I am not particularly religeous but have what you might call a tiny flicker of faith (if it were a flame ) but anyway, I am at my parents place who live near me out in the countryside, and theres a tiny village church, I love village churches in the summertime, they had a service this evening , to bless animals, it was sooo lovely, mainly dogs with a couple of guinea pigs and a cat. Otis and I sat next to a lovely old choccy lab, ten years, who had a classic otter tail, he was lovely, very quiet, we sang some lovely hymns, Otis wagging his tail throughout, as the evening sun shone in, Otis was rather excited and was the only dog who barked, but it was just a few little ones. Lovely vicar, who was really great with Otis, definate animal lover. Each animal went up in turn to get blessed, so sweet. The two guinea pigs were representing the animals from an animal sanctury, I love piggies. Then afterwards we all had our photo taken together, I love this little church, its so peaceful, and will go again. It was a lovely thing to do Maggie X
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I am an atheist. I love English churches, I study (in an amateur way) Cornish churches, I spend a disproportionate amount of time scrabbling in undergrowth finding the remains of coastal chapels. I make donations to repair church buildings. I love communal singing in churches, and know all the words (the tune is a different matter : ). My friends look at me in a bemused way when I drag them off for some quiet study of the ends of church pews in remote locations...some of my best friends are vicars... I still am an atheist. I get what you mean! Glad you enjoyed it! ;D ;D ;D
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I am not religious, however the church in the village where I grew up is a beautiful place. We are lucky enough to be getting married there this November (I'm not christened but the Reverand is an old family friend, and "loves to marry people, whoever they are, black, green, whatever" lol). The church is such a peaceful place and it's so pretty in the evening sun, it streams through the high windows and the inside kind of glows.
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Oh how lovely Penny, and congratulations. What I love is an empty country church on a hot summers day, and you go in and its all cool and quiet. I hope you have a wonderful day, when it comes, dont forget to tell us all about it, I love weddings !xx
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I think this is lovely. I too am not at all religious, but also love churches, old ones, the smell of them, the architecture, the artistry, and hugely admire the kinship within a church community, or at least some of them. A charismatic minister (or pastor/chaplain/priest) can fill you with enthusiasm for the sense of community and I suppose, communion. I think you have found a nice place to be Maggie, religion or not.
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Maggie, that's beautiful and glad you and Otis had such a lovely time x Do any of you remember The Vicar of Dibley conducting a service just like that - it was extremely funny? The church in our village is Saxon, small and absolutely beautiful, I might suggest to our Vicar that he conduct an 'animal' service I am not at all religious even though my lovely now departed parents were Catholic :'( x
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I like to mooch around old churches too. I always deliberately touch or stroke very warn stone work and imagine that someone did the same thing hundreds of years ago. I did the same thing with a 2000 year old tree that is local to me. I think it was because I was born and grew up in Australia but maybe It's not, maybe there's lots of people in the UK who appreciate History. Although I don't go to church services, I always say 'one' when I visit an old church.
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Oh I envy you those lovely old churches. I am very involved in our church but of course I don't have the opportunity to go to those beautiful churches here in Western Canada....it was only settled about 100 years ago, and many places much later than that. The town I love in is just over 50 years old, for example. One of the highlights of my life was going to Yorkminister Cathedral, we were there in the afternoon and met a tour guide who said he would take us on a longer tour in the evening, so we came back just after supper. The choir was there practicing...oh it was absolutely divine to be in that gorgeous place with that beautiful music soaring through the church....sigh.... I love the little village churches too, we just loved driving around the countryside and seeing the church spires in every little village... Maggie, thanks for that lovely picture of your pet blessing ceremony, it sounds like it just peaceful and lovely! Helen, you have a Saxon church in your village??? Please post a pic sometime, I would SO love to see it!! That could be said for any of the churches....any and all pics would be eagerly drooled over here!
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Here's some pics of the village church where I grew up, All Saints Church in Publow, Pensford. I didn't take these photos but I have included where I found them on the internet - I hope that's enough for copyright stuff?? ??? I found this one on www.geograph.org.uk This one is from Flickr, a guy called Steve took it. He appears to be a local photographer judging by some of the other pics on his page. And this is from the website of a wedding photographer www.davesaundersphotography.co.uk simply beautiful and hopefully how we will have the church decorated for our wedding
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Also an atheist. I don't knock it for those who believe as it seems to bring them joy. I love old churches. There is such a sense of stillness, time and peace in them. I love to see churches that are now reaching out into the community with animal blessings, pram services etc. That is how the churches churches started. My favourite church is Ewelme in Oxfordshire. It was built in the 15th century with cottages for the old people of the parish attached. Right next door is the school which is the longest serving Junior school in England. All the gift of Alice de la Pole, Countess of Suffolk. As ever, lots of images on the Net. Well worth a visit if you are in the vicinity.
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I love York minster! [quote author=Lisa link=topic=6237.msg81877#msg81877 date=1401058810] That could be said for any of the churches....any and all pics would be eagerly drooled over here! [/quote] I have been dreaming about where I will take Charlie for his first off lead walk when he is well. I will go to Lerryn, walk along the bank of the Fowey at low tide, and take photos of Charlie at St Winnow church for Lisa. http://cornwallphotographic.com/tag/st-winnow/
Re: All Creatures Great and Small Magical. There is a stone bench on the river side of the churchyard wall - just the bench and a tiny pebble beach at high tide. One of my favourite places to watch the Fowey. Just over a month, and I'll be back with pictures of a very, very, muddy Charlie here. Cannot wait!
Re: All Creatures Great and Small How very lovely Maggie , sounds delightful I`m not at all religious , despite the fact that my late Father was a Vicar in the C of E , but I am quite spiritual . There are several places here in Cornwall , near to where I live, that bring about a sense of peace and tranquility, oil on troubled waters effect , Golitha Falls being one for sure which is why I go most days x
Re: All Creatures Great and Small JulieT I can see why you've chosen that spot. Must be difficult with so many to choose from in Cornwall I know what you mean about natural places of great spirituality, Kate. There are some places that are just so powerfully peaceful. Funny to think that there are whole hosts of people (townies) that are frightened when there are no street lights. It is pouring with rain in the Thames Valley (Bank Holiday Monday, what else). Good news for me, I can walk Molly in peace with the world to myself
Re: All Creatures Great and Small [quote author=Lisa link=topic=6237.msg81877#msg81877 date=1401058810] One of the highlights of my life was going to Yorkminister cathedral [/quote] My friends Sister was married there last summer ;D I went to a very high C of E Secondary School for Girls.I don't have any religious faith but I do appreciate some of the teachings,morals,manners,respect,acceptance etc. and I know that it brings a lot of comfort to many people...and I was married in church ??? I'd have definitely gone a long to an Animal Blessing Service,out of curiosity ,if nothing else,I'm glad Otis enjoyed the singing
Re: All Creatures Great and Small I am an agnostic. My granddaughter is buried in the most beautiful, peaceful and ancient churchyard, tucked away in a little ancient village, the church is 800 years old. Recently my daughter found some human bones, I thought she was 'losing it' as she was very distressed, this was the first time she had visited the grave in 16 years. I went to have a look and yes, there were human bones, a femur, femur with femoral head, baby femoral head, humerus; the vicarette said it was due to being such an old churchyard and sometimes bones did rise to the surface. I said these were piled round a tree with earth! She finally admitted that two very large graves had been dug and the grave digger had just put the earth round the tree!! I wish now I had looked for more bones. I tried to imagine whose bones they were and had they lived in that little village or from people killed in a battle in the civil war which took place very close. Sorry I have strayed from the topic :-[ I think services for animals are great.
Re: All Creatures Great and Small We live in Winchester and the cathedral is beautiful. I particularly like the statue in the crypt(which floods) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sound_II_revisited.jpg
