levels. Even if you can’t attend, please consider donating via the link on the event page.

Paid bar and One Tree Book selling copies of Church Going on the night.