I didn't manage to visit as many churches as I would have liked during the holiday but the Parish Church of St John the Baptist was very close to the cottage so I made a couple of visits to look round the churchyard (on that occasion the church was shut) and then another visit to see the interior of the church although I did visit it a few years ago when we stayed in the same cottage.
It is good to see some areas of the churchyard haven't been mown.
Edward Edwards monument
Edward Edwards co-founded public libraries. He is buried in the churchyard
The medieval market cross stands on what was originally the village green. Legal documents would have been signed and witnessed here. The cross at the top was added in 1874 and was designed by Joseph Clarke.
I wonder if the metal contraption around this grave was used to deter grave robbers?
I loved this stone face I found on the east wall of the church.
Unfortunately I only discovered after I returned home that the people killed in the lighthouse in the bombing raid during World War 2 were buried in the churchyard otherwise I would have looked for their graves.
The church is Norman but there was probably a place of worship at this location for much longer as the church was given to the Benedictine Abbey of Lire, Normandy, in 1070.
The church door is very old and studded with handmade nails.
Stained Glass
The next 3 windows are Victorian
Angel Gabriel who visited Zecharia to tell him his prayers for a son would be answered.
Zecharia's wife Elizabeth who will give birth and
Zechariah with a thurible symbolising his priesthood.
The Arnold Memorial window with Coats of Arms is dedicated to Henrietta Jane Arnold who was widowed and the left hand panel shows the window of Nain whose son died and was resurrected by Jesus. The right hand panel shows Jesus surrounded by children.
The left panel shows Christ resurrected and on the right he is blessing his disciples - unusually he is using his left hand for the blessing.
This window links the story of John the Baptist with the Goodman Kirkpatricks, local bankers and landowners who were benefactors of the church.
The bottom right hand pane contains the dedication to Richard Temple Gordon Kirkpatrick and the top panels show the Angel Gabriel visiting Zechariah in a temple and his wife Elizabeth telling Mary that she is pregnant. The centre panels show St John the Baptist with his parents and then as an adult wearing purple baptising Jesus. Bottom left shows Jesus with his disciples and St John the Baptist. The remaining panel with the dedication also shows St John the Baptist criticising King Herod and his wife Herodias over their incestuous marriage.
East Window
The font from around 1070 is the oldest item in the church and possibly pre-dates it. The bowl is hewn from solid stone and there is a cable pattern around the rim. The cover was added in 1957.
George Arnold Memorial
The White Lion - a hundred yards or so from the cottage where we had several meals.
More photos of Ye Olde Cottage
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera
The final holiday post will include a visit to Yarmouth Castle
Reference - Two leaflets on St John the Baptist church
6 comments:
Unmown, and like our verges, very brown!
Simon Douglas Thompson - Thanks Simon - grass everywhere looks dead and brown :(
How wonderfully tranquil it all looks. I like the headstones with carved flowers on them which echo the wildflowers growing in the unmown areas. Inside the carved piece with the handle is pretty too with its fish and flowers. Your cottage looks lovely:)
Rosie - Thanks so much. I do find churches and churchyards peaceful and tranquil even though I am not religious. I liked the carved flowers on the gravestones too :) The cottage is so quaint and the garden delightful. I could move in there tomorrow! :)
Very interesting as always Caroline - look up Mortsafe for material relating to anti-resurrectionist grave cages, might give you an insight into what you found.
Regards, and thanks for the comment again (just seen it LOL)
Kevin and Seri
Anonymous i.e. Kevin and Seri - Thanks so much. Just checked and you are right - thanks again. Best wishes to you both and please don't worry about being late publishing my comment :) Was worried for a bit when i saw the anonymous - having far too many spam comments getting through at the moment - Blogger doesn't seem to stop them like it used too. So thanks for putting your names :)
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