Old church vessels - NOT amateur radio

Our local church had its open day today. On display were some of the vessels used today. One chalice dates back to 1512. Imagine what life was like back then!

Last night's concert - NOT amateur radio

 

Last evening, we attended a concert by the Ely Consort in our local church. It was good, but very hot.

Soon to be obscured - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, some of the hedge on the south side of our garden was cut back. The view of the village church about 300m away is now very good. In a few weeks' time this will be obscured by leaves on the trees. 

Now this foliage is cut back I want to replace my earth-electrode "antenna". In a few weeks this will be much harder.

Our church in Burwell - NOT amateur radio

This is a view of our village church in silhouette. It is mostly 15th century although some parts of the tower are Saxon.

Village Church at night - NOT amateur radio

This was our local church last night when it was dark. 

Burwell church - NOT amateur radio

Most of our local church dates from the 1400s, although parts of the tower are Saxon.

This photo was taken a few days ago in dull January. There are a few signs of new life, but things will be much better in a few weeks when the daffodils are in flower.

Our grandson rings the bells here when in Burwell. 

Knitted butterflies and flowers - NOT amateur radio

These were on our local church earlier.  

They are a cascade of knitted butterflies and flowers. 

Someone has done a lot of work creating these.

I suspect it is part of the jubilee celebrations over the weekend. 

Our church at night - NOT amateur radio

 

Our church is illuminated at night, as the photo shows. It can be seen for miles around. It is a very fine old building.

Evening light - NOT amateur radio

 

Seen on our walk this evening. The church bathed in sunlight.

Church clock - NOT amateur radio

It is comforting to hear the church clock chiming again. Sadly, the chimes are about 13 minutes early! I am not sure how old the clock is. 

The main tower bells have not been rung very often in the last year. When they return we will be back to "near normal".

Local church - NOT amateur radio

Our local church is very photogenic. The photo shows it in late November. 

Already at the end of December the corvids are nest building! I think these are rooks.

Church (in distance) over ploughed field - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken yesterday on our walk. It shows Burwell church in the distance over a ploughed field.  It was muddy!

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

On Christmas day we went for a walk around the village. The churchyard looks bare in winter.

Although there were a few snowdrops about to come out, there were no daffodils.

Very old - NOT amateur radio

Snailwell church is one of 2 in Cambridgeshire with round towers. This one was built in 1070 just 4 years after the Norman conquest so is almost 1000 years old.

Church carvings - NOT amateur radio

Although some parts of our local church are almost 1000 years old, most date from the 1400s. It was designed by the same man who designed the famous Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.

High above, and usually hard to see, are some wooden carvings of animals, some of which the carver had never seen! Some of these carvings are in the photo.

Scary? - NOT amateur radio

I don't think this has been on before. If it has, sorry. At night, our local church is illuminated. Some think it looks scary, although I quite like it.

East Anglian Churches blog - NOT amateur radio

When we visit churches in East Anglia we try to update our East Anglian Churches Blog.

This has just been done to include Holme next the Sea in north Norfolk. This is a simple, light and airy church, not far from the coast.

I am afraid the updates to this churches blog are quite infrequent!

Our local church - NOT amateur radio

This church dates back over 1000 years to Saxon times although most of the "modern" church dates from the mid 1400s. Whatever you believe, or not, this is a fine building.

It never fails to amaze me how so many fine churches were built long ago when the population was a small fraction of what it is now. These people must have had strong beliefs then or lived in constant fear of evil.

Church Blog Updated - NOT amateur radio

After a long break I have updated our church blog to include Grantchester.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

Church blog updated - NOT amateur radio

After quite a break, I have just updated the East Anglian Churches blog to include Merton, St Peters near Watton in Norfolk. See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ . This is a very typical lonely, locked, Norfolk church with a round tower. Quietly beautiful.