We stumbled on the little village church on the day of a well dressing, when the well-head is decorated with scenes made of flower petals and is blessed for the coming year. Each village chooses a particular theme, this parish had chosen to commemorate those who had served and suffered in the Great War.
Even in such a small place the numbers of young men and women were appalling… a whole generation cut from the family tree in many households. Yet the vilage had chosen to pay their tribute with flowers. The fragility of the petals is, perhaps, a perfect reminder of the fragility of life.
There was a gentle warmth about the place. The medieval church was filled with music and colour, yet its history, carved in wood and stone, held all within its embrace.
For me there was something wholly English about the scene. Not only the colours of the national flag, but the old fashioned stalls dotted around the churchyard purveying home-made jam with gingham covers and little games for the children.
This was the other side of war. This was the home those young men and women had been willing to lay down their lives to protect. The idealised vision of England all seemed encapsulated in this simple village affair.
I was asked to join this challenge by El of Far Out in Africa. If you haven’t been over there, do have a look. Wonderful pictures and stories!
In turn, today, should she choose to accept… I nominate Ali Isaac.
The rules of Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge are:
1) Post a photo each day for five consecutive day
2) Attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a short paragraph. It’s entirely up to the individual.
3) Nominate another blogger to carry on the challenge. Your nominee is free to accept or decline the invitation. This is fun, not a command performance!
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
This is beautiful Sue, somehow both sad and heart-warming at the same time.
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That was the feeling I got there too.
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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What a beautiful church, Sue. And a lovely tribute to those who lost their lives.
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It really was… very gentle and restrained.
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Gorgeous. And a beautiful story, to boot.
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Thanks, Dale 🙂
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Well that took me by surprise! 😁 Thank you Sue, I would love to take part, although photography is not my strongpoint… I don’t even have a camera! All my pics are taken on my phone lol!
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I don’t think it is as much about the pics as their stories 😀
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I’ll do my best!
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😀
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A lovely tribute – the church is wonderful – I so love these ancient British churches, and the graveyards fascinate me, particularly those graves that are hundreds of years’ old. I can walk around them for hours.
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This church has been there about 600 years…
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That is one of the best indoor cathedral pictures I’ve seen. Great light and those perfect arches. Often copied, but never truly equaled.
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Just a small parish church in a village too… nothing fancy at all.
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I love small village fetes– they are quaint and old-fashioned, everyone seems to know one another, and are happy to share an outing.
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Yes… these old traditions seem to go right to the heart of the land somehow
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Thanks Viv
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