Monday 23 May 2011

Churches








I promise not to make too many more blogs about our holiday, but I couldn't resist showing you a couple of absolutely beautiful English churches. I really do think our churches are the best in the whole world - that has nothing specially to do with religion as I am not a religious person, but architecturally there is nothing to beat them as I am sure you will agree.

Today's church is a medieval wool church in Suffolk and one which I have wanted to visit for many years. Wool churches were usually built by people who wished to show off the prosperity of the wool trade and this one is no exception, being founded by John Clopton, a wealthy cloth merchant. Building started in 1467. It is Holy Trinity Church at Long Melford.

One of its rarities is that it has a separate Lady Chapel - an exquisite little building. The photograph of the 'back' of the church is actually of the Lady Chapel wall. It is such a quiet, peaceful intimate little building which was used as a school in the 17th and 18th centuries.

I hope my photographs go some way to capturing the rare beauty of this church. The rose was one of many old-fashioned roses growing alongside the wall between the buttresses. Visiting it was one of the highlights of our holiday.
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17 comments:

  1. angryparsnip23 May 2011 at 11:27

    What... forget your promise, for someone like me living in the USA, I want to see your blogs about your holiday.
    And I so agree that your churches are the best in the world.

    cheers, parsnip

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  2. Jenn Jilks23 May 2011 at 11:39

    Wonderful post! I love old churches, as long as there isn't a service of some sort. :-) I did a post on bridges today. my cottage country !

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  3. Pondside23 May 2011 at 11:45

    Please don't hold back - for some of us, these views are a rare treat!

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  4. Gerry Snape23 May 2011 at 11:48

    My favourite church building is also in Suffolk at Blythburg. A saxon one ans almost plain inside apart from the painted angels in the roof...stunning. thankyou for this post Pat!

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  5. Gwil W23 May 2011 at 11:48

    I agree about the architecture being the best, especially as i am in a land where i have to endure awful baroque interior and onion tower design exterior (to me it is awful) although others may like it, cheers, gwilym

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  6. MorningAJ23 May 2011 at 12:44

    Long Melford is gorgeous.

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  7. steven23 May 2011 at 13:30

    weaver i am with angryparsnip - swamp the blog with pictures of your holiday!!! these are stunning!!! steven

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  8. H23 May 2011 at 15:22

    I'd love to see more pictures of your holiday. Location blogs are my very favourite sort! I love to look at photos of places and find out something about the geography or the history or the culture...

    More please :)

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  9. Robin Mac23 May 2011 at 17:37

    I agree Pat, keep the photos of your holiday coming. That is a really lovely Church. I agree, the architecture of British churches is wonderful - some of it has been imported into Australia also. Cheers

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  10. Penny23 May 2011 at 18:53

    Please keep showing us holiday pics, the only way I can see them is through bloggers like you who can show us and I have to say that is a magnificent church.

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  11. Jane Moxey23 May 2011 at 19:34

    I agree, keep the pictures coming, Pat! So glad you had a nice holiday. I'm sure you could have many a holiday in the UK seeing things you might have missed over the years! Foreign travel is exciting, but nothing like having a true appreciation of one's own country! It's just the idea of something having been started so many centuries ago that's so amazing - and that it's still standing. I'm sure that's why Americans are so intrigued. Heavens, I'm intrigued, and I was born and educated in the UK!!!

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  12. Reena23 May 2011 at 21:03

    I love photographing churches. So much rich detail in their architecture! Great subjects!

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  13. Bovey Belle23 May 2011 at 23:08

    I love church architecture too and would love to see more holiday photos, churches or otherwise! . .

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  14. Leilani Schuck Weatherington24 May 2011 at 04:52

    Hey.. The chances that I will ever come to the UK and see these beautiful things for my self are growing increasingly remote. I love seeing your holiday posts. Go right ahead!

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  15. annell424 May 2011 at 05:41

    There is something about churches.....

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  16. The Weaver of Grass24 May 2011 at 08:31

    Thank you for the comments. Thaxted church tomorrow. Glad you are not fed up with the photographs!

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  17. Su26 May 2011 at 10:47

    This is the next village to me - my great great uncle used to own and work the forge in Melford and made many of the wrought iron grave stones that are in the churchyard. Did you see any I wonder?

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