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Kittybriton
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« Reply #255 on: 16:09:00, 08-06-2008 » |
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In the absence of Don Basilio I fear I may be talking to myself (but then these old Churches are a passion of mine and I claim the old Garway Rite of Sanctuary!!) I too, continue to read, avidly! Not sure about the right of sanctuary though. I thought it was abolished (at least as far as the law is concerned) in previous centuries? |
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Click me -> About meor me -> my handmade storeNo, I'm not a complete idiot. I'm only a halfwit. In fact I'm actually a catfish. |
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Antheil
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« Reply #256 on: 16:19:05, 08-06-2008 » |
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In the absence of Don Basilio I fear I may be talking to myself (but then these old Churches are a passion of mine and I claim the old Garway Rite of Sanctuary!!) I too, continue to read, avidly! Not sure about the right of sanctuary though. I thought it was abolished (at least as far as the law is concerned) in previous centuries? Kitty, in 1536, the last Prior of Monmouth, Richard Talybush fled to the sanctuary of Garway, only to find that the King's men had arrived before him and already seized all the preceptory's rights and possessions and he was doomed! However, we Welsh can bend the rules I think! Marty, not only do I have another Welsh 14th century rood and loft hidden up me cassock (most uncomfortable I must say) I also have some Heywood Sumner in a remote Welsh Church  |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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Kittybriton
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« Reply #257 on: 17:00:45, 08-06-2008 » |
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I've never really been clear about where the church draws the lines concerning state interference, esp. in the UK.
I'm all in favour of the Welsh bending the rules, particularly if the rules were made in Whitehall!
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Click me -> About meor me -> my handmade storeNo, I'm not a complete idiot. I'm only a halfwit. In fact I'm actually a catfish. |
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Antheil
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« Reply #258 on: 18:01:25, 08-06-2008 » |
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One Church dear to my heart. St Mary's Llanfair Kilgeddin was rebuilt in 1875-6 by the architect John Dando Sedding who reused some of the original fabric and introduced a rich decorative scraffito scheme. However, after the introduction of the dual carriageway it was declared redunant. (Like, no-one could get to it!) In 1885 the Vicar’s wife, Rosamund Lindsay died. Her husband - who had instigated the rebuilding of the church ten years earlier - decided to decorate the interior in her memory. The artist chosen, Heywood Sumner, (the famous Arts and Crafts Artist). At Llanfair Kilgeddin he introduced sgraffito panels. True to medieval tradition, Sumner included local features in his designs - for example in ‘O Ye Mountains and Hills’ on the north wall of the nave the nearby River Usk, the Sugar Loaf and Llanvihangel Gobion church tower are all included. The sixteen sgraffito panels present a remarkably complete example of this style of work The chancel roof and much of the window tracery are medieval, whilst the 15th century chancel screen and Norman font are survivors from the earlier building. The north chancel window contains fragments of medieval glass whilst some monuments and floor slabs of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were also incorporated into the rebuilding. In the churchyard is a late medieval cross to which Sedding added a new top. Yet more work is in progress, become a Friend of Friendless Churches - not only in Wales of course and only £24 a year. You know it makes sense, to think this was almost demolished!      |
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« Last Edit: 18:16:20, 08-06-2008 by Antheil the Termite Lover »
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #259 on: 10:59:43, 09-06-2008 » |
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Hi, everyone, I'm here. In the Thomas Abel Memorial Reference Library in Exeter Road, now with seven computer stations, on one of which I am typing, gratis and for nothing courtesty of Devon County Council.
Redunndant churches are sad. I can remember going into one which I had previously visited when in use and was struck that the life had gone out of it. At first I was pleased with some supernatural explanation, but it was probably just all those little signs of life, (hymn books, cleaning materials and so forth that just weren't there.)
Unlike castles and country houses, churches are usually in use, and it gives them a human feeling, I think. I'm not that good at always saying a prayer when visiting churches. I must remember to do so when I visit redundant ones.
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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Antheil
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« Reply #260 on: 19:26:30, 09-06-2008 » |
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I too think redundant Churches are sad, but it's a fact of life (and always has been I guess that some Churches lose their congregations whether to The Black Death or economic factors.) Throughout time villages have been deserted, (case in point is Holme Lacey, the Scudamores again! Village up-sticks and relocates - due to being fed up with constant flooding from the Wye - leaving Church totally alone - now in the care of The Churches Conservation Society. It was flooded again last year and is being allowed to dry out naturally but still open)
Ageing populations and a decrease in Church going, I suspect in future (certainly in rural environments) will result in more unloved Churches, plus incomers such as Orlando and Miranda complaining that the bells are too noisy and should be banned (along with the resident cockerel of course). Maybe not such a problem in urban environments, are City Churches thriving? Certainly the magnificent Non-Conformist Chapels of Wales are suffering badly. (Of which more later)
Admittedly, if a Church is redundant and is of no architectural merit or historical significance then perhaps it should be allowed to decay into a ruin or be converted to a house but I think the lovely little Church at Llanfair Kilgeddin with its murals would have been such a loss although now you can class it as a museum rather than a Church.
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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Antheil
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« Reply #261 on: 18:35:40, 10-06-2008 » |
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Continuing the tour (do I have a future as a tour guide?) and staying in the same area of the Herefordshire/Welsh borders, we have the Church of St. Bartholomew, Much Marcle, which is 14th and 14th century with one of the oldest yew trees in the county at approx. 1500 years old with a seat built inside (not sure why the yew came out so big)   St. Bart's is famous for it's tombs and effigies. I love effigies, tombs and memorials and the most beautiful one I have ever seen is of Blanche Mortimer, daughter of Roger Mortimer (he killed Edward II btw). The Motimers were very powerful Marcher Lords (Edward IV came from this line) and he is featured in 5 of Shakespeare's plays. The carving and tomb date c. 1365 and is the most simple, flowing and warm carving. The folds of her wimple and her skirt are wonderful. Unfortunately her dog that she was resting her feet on has lost his head. Look at the detail of her tightly buttoned sleeves and see how she is clutching her rosary beads. She was the wife of Peter de Grandison and died aged 31. His tomb is in Hereford Cathedral.   Other effigies seem stiff, cold and stereotyped in comparison, this is the 16th century tomb of John of Kyrle (The Man of Ross) and his wife Sybille Scudamore (yes, they got everywhere around here!). Again the intricacy of the carving of this is wonderful but it does not have the warmth of Blanche. Simon Jenkins calls her The Sleeping Beauty.   And lastly a wooden effigy of Walter de Helyon c. 1357 carved from one solid piece of oak (only one of two wooden effigies in Herefordshire) If anyone is in the area Hellens House in the village is a great place to visit. And for good measure another one of Blanche, see how her robe falls across the tomb by her feet by her headless dog?   |
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« Last Edit: 18:39:33, 10-06-2008 by Antheil the Termite Lover »
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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martle
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« Reply #262 on: 18:59:18, 10-06-2008 » |
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Much Marcle
Wha...? Hello? Oh. Sorry. As you were.  |
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Green. Always green.
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Antheil
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« Reply #263 on: 19:12:44, 10-06-2008 » |
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Much Marcle
Wha...? Hello? Oh. Sorry. As you were. Marty, Marty, Marty, Thrice Blessed, Holy Keeper of the Waitrose Pizza and over priced salad, do you have an identity crisis? The other day you thought you were Myrtle ... (to which notion the mind boggled!) Now you think you are a Marcle?  |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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martle
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« Reply #264 on: 19:14:55, 10-06-2008 » |
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It's just my bad hearing, Anty. |
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Green. Always green.
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richard barrett
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« Reply #265 on: 19:23:03, 10-06-2008 » |
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It's just my bad hearing We are all of us merely mortle. |
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strinasacchi
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« Reply #266 on: 19:51:05, 10-06-2008 » |
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Were those effigies carved from, ahem, marble?
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Antheil
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« Reply #267 on: 19:59:17, 10-06-2008 » |
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Were those effigies carved from, ahem, marble?
Indeed marble, not martle! Oh No! Not another Crisis of Identity for the Green One! Will it ever stop? |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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martle
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« Reply #268 on: 20:05:52, 10-06-2008 » |
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Wha...? Hello? Uh? Oh, wait... no, I mean, who? Mortle? Where is she? Oh wait, you mean... No, wait... You're just trying to confuse me now.  |
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Green. Always green.
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Freud-Lacan
Gender: 
Posts: 13
Insanity isn't a useful concept.
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« Reply #269 on: 20:39:20, 10-06-2008 » |
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Mary, yes you're right there was a great sense of resurrection with the 'new' Coventry cathedral and it does contain some marvellous works of art. I too can remember visiting from school in about 1962 and being overwhelmed by it. Our new cathedrals are to money  |
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Freud-Lacan
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