I haven't really had much to blog about recently. We went to a Concert of Festive Music and Carols at Middleton Hall and to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Core Theatre, Solihull, but I didn't take a camera to either event. Yesterday, however, D and I went to a Christmas Tree Festival and I did take a camera along.
Coleshill is a market town in North Warwickshire and the church of St Peter and St Paul is built on the highest point of the town and the spire can be seen for many miles from the surrounding countryside. The oldest part of the present church may date from 1380 but there is documentary evidence of a place of Christian worship on the site in 1280. There may well have been a a minister church from 799 which could have been built on a site of pre-Christian religious significance.
Some of you may remember that last year we went to St Leonard's Church in Marston Green to see a 28 foot woollen Christmas Tree decorated with thousands of toys and 7000 knitted leaves and it was a surprise to see it here at Coleshill Parish Church. So much work must have gone into creating the tree and apparently it takes days to put together. Next year I think it is going to put in an appearance at another local church at Castle Bromwich.
Elsewhere in the church there were around 30 decorated real Christmas Trees.
Timothy came too and here he is posing in front of my favourite tree.
The Norman font is believed to date from the mid to late 12th century. It is carved from Caen stone with an arcade of arched sections around the sides.
The central panel depicts the Crucifixion with Christ and on one side his mother Mary and on the other St John the Evangelist who is wiping a tear from his eye. Other figures may include St Peter, St Paul and St Mary of Magdalene together with a clerical figure. It is reputed that the font was plastered over during the Civil War of 1642-51 to hide the precious stones that then surrounded the Crucifixion scene. The images on the font were re-discovered in 1859 by the Reverend J D Wingfield-Digby.
I've done a detailed post on this church in the past so just a few other images from around the church.
Monument to John Digby (died 1558) and his wife Anne. When John died he left his eldest son a standing cup of silver and gilt, a gilt spoon, a signet ring, a gold chain, a basin and ewer, £100, all his armour and weapons and the majority of his estate although he also provided for his younger children.
Monument to Reginald Digby, son of Simon and father of John mentioned above. Reginald died in 1548 and in his will left 20 shillings to the "poore men's" coffer of the church.
Stained glass in the Chancel is 19th century.
Time for cake - mine was Ginger Cake and very tasty it was too.
Timothy loved the tree with the knitted toys - it was hard persuading him to leave!
War Memorial
All the photos were taken with my new camera a Panasonic Lumix FZ330 (a joint Birthday and Christmas Present from B, D and E). Apart from a few snow pictures last weekend it was the first time I had really used it and so far I am really pleased with it - it performs much better in low light than my Olympus dslr and, being a bridge camera has a super zoom and a macro facility all in one lens. So I think I am going to have a lot of fun experimenting with it.
If you would like to see the previous post on St Peter and St Paul please see here
10 comments:
I smiled at your comment that your photos were on your joint Birthday/Christmas present. My recent photographs are on my new Panasonic Lumix camera which was a Birthday and Christmas present from Mr C (after my previous (Panasonic) camera broke whilst on location in Ravello).
The Christmas tree festival sounds fun. Some of the trees displayed inspire me more than others :-)
What a delightful exhibition. A lot of thought and work has gone in making each of those themed trees. Hard to find a favourite but did like the 'All Creatures Great and Small' and the paper doily choir.
The new camera, and operator, are working well. Having a decent zoom, macro and video facilities in one camera is so useful.
CherryPie - Thank you. I really do like the versatility of bridge cameras. I started to use a Canon with my son a few years ago (my half was again a short birthday and Christmas present!!) and quickly realised how good they are.
Midmarsh John - Thank you - as you say so much work and thought goes into the individual trees. So pleased you enjoyed them :)
The bridge cameras are so versatile - with my Olympus dslr I mainly use the 14-42 lens which limits what you can take and if I do put on either telephoto or macro lens again you are limited and there is no way I am carrying a bag of lens's around with me!! Quality of bridge cameras is good too :) I will still use the Olympus for some things although it does need to go away for repair first.
You've taken some lovely photos with your new camera, what a great present to receive. All the trees look wonderful and I remember the knitted one from last year, no wonder Timothy enjoyed it so much, such a lot of work has gone into each one of the trees especially the woolly one and it is good that it will have several venues. The cake looks delicious:)
I brought the concept of a Festival of Christmas Trees to my own village, after living in America. It is a huge amount of work to organise, but so rewarding. Although I have since stood down, the event continues in our village hall. Sadly, we have a lot of artificial trees now, but also many exciting conceptual trees too. I think your real trees do look so much better, and it is all very nicely turned out. The knitted tree is totally amazing. What can you say? Amazing!
Glad Timothy got an outing and some delicious looking ginger cake too!
Rosie - Thanks so much. It was a sort of "special birthday" - the dreaded 65! Although OH didn't really agree with that point! So far am very pleased with the camera :) Yes I agree so much work must go into creating the trees and organising the events. Will try and go and see the knitted tree again next year :)
Deborah Rustic Pumpkin - Thank you and well done about bringing the Christmas Tree Festival to your village. As you say so much hard work but I am so pleased it continues. Yes, the real trees do look and smell lovely and the knitted tree is just a wonder to behold! Must admit we have an artificial tree here at home but I do have a real tree in a tub which we bring in from the garden each year and put in the porch.
pleased you like the camera! and quacks & co wave at Timothy
Pete Duxon -Thanks Pete and special thanks for your advice, help and info when quizzed on cameras - it was much appreciated :) Timothy waves back to Quacks and Co and wishes them a Merry Christmas :)
Lovely post, so much effort has gone into the trees! :)
Pam - Thank you. The trees were a delight to see :)
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