On Sunday 4th June the weather was lovely and still not too hot. B and E were happy to stay at the caravan so I went to look round two local churchyards with D.
We've often passed St Mary's at Hope Under Dinmore but this was the first time I had had a look round. Its located on the slope of Dinmore Hill. Most of the 19th century church building is by F R Kempson in a Geometric Gothic Style. A few remnants of the original medieval church remain. The West Tower was built by T Colley in 1813.
There were House Martins nesting in this porch. It was delightful to watch them coming and going with food.
The churchyard was a bit too "manicured" for my liking. You'll see in the next post how beautiful a "Living Churchyard" can look when older areas are left for wildlife to flourish.
Rear of the church - there was a 6 foot deep gully along the rear of the church!
Bees nesting in the masonry
I thought the wild flower arrangement on this grave was so natural.
I had read this church was normally kept locked and once behind the initial door to the porch the main door wouldn't budge. Often you can I think arrange with key holders to be let into churches but tbh I so often go on speck that its hard to contact people in advance.
Swallow - there were a pair and they got very twitchy and chased off any House Martins that swooped too close!
All photos by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate most of my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).
8 comments:
How lovely to see the House Martins nesting in the porch. Similar here on one of the small country chapels, and the door bears a big sign "Do Not Close" {for obvious reasons} funny how people normally don't close doors but when they shouldn't, they do. Glad you got some time to explore in depth!
Rustic Pumpkin - Thanks so much. Swallows and House Martins do seem to like porches - I've seen them in other churches and a pub!
It looks like a solid, practical church at ease with its surroundings and well used and cared for too. Shame you couldn't see inside. Great to see both House Martins and Swallows I can imagine them flitting around over the churchyard in the light evenings:)
Rosie - Thanks so much. I saw a Pied Wagtail too in the churchyard. Even if you cannot get in a church there is usually plenty to see externally :) Unlike at home, most churches seem open in Herefordshire so unusual to find a locked one.
A shame it was locked but the birds kept you amused. We have both here - Swallows (just the one pair) in the old feed/tackroom and two nests of Housemartins on the house. They both fledged their first broods already.
Bovey Belle - Thank you. We have House Martins at the caravan site. It must be lovely to have both on your property.
The churches look lovely, it is a shame you weren't able to venture inside.
CherryPie- Thank you
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