It's always a risk when you finally realise a long-held desire. I don't much care for Disappointment.
But All Saints Church was snoozing in the sun like an interesting dragon ...
... and when I encountered Ivor in the porch ...
... and saw the hinges of the door, I knew it was going to be fine.
And it was. In fact, it was more than fine, it was sublime.
All Saints was designed and built in 1901-2 by William Lethaby, whose pupil Randall Wells built St Edward's at Kempley, another nearby Arts and Crafts Church.
This is better, though. I can't recall ever feeling so at home in a place before.
The font
As I wandered around, I was very aware of how perfectly everything fitted together - the oak and stone, shadow and sun, beauty and utility. There was a palpable presiding spirit in the place: if not God, then definitely William Morris.
The embroidery was donated anonymously to the Church in 1960, and comprises of an altar frontal, some seating covers and hymn book covers.
It is, shall we say, a little less expert than the exquisite work produced by the likes of Jane and May Morris, but what a generous gift. Already I was feeling tearful.
The alms box
Window by Christopher Whall, showing incidents in the lives of St Cecilia and St Margaret of Scotland
Detail of window
16th century Flemish triptych
Mason's mark
Pulpit
Russian icon, early 19th century
Mediaeval stained glass salvaged from the old church
The crossing tower
Christopher Whall window in the transept
Choir stalls ...
... with carving by George Jack
The Sanctuary
Tapestries woven by Morris & Co, to designs by Edward Burne Jones
Alabaster sculpture of the Madonna
East window by Christopher Whall
View of the Nave from the Sanctuary
Light-fitting
By now a couple of other visitors had arrived and I was still in a state of high emotion, so I went back out into the churchyard and sat on a mossy tree root to collect myself. A pair of buzzards were spiralling overhead.
And when the other visitors left, I knew I couldn't go back in. What if I did and it was still so overwhelming that I lost it and couldn't drive to my next destination? What if I did and it wasn't? Neither outcome seemed bearable.
There will come a time when the risk will feel worth taking. I'll be back then.
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