Tuesday 6 May 2008

Hill Top Church

On top of Chosen Hill (the one with the bluebells I showed yesterday) sits St Bartholomew's Church. This is the original Parish church of Churchdown and dates from the Norman era, thought to have been built in 1175. It's believed that the origins of the site date back much earlier than this, with the hill top site being used as a military camp in the Bronze Age. Recently the area around the church has undergone some transformation, with a new retaining wall built to stop the church slipping down the steep side of the hill and the over grown Fir trees removed to reveal the church to the villages below. The church has a cross on top of it that is lit at night and can be seen for miles around. Although a new Parish church (St Andrew's) was built in the village in the early 1900's (due to St Bart's not being easily accessible) the ancient building is still used for Sunday services, weddings, funerals and bell ringing! The church is a Grade 1 listed building and must hold open days throughout the year. When the next one comes I'm going to take a visit to check out the inside of this lovely little church.

14 comments:

• Eliane • said...

I was gonna say, yes I thought there might have been a military camp in the Bronze Age there. ;)
I looks a little austere though. I'll stay in the woods with the bluebells, which are indeed campanules! :) My father would be so proud. ;)

Chuck Pefley said...

Looking forward to a peek inside when you get the chance.

Tanya Breese said...

I love this photo! I could roam the grounds for hours! Looking forward to seeing the inside!

Jim Klenke said...

I would roam the grounds like Tanya, but I think it would have to be during daylight hours. So many headstones. I bet its neat inside.

Ann (MobayDP) said...

Marley, how green that grass is!! :)

Can you tell we haven't had much rain in Montego Bay recently? :)

That photo and the two previous bluebells photo are of what appears to be a really lovely spot in which to have an afternoon walk.

magiceye said...

lovely place to hold a conversation with god!

Lori said...

What a beautiful church it is and such a lovely spot on top of that hill. I would love to see inside. The old tombstones look very interesting too.

Janet Kincaid said...

Excellent photo! I love the tipping, tilting headstones in the foreground. If this church and its cemetery could talk, I'll bet it would tell some amazing stories!

Anonymous said...

That's a brilliant picture - very atmospheric. I'd like to see it in black and white too!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful English country side image! Love the green fields and sort of blue skies ;) Lovely image.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Ok it must be me at odds with everyone, but this is a disconcerting image. Look up to the church, light and beautiful, then there's those headstones, crooked and bent. Had to come back and look at this several times.It's a fabulousLY creepy image.

Ming the Merciless said...

That is a spectacular photo. The grave stones really give the place some character.

I love that the church is sitting on top of the hill.

brian stout said...

so picturesque and beautiful.. i was wondering if the hill was eroding or something to cause the tilted headstones.. =) nice historic little building!

Gerald (SK14) said...

The Heritage Open Days are usually in September so watch the local press in August

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