Post by John Parry on Sept 10, 2008 15:20:08 GMT -5
The church is a fine example of Victorian vandalism. There had been a Celtic church on the site since around 700 AD. That was eventually replaced by a Norman church around 1200, and the thatched roof was replaced by a slate one in the 1700s. And the Victorians thought - "Hey, let's go for something more modern" and pretty much demolished it and built another.
Viking hog-backed gravestones. I would have needed pretty sophisticated lighting to bring the carvings into relief, so I haven't attempted it. They represent Viking long houses - you can see the thatch clearly. But there is also the religious confusion. Odin appears again, and a portrayal of an army surrendering (a local battle?). And on the end a picture of Christ being crucified...
Relics from the 'original' church set into a wall. On the right is the head of a cross. There were originally four, but only one (and a base, now a sundial) remains.
Column heads, again from the original church. The first is supposed to portray the "Green Man" (look it up!). The head on the left in the second looks a pretty good alien to me! This is all pretty pagan stuff...
At last - something 'modern'. Only around 1600 and something. It's a Chinese bell captured by a local admiral from one of the Tsientsin forts during the Opium Wars. They rigged it up with a proper sling and everything on the church roof. But unfortunately, Chinese bells are designed to be hammered on the outside, not by a clapper on the inside, and it went the way of the Liberty Bell.
This one is true mythology. The serpent again appears in the centre. At the bottom Thor the Thunder God is portrayed fishing for Midgardsorm, the world serpent. Thor's companion chickened out and cut the line, so Thor threw him in the sea. The upper part is supposed to be a hart trampling a serpent - supposedly a symbol for a convert to Christianity awaiting baptism. The flowers at the top are a mediaeval addition.
Regards - John
Viking hog-backed gravestones. I would have needed pretty sophisticated lighting to bring the carvings into relief, so I haven't attempted it. They represent Viking long houses - you can see the thatch clearly. But there is also the religious confusion. Odin appears again, and a portrayal of an army surrendering (a local battle?). And on the end a picture of Christ being crucified...
Relics from the 'original' church set into a wall. On the right is the head of a cross. There were originally four, but only one (and a base, now a sundial) remains.
Column heads, again from the original church. The first is supposed to portray the "Green Man" (look it up!). The head on the left in the second looks a pretty good alien to me! This is all pretty pagan stuff...
At last - something 'modern'. Only around 1600 and something. It's a Chinese bell captured by a local admiral from one of the Tsientsin forts during the Opium Wars. They rigged it up with a proper sling and everything on the church roof. But unfortunately, Chinese bells are designed to be hammered on the outside, not by a clapper on the inside, and it went the way of the Liberty Bell.
This one is true mythology. The serpent again appears in the centre. At the bottom Thor the Thunder God is portrayed fishing for Midgardsorm, the world serpent. Thor's companion chickened out and cut the line, so Thor threw him in the sea. The upper part is supposed to be a hart trampling a serpent - supposedly a symbol for a convert to Christianity awaiting baptism. The flowers at the top are a mediaeval addition.
Regards - John