Yesterday, we went over to Selby where Shirley's sister now dwells. We were delivering an item of furniture and had lunch over there. That was before we had been into the centre of town. Almost incredibly, you can park there for two hours for free! Other town councils please take note.
Shirley and Carolyn wanted to explore a few shops - but that did not appeal to me so instead I decided to pay Selby Abbey another visit. I hadn't been inside for a few years. It is an impressive church with many of its Norman features still present. Once it was at the heart of a monastic settlement that effectively ruled the surrounding district - never imagining that King Henry VIII would demand The Dissolution of the Monasteries and a breakaway from the Catholic influence of Rome.
Fortunately, Selby Abbey was spared from destruction when so many other abbeys were ruined by order of the king.
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| The Washington Window, Selby Abbey |
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| Magnificent stone work in Selby Abbey |
Up in the abbey's clerestory windows, above the high altar, there's a fourteenth century stained glass panel that should be of special interest to all American patriots. It is by far the earliest example of a stained glass window that includes the Washington coat of arms. I am talking here about the family of one George Washington, the first president of The United States. In fact, it is called The Washington Window.
It is generally believed that the design of "The Stars and Stripes" evolved from the Washington coat of arms. Apparently, George Washington's ancestors had links with the Selby area that probably involved land ownership and the raking in of rent.
There was hardly anybody else in the abbey as I wandered round. It appears to be well-maintained but like many old churches it needs significant maintenance if it is going to survive another millennium. Currently, the church burghers have a repair funding target of £3 million. If by chance there are any millionaires reading this - such as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Bill Gates, Robert Brague, Jeff Bezos or Queen Elizabeth II - would you please send a cheque for £3 million to Selby Abbey. Even one million would help. Thanks in anticipation of your kind support.
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| Chairs stacked to discourage visitors from sitting during The Great Lockdown |
Those stacked chairs look like a piece of contemporary art.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased you agree with the photographer Sue.
DeleteIt is a well-known fact that Illuminati consist of Multi Millionaires,
DeleteBillionaires who have major influence regarding most global affairs,
including the planning of a New World Order. Many world leaders,
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forces and become rich with boundless measures of wealth in your company or
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.com or WhatsApp +593960127139.
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ORGANIZATIONDo not hesitate to contact us by WhatsApp.: +593960127139
Email : brightiluminati666@gmail.comBEWARE OF SCAMMERS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REGISTRATION FEE AND YOU MUST
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My thoughts exactly Sue!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos as always YP.
The way the light was hitting those chairs meant I just had to get my camera out again.
DeleteI love the atmosphere in these places, there is a sense of calm as as soon as you enter the door.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should tell Brighton and Hove Council about the parking charges, here they are over the top. Fortunately we are exempt because Tom has a blue badge but when my daughter comes to visit is is costly.
Love the stack of chairs, like Sue I thought they were a work of art.
Briony
x
If all drivers united and said, "We are not paying parking charges any more!" the system would soon collapse.
DeleteThose beautiful buildings are still impressive after hundreds of years, even to people with no particular religious beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI, too, found that photo of the chairs fascinating. I had to look two or three times to make out what it was!
I don't think that I ever believed in God and yet I love old churches - both inside and out. They speak of my people.
DeleteYour (self confessed) love for America shines through your post.
ReplyDeleteThe Selby you are talking about is the one my dear sweet mother-in-law's service was held. Her daughter and I doing the flowers the night (!) before. Well, her daughter was [doing the flowers]. I know when to keep out of the picture. Just kept her company. And marvelled at the bats flying about. All that was missing was a blood sucker.
Should you be interested in my quest to secure a hat (in York) fit for a funeral (apparently, weddings and funerals in England you can't attend unless you, woman, wears a hat), let me know. It's one of the more shameful moments of my life. Though did carry it off in the end. Marjorie (my long dead MIL) would have approved.
U
Are you saying that Marjorie's funeral was held in Selby Abbey or another church in Selby? I like the place very much. It is just the right size for a town.
DeleteYou know how much I love Ripon Cathedral, which has stone work not unlike Selby Abbey. I wonder how come Selby was spared distruction. Fountains Abbey (and so many others) weren't. One of the first things that Henry's men usually did was to tear down the roof, so that the inside would be exposed to the elements and all further use (clandestine masses and other purposes) was made impossible.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bit about the Washington window! One of my relatives lives in Washington Close in Ripon.
The stacked chairs make for a good picture. Very artsy.
I am an artsy kind of guy Meike! I stroll around in tight velvet pantaloons and wear a spotted silk cravat. It is interesting how and why Selby Abbey survived but so did Ripon Cathedral of course - which has an even older history.
DeletePerhaps it's a 3 star hotel for Angels YP. They would have Church Service instead of Room Service?
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
DeleteGod watches everything Northsider and you will be judged my friend! God does not like folk making fun of his churches. I know this because I had a vision.
DeleteSomehow I don’t think Sir Mick is going to be opening his check (Cheque) book for that. But it is a lovely church.
ReplyDeleteI am honoured to have had a visit from Mrs Mick (i.e. the current Mrs Jagger). Sounds like Mick is as tight as a duck's arse.
DeleteI love old churches. I'm not religious but when I visit England or Europe, it's the old churches that most fascinate me. I can still remember the first time I visited London and realized that there were people buried in the church, under the floor. That creeped me out a little.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the chairs is very good. I tend to gravitate towards patterns too when I'm taking photos.
I am sure that your funeral will be many years from now Lily but why not request that your mortal remains be buried under the floor of your local church?
DeleteI know it well. Selby was once the best place for miles for watching East Coast Main Line trains which had to slow down for the Ouse bridge. And there used to be a serpent in the abbey.
ReplyDeleteThe serpent is still there and I took a photo of it! It is believed that Selby was the childhood home of the Yorkshire elephant hunter - Tusker Dunham.
DeleteThat's interesting about the Washington window. The stone work in there is beautiful! Thanks for bringing us along, again, on one of your adventures.
ReplyDeleteGlad of your company Jennifer but next time you are in an English abbey please don't tell the vicar that the altar should be replaced with an aquarium!
DeleteThanks for the guided tour :) (I love visiting old churches and cathedrals when I have the opportunity, but this summer I'm not going anywhere...)
ReplyDeleteIf you don't go anywhere you will go stir crazy DT!
DeleteIt is not your photograph of the chairs but the Washington Window that fascinates me. There seems to be little evidence to support the idea that the American flag design was based on the Washington family coat of arms, but it makes a lovely story anyway.
ReplyDeleteYou must be thinking of another Robert Brague as this one has nowhere near three million pounds to send, but I do believe that is the rarest company I have ever been in. Just do not tell the Internal Revenue Service.
I am glad you took that mischief in good heart Bob! No offence intended. As for the story, there may not be evidence but it could still be the truth.
DeleteI'm always amazed at what they constructed with the technology of the time. They did most things on stone!
ReplyDeleteAnd no electricity or drills, not even tubular scaffolding! It is indeed amazing.
DeleteHilaire Belloc said the monasteries were the social security system for the poor since the monks fed the starving.
ReplyDeleteThe nobles wanted church lands for themselves and saw an opportunity to enrich themselves even further; the break-up of the great church estates was not so much Reformation as spoliation, said Belloc.
Historians now say he got it basically right. Half English, half French Belloc fought with the French artillery in the First World War.
It is a complex history. Who is to say that Belloc was right? How much research had he done?
DeleteYes, very complex. Belloc was pugnacious, they would never have put up with him in the Common Room at Oxford, though he would have enhanced History.
DeleteHe said the English people had been lied to on the subject of the Reformation. As far as the nobles grabbing church lands is concerned, he was correct.
Regarding the lucrative sale of Indulgences, and the lively trade in relics, he was on less certain ground. Belloc called these *abuses* but argued that the reformers had no apostolic authority, no right to tear the robe of Christ apart, citing Erasmus over Luther. The reformers cited Augustine, Rome's biggest gun, and said, *Even Augustine would condemn Indulgences.*
There's a statue (see online) of the French reformer Guillame Farel outside Neuchatel Cathedral. Farel is holding the Bible above his head, the pages turned to the people. In that gesture he is saying the Church had set itself higher than the Scriptures.
Sola Scriptura theology was powerfully preached by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones under whose ministry I came to faith.
Sadly parking charges are an important source of revenue for local councils suffering perpetual budget cuts from central government. The lack of revenue during the lockdown along with additional costs has left many of them seriously struggling.
ReplyDeleteThat is true but no other country in the world squeezes the car driving public for parking fees like Great Britain does.
DeleteToo true, so, at the next election people should vote for a party that screws the wealthy who pay no tax, not the local councils, who then have to scrape the revenue from the ordinary folk in order to provide essential services.
DeleteThese are wonderful pictures and I am glad to learn about the Washington Window. I agree with Sue that those chairs look like a piece of contemporary art!
ReplyDeleteThanks for calling by and leaving another friendly comment Bonnie.
DeleteThat chair photo is really cool, and I love the Washington window! Who knew?!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how much it must cost to restore and maintain these ancient buildings.
I rolled into Selby, or should I say staggered into Selby, on a long walk, and stayed at the pub next to the Abbey. It was late so the Abbey was closed. Next day I set off and made it to the Humber bridge, 30 miles away. That was when I was a mere nipper of 62.
ReplyDeleteIt is a well-known fact that Illuminati consist of Multi Millionaires,
ReplyDeleteBillionaires who have major influence regarding most global affairs,
including the planning of a New World Order. Many world leaders,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, royalty and senior executives of major Fortune
500 companies are members of Illuminati. join a secret cabal of mysterious
forces and become rich with boundless measures of wealth in your company or
any given business, the great Illuminati can make everything possible just
contact : brightiluminati666@gmail.com
.com or WhatsApp +593960127139.
Thaddeus I am Vice-President of Citizen Outreach THE ILLUMINATI
ORGANIZATIONDo not hesitate to contact us by WhatsApp.: +593960127139
Email : brightiluminati666@gmail.comBEWARE OF SCAMMERS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REGISTRATION FEE AND YOU MUST
BE ABOVE THE AGE OF 18YRS.
THANKS
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ReplyDelete