Out & About July 2017

22 / 68

Champing is an ingenious new way
the Churches Conservation Trust has
found to make money, keep some
beautiful medieval churches in good
condition and let everyone have a bit of fun.
It started a few years back and now there are
12 disused churches across the country – even
as far afield as Orkney – which people can
champ in for the night, between March 31 and
September 30 each year.
So champ we did, and St Katherine’s Church in
Chiselhampton became our home for the night.
The pretty little white-walled 18th-century
church is nestled in the countryside just south
of Oxford and we would have exclusive use of
it from 6pm (the doors stay open until then in
case anyone wishes to pop in).
It was a favourite of former poet laureate John
Betjemen apparently and is the star of his
1952 works Verses Turned in Aid of a Public
Subscription towards the Restoration of the
Church of St Katherine, Chiselhampton.
Not wanting to be lounging in our sleeping
bags when someone popped their head around
the church doors, we decided to spend the
day visiting some of the sites in Oxford before
making our way over to our champsite later in
the day.
We used the Redbridge park and ride, which
costs just £2.20 (£2 if you pay cash) to park for
the day, plus return bus fare for two adults of
£5.20 – children were free.
With daughters aged nine and seven, it was
inevitable that we would end up in a few shops,
so had a browse around Waterstones and Zara
before making our way down to the Ashmolean
Museum.
This stunning building houses a cornucopia of
treasures, as well as a gorgeous café selling
homemade soup, lemonade and cakes, among
other treats.
The museum plays host to a range of events
throughout the year and on this occasion, it
being half-term when we visited, there was a
range of arts and crafts activities based around
the River Nile. Perfect for daughter one who
has been studying the Egyptians at school.
A smiling volunteer was also on hand to take
children on short guided tours of the Egyptian
artefacts kept in the museum.
Both my daughters found this fascinating,
particularly seeing the mummies up close.
After a few hours of exploring the historical
collections, we wandered down to the river and
sat in the sun to enjoy lunch.
The resident geese and ducks certainly made
themselves known and we watched them,
along with the rowers and punters, as they
bobbed along the water in front of us.
A visit to Oxford isn’t complete without a
waterside drink in The Head of the River pub,
so we finished the afternoon with a visit there
before jumping on the bus and heading back
to the car, discussing which of the university
colleges the girls now wanted to attend.
That part of the day was easy.
We knew what to expect from Oxford, but
now we were venturing into unknown territory.
We’ve been camping a few times, but had no
idea what delights champing would hold.
I had been surprised by the enthusiasm with
which my husband had greeted the idea when I
first mentioned it, but the children were slightly
more apprehensive and, if I’m honest, I was a
little nervous that it would seem a bit spooky
for them – and me.
We pulled up outside the small Georgian
chapel, which was built in 1762, and parked in
the narrow layby next to the front gate, where
a sandwich board announced to any interested
passers-by that a champ was in progress.
The pretty grounds were well-kept, with rose
bushes lining the gravel path to the church
door.
22
come for a sleepover
a unique opportunity to stay somewhere truly extraordinary
mini champers
go free
all summer
*
*Termsapply.Champingaccommodation isfreeforchildrenaged15andunderbetweenFriday21stJulytoSunday3rdSeptember2017
inclusive.Shouldyouwishtobringmorethan5childrenpleasecontactuson02078410436beforemakingyourbooking
Seemore at
for how you can book your exclusive
Champing™ adventure this summer
at our place