ORLANDO ESSAYS Episode No. 6: Church Questing with Luke Edward Hall

Our Creative Director Luke Edward Hall has long been beguiled by the architecture and atmosphere of old churches, the smell of their old stone and books, not to mention the plethora of beautiful handcrafted objects and artworks that can be found within their walls, from medieval wall paintings to Arts and Crafts stained glass.

Churches aren’t museums, however. With post offices, shops and even pubs closing, churches are often the only community building left in many parts of the country. Inspired by several books read over the Christmas holidays including Peter Ross’s Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church, Luke set himself a challenge in early January: to explore at least one new church local to him in the Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire countryside every week.

Luke has been criss-crossing counties most Saturdays since, stopping off here and there to stare up at spires and stained glass, to crouch down over brasses set into ancient floors, and to clamber up rickety bell towers.

He began posting photographs on Instagram (see: #churchquestingwithluke), along with interesting titbits to do with the history, folklore and architecture of the churches he visited. These buildings are our heritage, and they need our help.

Church buildings in the United Kingdom rely on local residents, volunteers and charities to raise money for repairs. The UK is almost unique in Europe in that local people are responsible for churches, rather than the state or denominations.

Cut to March: Luke was contacted by National Churches Trust, a charity that raises money to help safeguard the UK’s church buildings, now the country’s biggest heritage challenge.

National Churches Trust relies on funding from donations and membership. An idea was hatched between Luke and the charity to help raise awareness of the National Churches Trust's work in helping to keep churches open so that they can remain at the heart of their communities.

This spring, we’re pleased to present Chateau Orlando x National Churches Trust. The Chateau Orlando x National Churches Trust collection comprises a limited edition t-shirt and tote bag. Both come with a set of five stickers.

Luke was inspired by colourful 1990s gift shop souvenirs and ridiculous bumper stickers for the design of these pieces. The collaboration is a call to arms: we must save our precious heritage, and have fun whilst doing so.

Chateau Orlando will donate €10 from the sale of every t-shirt and tote bag to National Churches Trust. We have made limited quantities of these pieces: when they’re gone, they’re gone.