There were so many names, so many lives and so many sons and daughters. And to reflect our humanity, there was so much space, for those still living, those perhaps not yet born, who in the future will give their lives in service of our country.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
The National Arboretum 11-11-11
A holy place that is not included in the book! At 4pm, we arrived at the National Arboretum, it was cold, grey and damp. There were TV crews reporting to the world, from our memorial to those who have lost their lives, since the end of world war 2.
There were so many names, so many lives and so many sons and daughters. And to reflect our humanity, there was so much space, for those still living, those perhaps not yet born, who in the future will give their lives in service of our country.
This was a truly holy, place, a place where time stops, just for a moment, and those who are remembered bring us closer to God.
There were so many names, so many lives and so many sons and daughters. And to reflect our humanity, there was so much space, for those still living, those perhaps not yet born, who in the future will give their lives in service of our country.
Lichfield Cathedral
On 11th November I visited Lichfield Cathedral. WOW. It is a beautiful place.
It was a cold grey day, yet the cathedral was filled with light. The glass surrounding the high altar, had been removed for restoration and had been replaced with clear plain glass. This bathed the cathedral in light, and as you gazed up the aisle, you could see the trees beyond, holding onto their last few leaves as winter takes it's hold.
This amazing medeival angel was found when excavations were undertaken for the installation of the Nave altar platform. It was just amazing. Perhaps the most holy part of the cathedral for me, was St Chad's chapel, up in the roof of the cathedral, a haven of peace and of quiet, where one could imagine spending many hours in contemplation.
Monday, 26 September 2011
Thwarted on all fronts
Being in Tenby should have provided the perfect opportunity to visit a number of the Holy Places detailed in the book.
I was thwarted on all fronts.
We tried to visit Caldey Island each day however each day there was another reason why the boat was not running. These included....Storms forecast (the sea was like a mill pond)... the Surf is good...Wash on the beach...we turned out every day and every day there was a new reason why we could not sail.
I tried to visit the church in the nearby village, but it was closed. I did however have an interesting conversation with a 2 year old about what gravestones were and why we should not climb on them (even though as a child I know that is what I did).
I was thwarted on all fronts.
We tried to visit Caldey Island each day however each day there was another reason why the boat was not running. These included....Storms forecast (the sea was like a mill pond)... the Surf is good...Wash on the beach...we turned out every day and every day there was a new reason why we could not sail.
I tried to visit the church in the nearby village, but it was closed. I did however have an interesting conversation with a 2 year old about what gravestones were and why we should not climb on them (even though as a child I know that is what I did).
Sunday, 28 August 2011
A day of much journeying
Today I have journeyed to three of the holy places detailed in the book. My companion on the road was Sarah and we have had a lovely afternoon. To sustain yourself on a journey of spiritual norishment one must not forget the phsyical norishment required, so our journey began with Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding at Willington garden centre!
TURVEY
The church was east to find and the guide book at the church was really interesting and helpful in understanding the church. The church family clearly embraced the young and the old and all those inbetween. The key draw to this church, and the reason for it's entry into the book was the Medieval Wall Painting of the Crucifixion. The fresco was indeed stunning. It was such a pity that is seems to have deteriorated since it was first uncovered in the Victorian Era.
We travelled from Turvey a few miles down the road to Stevington, to the church of St Mary the Virgin.
The church itself was locked, but we found the holy well on the perimeter of the church wall.
I had a desire to sit and dangle my feet in the water but I was ill prepared. The ground around the well was wet and boggy and the praticalites of actually sitting on the edge were too many to negotiate. I did try to dip a toe down into the water and thank goodness Sarah was with me, or else I could still be there now having dicovered that my arms and indeed my legs were not as long as I had thought!
The third visit of the day was to Eltisley to the church of St Pandionia and St John the Baptist. The church was locked and we could not find the destroyed holy well. However we did glimse the pond in the neighbouring property which is thought to locate the location of the former holy well.
Having started with food, we thought that perhaps we should end with food, so we went to Waresley Park for wonderful coffee/hot chocolate and cake.
A wonderful afternoon. It has however let me to consider what makes a place holy... and on this I shall reflect further.
TURVEY
 |
| All Saint's Church |
 |
| Turvey's Masterpiece |
 |
| St. Mary The Virgin and Holy Well |
 |
| The Holy Well |
I had a desire to sit and dangle my feet in the water but I was ill prepared. The ground around the well was wet and boggy and the praticalites of actually sitting on the edge were too many to negotiate. I did try to dip a toe down into the water and thank goodness Sarah was with me, or else I could still be there now having dicovered that my arms and indeed my legs were not as long as I had thought!
The third visit of the day was to Eltisley to the church of St Pandionia and St John the Baptist. The church was locked and we could not find the destroyed holy well. However we did glimse the pond in the neighbouring property which is thought to locate the location of the former holy well.
 |
| St Pandionia & St John the Baptist |
 |
| The pond which was perhaps once a well |
Having started with food, we thought that perhaps we should end with food, so we went to Waresley Park for wonderful coffee/hot chocolate and cake.
A wonderful afternoon. It has however let me to consider what makes a place holy... and on this I shall reflect further.
Monday, 15 August 2011
The Secret to...
The secret to blogging is to rememeber to blog! and the secret to a good pilgramage is checking the weather forecast and the parish website first!
Our expedition to the well was cancelled - it was raining so much is was silly to try and walk in the woods!
We tried to go to another church in Newport, but it was locked!
Oh well, better luck next time!
Our expedition to the well was cancelled - it was raining so much is was silly to try and walk in the woods!
We tried to go to another church in Newport, but it was locked!
Oh well, better luck next time!
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Every Journey starts with a plan.....
Tomorrow I am going on an Expedition with Mother. We are heading north to forest fibres in Mitcheldean, I am hoping to buy a loom! Next door to Mitcheldean is Plump Hill/Cinderford and St Anthony's Well.
Once we have been there, we are going to potter home through Monmouthshire and we may well visit a few more Holy Places.
Once we have been there, we are going to potter home through Monmouthshire and we may well visit a few more Holy Places.
Monday, 8 August 2011
The Journey - By Mary Oliver
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.
More poems by Mary Oliver can be found here
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