St Mary's Church, Gladestry

 

I managed to cut off the very top of the spire, which is a pity as it is topped by a Flying Serpent.  It dates to 1709. The Flying Serpent is Biblical and is a symbol of divine judgement.  The broach spire was added 10 years later to accommodate an additional ring of bells (cast by Abraham Rudhall, Gloucester) and the church tower may have been modified/lowered at this point in time.

In the 1860s, Kilvert was a frequent visitor and preached here on occasion.  The curate (later Rector) was Revd. David Vaughan.

The church has ancient roots - 900 years - and is believed to have been founded by Harold Godwinson, last Saxon King of England.  A move more tactical than spiritual as he was making his presence felt in the Welsh hinterland.  There may have been an earlier Celtic church here.  It is on the Radnorshire border, and Welsh stopped being used here for sermons and services as early as 1700.  It is Grade 1 listed and considered a church of "exceptional national, architectural and historical importance."  (Taken from Church website).  Included in this description are the "outstanding pyramidal tower", the 16th C roof timbers and the 13th C priest's door (pictured below).

The font is Norman.

The lecturn.

An elegant stone pulpit.

HERE is a link to the Stained Glass.  Most of it dates from the early part of the 20th C.

Hard to read, but I think it is about a generous benefactor of the parish.

St George, but I don't know who his companion is.

The remains of an early stoop in the porch.

We viewed a lovely cottage in this village, right on Offa's Dyke, and with Hergest Ridge above it, with beautiful views and a managable garden, but it wasn't really big enough, had no outside storage and in retrospect, 5 miles from Kington wasn't that convenient for shopping.

It was another hot day yesterday and I got my walk in along the railway line early.  I pottered about and didn't achieve a great deal, but cut back overhanging ivy branches with a plan to make a proper flower bed beneath and transplant the climbing rose Tess of the D'Urbervilles from its planter.  She has never really recovered from a night of minus 12 a couple of years back.  I spent a couple of hours watching a German murder mystery series, The Black Forest Murders, though it had sub-titles and I was busy hand-quilting the last border for the quilt I began before we moved!