Thursday, January 09, 2014

Jan 2013: Seeing things in Black and White

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Wandering around Canons Park…and I still had my camera set to Black and White

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This rather strange Greek temple in the middle.

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With the remnants of ivy on the wall

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And some living ones

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I keep on walking

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till I reach this little tunnel

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And then cross these trees

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And I head towards the St. Lawrence Whitchurch

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Handel used to play in this church!

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the grave yard

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a little plaque talks about the history of this little church

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walking through the Lych Gate

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the graves are all over the place

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a couple? with graves leaning over each other?

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an interesting grave with a covering..

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And this lovely little grave, simple and dignified.

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I found the church open and popped in. Here’s the church’s website.

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the decorations on the left and right are actually murals, not actually sculptures. Quite curious

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this church was the family church of the Dukes of Chandos, who owned the land around here. So dont expect major people here but despite that, normal people are remembered here.

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Looking up

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Its a lovely little Baroque construction church

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the detailing is awesome, to see something such brilliant in a small church is fascinating.

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Lovely painted fresco’s

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More paintings on the walls, some very nicely done.

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The pews had these rather interesting doors. Sounds like they were reserved for various people because they were numbered as well. One usually doesn't see numbered pews

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Looking back

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With lovely lamps

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This is the original keyboard of the organ which Handel played, gosh, what a historical moment. This is kept in a little antechamber off the main church

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And then you can turn up few steps and step into the mausoleum.

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Its a really nice one, well maintained. The burial place of all the Dukes of Chandos and their families. Very well done with the carvings.

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I turn to go out of the mausoleum.

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A book of remembrance

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The organists

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People who have donated to the church

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The baptismal font

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Then we move into the vestibule

 

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with this extraordinarily beautiful 18th century staircase which leads up to the Pews which the Duke of Chandos used

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Some of the heraldic banners on the walls of the stairwell.

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I reach the pew and look down at the church

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Lovely ceiling

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the chairs placed for the Duke’s family

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I move outside into the graveyard

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Old old graves…falling apart..and with some lovely decorations

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the sun is setting

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Some war graves here. brave soldiers, salutations

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Some very nice decorations, good to see that they have not been forgotten

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Remember the book of remembrance above? here’s a plaque which talks about their ashes.

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this was a very strange grave ornament. looks like 2 hands coming up from the ground holding this vase. bit creepy if you ask me

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This is a very nice exhibit, with a stone book, nice.

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Another war grave…of a pilot.

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Every time I see this, I love it, nothing in moderation, that’s what I want on my grave

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shrubs growing out of the grave…some of them are not managed or maintained :(

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two more soldier graves

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looking up the graveyard

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another angel…

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another soldier’s grave

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two cute little lambs

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another extraordinarily beautiful grave

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A mourner at a grave

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An engraving on the Lych Gate

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you can make out the old old beams

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A police warning to dog walkers..

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A more modern fence..enclosing a children’s playground

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Walking back to the car

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becoming dark in this twilight zone

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