One danger of touring is always the deadening dumbness of old things.
There was no deadness in this very old old church at old Kings Sobourne when half the congregation gathered around me to sing the song I brought from Pam and the Chorale Colac for them to sing in its wholesome original context. I had the inspiration to ask the organist to play it and these lovely people all spontaneously gathered around!
The formerly warring Viking King Olf was baptized in this very parish in 1070's.
Oh to celebrate the very best of history in a place of such history, and with the living believers still making history.
Where we sang was no different from so many churches in the South West. Old and crumbling on the outside but, with most some small group , and some even big groups ( such at Romsey) keeping it well alive on the inside.
You couldn't even read the writing on the many old gravestones on this church site, next to the village square, but inside they read the old words with the same power they were read every Sunday since it was built in 1080s.
Some of the foundations of the very oldest parts of the church have crumbled ( explaining the non-square window in another photo) The altar altars here bears the most amazing tapestry
Love the Brits . In order to accommodate all the planning rules ( no new toilets outside ) the elders have installed a tiny little new rest room for all comers in one of the old vestries.
There is so much more to our adventure down here in Hampshire ,
Hopefully I will add some more soon
Hopefully I will add some more soon
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