General Chat

Good morning :-)

Thanks Vera, these little places are so tucked away that it's no wonder we miss them!

Last stop of the tour.........Wiltshire.

Bremilham Church lays claim to being the tiniest church, still in use, in England. It can be found, perched on a grassy mound, in the middle of a working farm, where it’s totally dwarfed by the surrounding farm buildings. The diminutive structure has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest ‘in service’ church in England.

By 1731 the buildings of Cowage Farm and a church were the only buildings in the main part of the parish, which covered roughly 440 acres, excluding roads, water and waste and at no point in its history ever exceeded fifty people. The church in 1809 was larger than the tiny building we see today. It's barely 4 metres long by 3.6 metres wide, has all the appearances of a 'Monopoly House' and is dwarfed by the neighbouring farm buildings of Cowage Farm.

There's scarcely room for a congregation larger than ten, seating for just four on one tiny pew and no room for an altar. Unfortunately, the parish register only dates back to 1813 and the church in not dedicated.

Cowage Farm is still a working farm today and the present farm buildings date from the 18th century. The farm supplies grains to household names such as Quaker Oats and Hovis; and its beef is purchased by McDonalds and Tesco.

For a number of years the church building was used to rear turkeys. It was only when the present day owners took over the farm that the church was reconsecrated.

There’s just one service held at Bremilham per year and that takes place on Rogation Sunday – the service is always very well attended with up to 50 attending. With just the one pew and with standing for a maximum of ten people it means that the service is held outside come rain or shine.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/06/article-2320150-19A464F2000005DC-814_636x405.jpg


Cx :-)

Culbone is a lovely little church in a beautiful area, and I must have been close to it a few years ago without realising it existed. Some of my direct ancestors certainly as far back as my 5 x great grandfather came from Oare and we visited Oare church a few years back. If only I had done a bit more research I might have discovered Culbone and been able to go there.

We have had a most enjoyable tour this week Cynthia. Thank you.

Sending positive thoughts to kandj and Tabitha <3

Good morning :-)

Moving towards the end of our tour, today we are off to Exmoor, to visit the tiny church of St, Bueno in Culbone.

"To Culbone, Oare, and Stoke Pero, Parishes three, no parson’ll go" An ancient ditty describing the remoteness of three Exmoor churches. St Beuno church at Culbone, is only accessible via a woodland walk, but it is well worth the effort.

Sited in a quiet combe looking out to sea, this dramatic landscape was one that Samuel Taylor Coleridge frequented often. It is said that he drew on the mystical atmosphere of Culbone Church for his images portrayed in Kubla Khan’s ‘Xanadu’.

With seating for only 33 people, the Saxon church is just 35 feet long. The nearby woods were the site of a a major charcoal burning industry as well as a 16th century leper's colony. Although the lepers were not allowed into the village, there is a small leper window (squint), in the north wall of the church which they were allowed to peep through. The church boasts a Saxon font and carved head that is part-cat, part-man on the north window. The church is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and is almost certainly pre-Norman.

And even the conical spire, built of deal and slate has a tale to tell. Local tradition says that in 1810 a heavy storm blew off the spire on Porlock church, carrying it over the Exmoor hills all the way to Culbone where it settled.

Even though there is no road access there are still regular services at the church.

https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/culbone-church.html


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It's good to know that the tour is enjoyable! :-D

Today, in our tour of tiny and interesting churches, we are travelling to Wales and to St Govan’s Chapel, Bosherston, Pembrokeshire.

All aboard!

The history of St. Govan is murky at best. It’s believed he was an Irish abbott living in the 6th century, or even a legendary knight from the court of King Arthur who was said to have become a hermit in his final years.

Whoever he was, Govan was en route to Wales when he was attacked by Irish pirates off the coast. Govan ran to the cliffside, where the rock allegedly morphed into a secret cave for him to hide in. After his pursuers left, Govan decided to remain in the cave as thanks to God and to the cliffside that saved him. He set up a monastic hermitage in the cove, living off the nature surrounding, and remained there for the rest of his life.

This little chapel is perched halfway down a cliff beside a holy well – and its extraordinary location, plus its very early and uncertain beginning, has made it a thing of folklore.

There is a simple nave measuring about 17ft x 12ft, with an opening to a rough cell beyond. Inside, it appears to be an empty shell of rough stones, green with mould. There is an opening for the spring on the floor. The water from the spring is said to have cured ailments of the limbs and eyes. There is a long bench and a plain stone altar. One legend suggests that Saint Govan is buried underneath the altar, located at the east end of the building.

The well has run dry and so any curative qualities of its waters have been lost but, happily, the tranquillity found in this place is still balm for the soul.

Count the steps down and up again – legend has it that the number is never the same!


https://www.greyalders.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/StGovans.jpg

Cx :-)

Hello all

Lots of sadness and concerns around me, but many thanks to you all for your prayerful support and kind words.

Cynthia, your prayer posted on 23 Sept is really resonating with me right now. Thank you.

Vera, I hope your husband is being helped at the hospital and it's good you were able to go away.

Tabitha, I hope all goes well with your interview today and that things will calm down soon for you.

Gwyn, thank you for your kind words and prayers.

"The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34: 18)

Sending a gentle hug for those in need today x

Thank you Cynthia for finding these gems.
What a surprise !
I used to live near Winchester, but never knew about this little church. It would be lovely to visit, when I am in that area again.

Good morning :-)

Thank you Vera - I hadn't realised how many of these tiny churches there were till I started to look. The list is quite amazing. :-)

Tabitha - love and prayers as you seek what is to be your next step. <3



Today, on our trip around the UK looking at tiny but interesting churches, we are off to .......Winchester! Come on board, but a warning......you will need to be able to climb a few stairs ??

And, we're off!

St. Swithun-upon-Kingsgate, Winchester.

This very small church occupies a most unusual location at the top of the arch of Kingsgate, just a few yards from the Cathedral Close. Yet, for all its minuscule size, St Swithun's is just as interesting as its grand neighbour, Winchester Cathedral. You reach it by climbing a narrow stair built into one side of the gateway arch.

The interior is very plain, with whitewashed walls and an unadorned wooden ceiling. Sit for a moment in the simple wooden pews and it is hard not to feel a sense of peace despite the noise of traffic passing only a few yards away.

The first mention of the church comes from 1264 when it was badly damaged by fire. In 1337 some woodwork was done on the church, costing a total of fifteen shillings, and in 1484 the windows underwent repair. In 1660, the church was once more restored.

It was quite common for small churches or chapels to be built into the gates of medieval cities, where they might be used by lay workers and travellers who wanted to give thanks for a journey safely completed or to pray for a safe trip elsewhere.

Does a church above a gate seem a good place to keep pigs? Robert Allen thought so. Allen served as a porter at Kingsgate sometime before 1660; he and his wife not only lived in the church but kept their pigs at one end.

There is a small brass memorial plaque on the wall to four young children of John Bond (d. 1612) who all died before the age of 4.

The church is mentioned in Anthony Trollope's novel, The Warden, where Trollope calls it St Cuthbert's.

The church is open daily to visitors, and there is a service every Sunday at 6pm. Usually this is Evensong, but there is Holy Communion on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/14/09/75/140975612c236ac501fbccbcacdbcc8e.jpg


Cx :-)

I'm loving the stories of these small old churches. Before we moved to our present house 8 years ago I lived in a rural area a few miles from here. I had lived there for 2 or 3 years before I discovered St James Chapel, Lindsey which was just about a mile away. I must have regularly walked the dog past it without realising it was there. It had been used as a barn for 400 years until 1930. It is now administered by English Heritage. EH do not make a charge so I often went in and just stood for a few minutes in the peace and quiet. If you are interested there are plenty of pictures and information to be found if you google St James Chapel, Lindsay. Some of the external views show modern gates and cars parked inside the gates. This area is part of the adjacent house. The chapel is more hidden away than such photos suggest.

Thinking of you Tabitha and sending good wishes. I am sure you will find the right way forward for you.

I am also keeping dear kandj in my thoughts and hoping that her life will become easier very soon <3 <3

Here i am again - another year and a few days older. I was looking at government retraining schemes - then i realised they don't think you need it over 60 years old.

Now i really do feel ancient. If i had the cash i would do a University degree in Genealogy, been wanting to do that for many years.

I have 3 days left in this job and I have been offered an interview at 9am tomorrow morning for a permanent position. Trouble is i think i have to leave and then if i get the job come back in again. Its all very confusing. I will have to do some studying tonight

I will let you know what happens.

So pleased you got the chance to get away for a break.

Keep up the lovely poems and stories, they really do uplift you.

Take care all. <3 <3 <3 <3 ;-)

Good morning :-)

Thanks Gwyn, its really interesting finding out about these tiny churches and there is so much online info too. Glad you are enjoying things.

Our friend kandj is having a rather rough times of things at the moment, what with one thing and another. We send our love and prayers to her <3



Visiting some of our tiniest and most interesting churches. Today, we are off to Yorkshire. Climb aboard and we’re ready to go!

St. Mary’s, Lead, Yorkshire.

Poor old St Mary’s cuts a rather lonely figure, sitting in a boggy Yorkshire field but it wasn’t always so. Built in the 14th century, this private chapel to a manor house, possibly owned by a family named Tyas, was an opulent place twice its current size, with a gilded ceiling and a large chancel at the east end. Now it is a tiny rectangular building and is very simple, measuring just 18 ft long. There are benches probably dating from the medieval period, a three decker pulpit, a stone altar, and a font.

But the church will always be associated with the Battle of Towton, the bloodiest battle of the War of the Roses, which took place on Palm Sunday 1461 and it is the only building on or around the battlefield that remains standing. Ten thousand men are said to have been killed, and Cock Beck, the little stream which you cross to get to St Mary’s, is said to have run red with blood.

Despite its awesome history, St Mary’s is a peaceful place and there are grave slabs are set into the floor. These are carved with heraldic symbols and inscriptions, and dating from the 13th-century, they are an important and interesting collection

Since being rescued by a group of walkers in 1931, St Mary's has been known as the Ramblers’ Church.


http://www.yorkshireguides.com/st_marys_lead.html


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia.

You always seem to find so many subjects of interest.

I have seen Fairfield church from across the fields, but never actually been inside.

Some interior views here..........

http://wealdanddownlandchurches.co.uk/fairfield-church/

Good morning :-)

Due to the travel restrictions we have faced during the pandemic, many families are taking holidays in the UK. Resorts have been bursting at the seams and famous places have been crowded.

For those who haven’t been able to get away and who love visiting churches, this week, we’ll travel round our beautiful island and visit some of the tiniest and most interesting churches we have. Hop on board, today we are off to the Garden of England - Kent!

Arguably the most iconic of all the churches on Romney Marsh, St Thomas Becket sits alone in a field, surrounded by water courses and sheep.

Built in the C12th, it was restored in the C18th when the original timber building was encased in brick. Much of the original timber work can be seen inside the church, which also contains a seven-sided font and triple-decker pulpit.

Legend has it that St Thomas a Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, had the church built after he was rescued from one of the many ditches on the marsh by a farmer. He prayed for a miracle and just in time a farmer arrived to save him.

It was seen in the 2011 BBC adaptation of Great Expectations and the film of the same name in 2012.

There is a service at 10.00am on the 1st Sunday of each month.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7881/33586671458_4f709766c3_b.jpg


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Glad you have managed a break Vera - it rather sounds as though you needed it. Hope all is well now.

Has anyone seen kandj around? I have messaged her a couple of times and they haven't been opened, which is very unusual. Hope she's okay.


Whichever way we turn, O God, there is Your face
in the light of the moon and patterns of stars,
in sacred mountain rifts and ancient groves,
in mighty seas and creatures of the deep.

Whichever way we turn, O God, there is Your face
in the light of eyes we love,
in the salt of tears we have tasted,
in weathered countenances east and west,
in the soft skin glow of the child everywhere.
Whichever way we turn, O God, there is Your face,
there is Your face
among us.


Cx :-)

Some lovely poems and prayers this week Cynthia. Thank you. I particularly like "May you be known by love". You seem to find something new for us every week.

We have faced some problems over the last few weeks but, between hospital visits for OH, we managed to fit in a week's holiday in a self-catering cottage for which I am very thankful. It was a quiet break that we both needed.

I hope things are going well for you Tabitha and Kandj and anyone else who looks in. Take care and stay safe <3

Good morning :-)


Go peaceful
in gentleness
through the violence of these days.
Give freely.
Show tenderness
in all your ways.

Through darkness,
in troubled times
let holiness be your aim.
Seek wisdom.
Let faithfulness
burn like a flame.

God speed you!
God lead you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart!
May you be known by love.

Be righteous.
Speak truthfully
in a world of greed and lies.
Show kindness.
See everyone
through heaven’s eyes.

God hold you,
enfold you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart.
May you be known by love.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Morning Prayer of St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily;
to lean on your great strength, trustfully, restfully;
to wait for the unfolding of your will, patiently, serenely;
to meet others, peacefully, joyfully;
to face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Longest Journey...
by Richard John Scarr

It's a long, long way to heaven.
A hard climb to journey's end.
But it's a road that each of us must take.
Though fraught with twists and bends.

And adding to our burden,
will be temptations on the way.
Whilst the bends grow ever steeper,
every time we go astray.

At times we'll journey forward.
just to find we are moving back.
Or going round in circles,
because we've wandered off the track.

It's a lonely road to heaven.
If we choose to walk alone.
But if we walk with Jesus Christ.
His steps will lead us home.

He will not smooth out our pathway.
For there are lessons to be learned.
But by walking at his elbow,
he will lead us through the turns.

It's a long long, road to heaven.
But we can, with dogged stride.
Climb until we reach the top.
With the good Lord at our side.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Father God,
Where I go today, I pray it be only in the path You have directed for me.

If I stumble today, I pray it only be into the deep waters of grace You have provided for me.

If I fall today, I pray that it only be into the arms of Jesus where I know I am held and loved.

No matter what comes my way and no matter where You lead me, I pray that my eyes will only be focused on You; my Rock and my Stay. Please, God, guide me today for I don’t know what the day may hold, but I do know that You are holding my day! Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Good morning, Lord! Today's a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It's a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.

Cx :-)