Princethorpe College

About this place

Princethorpe College is a school whose church and gardens doubled as St Agnes convent in The Bride of Christ, Series 1, Episode 6. Father Brown fans may remember the convent as a new setting for the parish priest and as Sister Boniface’s first appearance in the series. The screen location adds a distinctive religious community to the episode, with gardens and chapel spaces that contrast with the familiar parish church at Blockley.

The school’s buildings and gardens form part of the wider Warwickshire landscape. The episode connects to the later Sister Boniface Mysteries, giving its convent setting a longer life in the fictional world. Nearby towns and countryside offer public places to visit depending on your route.

Late spring and summer give gardens their fullest colour, while the story’s convent scenes can be enjoyed at any time by revisiting the episode. The most satisfying connection is the character one: Lorna Watson’s Sister Boniface begins her screen life here before leading her own series. For a broader Father Brown day, Blockley and Sudeley Castle provide other screen settings to explore.

Princethorpe’s role is best appreciated through the programme and its place in the story’s wider world. Sister Boniface’s later spin-off gives this episode a longer afterlife, and revisiting her introduction makes the setting part of a wider character story. The character’s later stories add a second reason to remember this setting, making a return to the episode an enjoyable link between the two series.

Its connection with Sister Boniface also makes this a useful point in the character’s story for viewers following both programmes.

Take your time, check each venue’s current visitor details before setting out, and enjoy the real places with care.