A KNIGHT'S CHURCH IN A SECRET VALLEY

A KNIGHT’S CHURCH IN A SECRET VALLEY

 

In a valley in the Chilterns, frighteningly close to the M40 are the village of Radnage and its exquisite church, St Mary the Virgin. 

 

And it was OPEN!

Radnage is tucked away and up from the village the church sits on a shallow slope. There is a bench by the south wall one can eat one’s sandwiches (which cousin Wendy had made the night before) and enjoy marvellous views over steep fields and woodlands.

A bench by the south wall was the perfect spot for lunch

 

Inside the church all is spick and span, loved, cared for and be enjoyed by passers by.

 

This church was built in the late C12 or early C13 by the Knights Templar. It has a central crossing tower, a late Norman and Early English confection. Throughout there are wall paintings to enjoy and some excellent modern stained glass that sits well in windows that have shed light on worshippers for a thousand years.

Inside a absolute delight and full of lovely things

 

The church has benefited in recent times from the darling of film and TV companies.

 

A gentle and welcoming church and no matter that we cannot worship until I think September, when Services may restart, we can certainly, in daylight hours, find rest here.

 

More about the church and its vibrant community is found here: http://www.radnage.net/st-mary-the-virgin-radnage/

 

FOOTNOTE: we entered the churchyard from the Nature Reserve a steep area of woodland that leads down into the secret valley.  This a story for another time…

GRABBING THE PAN HANDLE

Rose early and by 0730 on the road heading northeast towards and then along the Karpaz Peninsula known as the ‘pan handle’ of Cyprus. A sixty-two mile trip on now made excellent roads (last years tracks along the sea were pretty yet fearful). The early part of the day: shadows cast long across a red and sage green landscape that darkens blue-green as mountains rise up on the south east of our route.

Blue sea to our left or to our right sparkles en route. A brave journey without a map, a situation resolved as we reached Yenierekoy. Here after buying stamps from a happy post master (also an excuse to change a large note) I was furnished with two excellent maps by the Tourist Office next door; thus endowed, several jewel-like basilicas were discovered and drawn culminating with the Ayios Philon Church dedicated to Philon, the saint who converted the people of these parts to Christianity in the 4th century.

North Cyprus Return to Salamis

We went again to Salamis a huge archaeological site that goes back to 11^th C BC founded by Teucer who could not return home after the Trojan War because he failed to avenge his brother Ajax. It is also associated with Assyrian Kings and was ruled by Ptolemy Alexander the Great’s foremost general. Thence it became a Roman province and St Barnabas who brought Christianity to Cyprus was stoned to death her. Salamis was abandoned during the Arab invasions of the 7^th century, as the city was in decline its harbour having silted up.

The site is vast. Excavations began in 1952. We saw a team at work last year and were able to look at their uncovering of another section of roman baths. Yet excavations have only uncovered a fraction (theatre, gymnasium, basilica, agora, and forum) of what must have been a huge and thriving community who’s necropolis covers seven square kilometres.

The place has a wild, delightfully unkempt feel as sea breezes displace some of the heat. Arrival at an early hour in the morning is recommended!

North Cyprus Bellapaix Abbey

THE FINEST GOTHIC IN THE NEAR EAST

Having visited most of the cathedrals in England we are finely attuned to the delights of gothic architecture. Bellapaix Abbey, almost walk-able from the Villa, is billed as one of the finest pieces of gothic. Built on the side of a mountain, this twelfth-century monastery is a fine testament to the Lusignan period (the Lusignans from France, a family that came to control the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and of Cyprus).

The Abbey, with its pretty church appears, to float above the landscape. The masonry work of its cloister arches and tracery (most of which is fractured and is now silhouetted against the sky like old, poor, broken teeth) is so light and delicate.

A basilica in Bombay

Yesterday evening I ventured out of the hotel and discovered The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount five minutes walk away!

Oh just so Catholic, as as if someone had pulled a cracker and the contents had created glittering interior, with, and not limited to Mother and Child surrounded by neon, so devote and almost intoxicating.

I did some drawing and took some secret photographs and wept (prior to the drawing and photography).

Despair

Sorry, this is the last of the two part series of things I found un-nerving in wonderful Northern Cyprus.

On my way to the village I would cut through the olive grove, at the back of our house, to gain the main road and there was a tiny church in ruins. Grave stones broken and twisted. I returned several times to make drawings of this 'dissolution', wondering what drove people to do this. So very sad, and respectfully, I really have not right to comment. I was so moved by this place regardless of who build it and who brought it down.

Deus Misereatur.

Surprise Result

A good piece of drawing from me still continues to surprise.

This piece created over Easter for Jenny's wedding invitation.

St Peters Slinfold nestling close to the Sussex Downs.

Ship of the Fens

Ely Cathedral called the 'Ship of the Fens'. It towers above the flat Cambridgeshire countryside

Founded by a Saxon Princess, St Etheldreda in 673 - all part of our tour of English Cathedrals.

Latin Mass in London

Today with best friend Caroline I attended Mass at St Ethelreda's Church in Ely Place London.

The music was exquiste. The mass in latin is so pure and simple with its liturgy paired down to the absolute essentials, free of Anglian fuss. http://www.stetheldreda.com/

Visiting this lovely church a blessing!