I’m with you Paul, I always love the quiet. Some of the most touching Orthodox services I’ve attended have been just a couple of worshippers and the priest. Especially lovely in this piece is the notion of the church being part of the earth (I hope that’s what you meant - as if it had grown on its own).
Beautiful. Our modern world has lost so much in the last seventy years-children now worship their screen creatures, but they have no-one to turn to in times of worry or hardship.
"..What Mammon wants is to turn a world made for and stewarded by persons into a world made of and reduced the Things... And ultimately to bring about the exploitation of all Creation. And what does Big Tech want? The same as Mammon." (Andy Crouch. 'The Life We're Looking For.' 2022). I know, Dr. M; getting around predominantly by bicycle I see the captivation by the demanding little god-screens everywhere - even of walkers along the riverfront trail following the magnificent river valley here. I've experienced a much different story, a million years ago, when the whole town turned out to acknowledge a heartbreaking tragedy. Because that's what we all did for one another. I hold fast and try living a quietly better model. Thanks for your observation here this morning.
A lot of Chrisitian traditions were rural; urbanisation was a big contributor to the loss of religion and apparently the temperance movement in places like Wales. Maybe, the church is just hanging on for better times.
What a place! It just seems steeped in other worldliness….where you can almost smell the presence of God….it makes you want to bow your head in prayer or raise your head in praise of the almighty ……and it’s a joy to know there is such a charity as ‘Friends of Friendless churches’….it’s brought a bit of a lump to my throat….a bit like an unwanted child finding a home.
It's good to know that Churches like St Laurence exist! Quietude and listening to God in this place sounds perfect. Wherever there is true quiet and listening, get me there! Thank-you Paul
A couple of the photos do make the place appear genuinely Tolkienesque. It's a shame the Peter Jackson films were shot in New Zealand as there would have been a chef's kiss more authenticity had they been shot in England and Wales. You can't, for example, find anything truly resembling an English down in NZ. Probably would have cost three times as much to make and taken twice as long, I'm guessing.
Brilliant evocation. Now in good hands, the roof would have gone unless someone took it on. I hope friendless churches get many more friends. Wales specially needs them. When the old mediaeval order went, the Established Church seemed no replacement. It took a long while and the end of empire. But we still have Rowan Williams and the late RS Thomas and the old names.
Where I come from over in England the girls used to have a riddle game with buttercups and gold reflected on their chins. This lady seems to have grown up with the reflection on hers. Lots there just now about what is going on at Gumfreston! https://twitter.com/friendschurches
PS Am trying to remember the poet who passed on the line about old buildings once were scaffolding and workmen whistling.
Thanks Kathy. Yes, that makes sense. Memory trickles back. I think there was a bit of controversy at the time, late 60s, early 70s. As I remember, the Scottish poet Douglas Dunn had worked the line into a poem probably unconsciously. It is a fine line and it was a pity at the time because his was a good poem. Dunn went on to a good poetic career and I see he is still with us.
Thank you for linking to the Friends of Friendless Churches piece. The SkyNews bit at the end was thought-provoking as well. How to decide when to preserve and when to let go is not always clear. The cost to restore is substantial, and then there's the followup - who will care for the restored structure? Will it be essentially a museum piece, or will a community use it and care for it? All that aside, I'm glad to see this church finding new life, hopefully with new lives in it...
Beautiful places to hold together human, earthly, and divine.
I am against making the world.. "accessible" these days. When people come to dinner at my house, because I invite often, I have a game wherein I invite them sometimes to throw 10€ into an imaginary cup in the center of the table for the forbidden words that come out of their mouths.
"Shit" isn't one of them, but "accessible" is. "Hub" is not very acceptable either.
As soon as I saw the title, 'Sing Levy Dew' I knew this would be a good one, so thanks, Paul.
There is a beautiful setting of the 'Sing Levy Dew' by Benjamin Britten, which he called 'A New Year Carol': https://youtu.be/aiHVRsqUNTI
Also, I have stayed in Pembrokeshire many times on holiday, and visited Gumfreston. Pretty much whole county is wonderful; there are so many peaceful, quiet and out-of-the-way place, and as the essay says, it feels like a different time.
Well, if you liked that, Britten's setting of Thomas Hardy poems in 'Winter Words' is well worth your time: https://youtu.be/tFI2bBUDMhc, though it has a little more edge to it.
Thanks so much, listened to your You Tube recommendation 'Sing Levy Dew"....absolutely beautiful, looking forward to Britten's setting of the Hardy poems....
Grazi, thanks. I've lately been working my edge on the stone a bit, but leaving it sheathed more than I used to, whittling more selectively... I did appreciate the tenor of the opening lines to "At day-close in November".
Good news about the church 😊
Bliss - thank you Paul.
A lovely article, and the account of the wells having different waters is fascinating. It's also clearly a beautiful place. Thanks very much.
I’m with you Paul, I always love the quiet. Some of the most touching Orthodox services I’ve attended have been just a couple of worshippers and the priest. Especially lovely in this piece is the notion of the church being part of the earth (I hope that’s what you meant - as if it had grown on its own).
Beautiful. Our modern world has lost so much in the last seventy years-children now worship their screen creatures, but they have no-one to turn to in times of worry or hardship.
"..What Mammon wants is to turn a world made for and stewarded by persons into a world made of and reduced the Things... And ultimately to bring about the exploitation of all Creation. And what does Big Tech want? The same as Mammon." (Andy Crouch. 'The Life We're Looking For.' 2022). I know, Dr. M; getting around predominantly by bicycle I see the captivation by the demanding little god-screens everywhere - even of walkers along the riverfront trail following the magnificent river valley here. I've experienced a much different story, a million years ago, when the whole town turned out to acknowledge a heartbreaking tragedy. Because that's what we all did for one another. I hold fast and try living a quietly better model. Thanks for your observation here this morning.
A lot of Chrisitian traditions were rural; urbanisation was a big contributor to the loss of religion and apparently the temperance movement in places like Wales. Maybe, the church is just hanging on for better times.
FFC do a great job preserving these old churches. You can be sure they will treat it with the sensitivity it deserves. What an interesting holy well!
This is so moving! I don't even know exactly why but I am all teary-eyed.
Me, too!
What a place! It just seems steeped in other worldliness….where you can almost smell the presence of God….it makes you want to bow your head in prayer or raise your head in praise of the almighty ……and it’s a joy to know there is such a charity as ‘Friends of Friendless churches’….it’s brought a bit of a lump to my throat….a bit like an unwanted child finding a home.
It's good to know that Churches like St Laurence exist! Quietude and listening to God in this place sounds perfect. Wherever there is true quiet and listening, get me there! Thank-you Paul
A couple of the photos do make the place appear genuinely Tolkienesque. It's a shame the Peter Jackson films were shot in New Zealand as there would have been a chef's kiss more authenticity had they been shot in England and Wales. You can't, for example, find anything truly resembling an English down in NZ. Probably would have cost three times as much to make and taken twice as long, I'm guessing.
Apparently, the Elven language in the films was based on Welsh. Perhaps he got a bit of inspiration from Wales after all.
Well you would know, after all, Master Gamgee. ;)
Heh! Just having second breakfast! :)
Brilliant evocation. Now in good hands, the roof would have gone unless someone took it on. I hope friendless churches get many more friends. Wales specially needs them. When the old mediaeval order went, the Established Church seemed no replacement. It took a long while and the end of empire. But we still have Rowan Williams and the late RS Thomas and the old names.
Where I come from over in England the girls used to have a riddle game with buttercups and gold reflected on their chins. This lady seems to have grown up with the reflection on hers. Lots there just now about what is going on at Gumfreston! https://twitter.com/friendschurches
PS Am trying to remember the poet who passed on the line about old buildings once were scaffolding and workmen whistling.
You're thinking of T.E. Hulme's
Old houses were scaffolding once
and workmen whistling.
It was an image that he never worked into a poem.
Thanks Kathy. Yes, that makes sense. Memory trickles back. I think there was a bit of controversy at the time, late 60s, early 70s. As I remember, the Scottish poet Douglas Dunn had worked the line into a poem probably unconsciously. It is a fine line and it was a pity at the time because his was a good poem. Dunn went on to a good poetic career and I see he is still with us.
Thank you for linking to the Friends of Friendless Churches piece. The SkyNews bit at the end was thought-provoking as well. How to decide when to preserve and when to let go is not always clear. The cost to restore is substantial, and then there's the followup - who will care for the restored structure? Will it be essentially a museum piece, or will a community use it and care for it? All that aside, I'm glad to see this church finding new life, hopefully with new lives in it...
Beautiful places to hold together human, earthly, and divine.
I am against making the world.. "accessible" these days. When people come to dinner at my house, because I invite often, I have a game wherein I invite them sometimes to throw 10€ into an imaginary cup in the center of the table for the forbidden words that come out of their mouths.
"Shit" isn't one of them, but "accessible" is. "Hub" is not very acceptable either.
Good news about the church too... We hope.
As soon as I saw the title, 'Sing Levy Dew' I knew this would be a good one, so thanks, Paul.
There is a beautiful setting of the 'Sing Levy Dew' by Benjamin Britten, which he called 'A New Year Carol': https://youtu.be/aiHVRsqUNTI
Also, I have stayed in Pembrokeshire many times on holiday, and visited Gumfreston. Pretty much whole county is wonderful; there are so many peaceful, quiet and out-of-the-way place, and as the essay says, it feels like a different time.
Well, the Britten broke right through to tears here, just up the hill from the Big River. That's a keeper. Thanks :)
Well, if you liked that, Britten's setting of Thomas Hardy poems in 'Winter Words' is well worth your time: https://youtu.be/tFI2bBUDMhc, though it has a little more edge to it.
Thanks so much, listened to your You Tube recommendation 'Sing Levy Dew"....absolutely beautiful, looking forward to Britten's setting of the Hardy poems....
Grazi, thanks. I've lately been working my edge on the stone a bit, but leaving it sheathed more than I used to, whittling more selectively... I did appreciate the tenor of the opening lines to "At day-close in November".
Lovely setting indeed, Andrew! -- thanks for the link.
You made me laugh out loud at the end!
Thank you.