Tales from a Churchyard...

As many of you know, we live in an old church square...the graveyard is our front garden...and I so love seeing it from the windows, stepping out into it's quiet peace every morning...

I thought that you might like to see a little more of what I can see...so come with me for a walk up the cobbled path...

through the wrought iron gate and past the WW1 memorial on the left. Originally the whole churchyard was enclosed by high wrought iron railings...but these were removed at the beginning of WW2, and melted down for the war effort. Never replaced, there is now a low, ancient wall running around the perimeter instead...

the old church door usually stands open during the day so that anyone can wander in...the inside (apart from the stained glass windows and some monuments) isn't so special any more, sadly. In the 1970's, the ancient old wooden pews were removed to make a large, open space. Plastic chairs are now set out for services and concerts. Although this means that the church can be used for a wide range of community activities, I always feel a little sad when I enter the stone magnificence of the exterior and the interior doesn't match up to that promise.

Back outside, and most of the houses ranged around the square date from the Georgian period...my favourite time...and have that elegance that the 18th century architects so often provided...the rest are early Victorian. One side of the square has very small, slightly dark cottages..these once included the town workhouse and some of the others belonged to poor lacemakers (once a famous skill in our county)

the graveyard (which incidentally hasn't been used for burials since aboiut 1870, when the large town cemetery was built on the outskirts...and is still in use today) is also a bit of a haven for nature as it's largely left alone except for essential maintenance. Can you just see the mass of snowdrops emerging beneath the skeleton of the laburnum? Signs of Spring are everywhere...

soon, soon the bright yellow daffodils will be nodding their beautiful heads again. But for now, the bright green of their shoots do their job and gladden my heart!

As walk through on my way to wherever I'm going, I often visit my 'favourite' gravestones...

Such as this one, on the grave of Elizabeth Jenkins who died aged 35. A 'most faithful servant'. The inscription reads 'This stone was erected by those who for many years reaped the benefits of her valuable service' Which, in 1830's England is the nearest they got to saying that they loved her, I think. A comforting thought, despite her youth when she died.

And these are very special to me, as they mark the graves of the family who once lived in our house. Way back then, it was a farmhouse (unthinkable now, it's very much a townhouse!) and this large extended family were one of the richest in the area...

apart from the obvious link, it makes me reflect that, despite our very human quest to 'own' things...in the end, we're just guardians for future generations. This family once owned and loved the house we live in...as we do now...but so little remains of them nearly 200 years later. So it will be with us. That doesn't frighten or depress me. It makes me determined to do as much as I can, to make a mark and hopefully be remembered.

Some people ask whether we find it 'scary' to live so near to the dead. I find it to be quite the opposite. I feel that it's a calm and tranquil place, a reflective and serene reminder of the truth in the old saying 'This too shall pass....'

Enjoy Sunday...the sun is shining as I write, and the world looks bright.

With love xo