I took the photograph this very morning. It was the first time I had seen Simon's gravestone. There it is in the foreground just left of centre. I put the potted heather in front of it and some rocks I had brought specially from home to support the pot.
I have obscured our surname for purposes of confidentiality.
Luckily, the church door was open. A woman was busily cleaning therein but she kindly allowed me inside with my friend Tony who I had picked up in Beverley.
We saw the font where, as a baby, I was doused with holy water and a carved stone relic from the village's original church which stood at Hall Garth - a mile west of the village. It was called St Faith's but only its churchyard remains. It is a place that has always intrigued me.
After the church visit, we drove back to Beverley and thence to the "park and ride" west of Hull where we caught a bus to the football ground.
There we had the pleasure of watching our beloved Hull City beating Cardiff City by four goals to one though it never felt like a truly convincing victory. It's as if our new squad of players are still trying to discover each other and gel together. But it's a victory and we'll take it. Up The Tigers!
I like the stone chosen for your brother. I hope mine is simple like that.
ReplyDeleteIt is called Yorkstone - a kind of hard sandstone. For the carving I followed my brother's instructions - just his name and birth and death years.
DeleteIt's always good to go back and spend a few minutes at the markers while we do some remembering.
ReplyDeleteI might have lived there forever - like Simon but I went away.
DeleteThat's a very pretty church and graveyard, so nicely kept. Australia's football Grand Final of the season saw the Brisbane Lions beat the Sydney Swans by a decent margin.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch football at all, but it was on the news later in the evening.
You are referring to Aussie Rules - not proper football.
DeleteI imagine it was something of a bittersweet visit to the village of your childhood, the church that holds those memories for you and the churchyard with your brother‘s grave.
ReplyDeleteI think of that village as "home" even though I have lived in Sheffield much longer.
DeleteI wonder if you think being doused in Holy Water gave you any long term benefit? Good to learn Hull City finally won a match.
ReplyDeleteBeing doused in holy water brought me closer to God and his mercy and a much better chance of getting a nice berth in heaven, far from the riff-raff.
DeleteI have always been impressed by the size and grandeur of East Riding churches. Some such as Hedon and Patrington are so large as to look almost out of place. I think it shows how productive and wealthy the East Riding used to be.
ReplyDeleteSt Patrick's Church, Patrington is indeed magnificent and it is interesting to investigate how such buildings were funded.
DeleteSad but acknowledging roots is a good thing. Better a village than Sheffield and its large populous
ReplyDeleteOnly 584,000 live here in Sheffield. With its hills and valleys, it seems like a cluster of villages.
DeleteI like the simplicity of Simon's stone. He's finally found a tranquil resting place near to home.
ReplyDeleteHe asked for that stone himself and I followed his instructions with the help of a monumental stonemason based in Bridlington. Just his name and dates.
DeleteI love visiting old English churches. Great photos especially the footballers picture.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I did not take the footballers picture myself Dave.
DeleteI have been told, that my great grandfather missed proper "football" and would drive to university games here in the US to watch them, often being the only one in the stands who not family of a lover of the team members. This would have been in the 1920s-1930s.
ReplyDeleteGood old Grandpaw! I guess he needed a distraction like that.
DeleteGlad you got to check out Simon's grave. Looks nice. Do you think his neighbor is related to Kate Middleton?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your team winning, Neil!
There may have been some connection way back in time - the Middletons I mean. Also there are eight villages in Yorkshire alone called Middleton.
DeleteThe church is like a one-stop shopping venue in its own way. You can be baptized and buried right there. Cradle to grave. Pretty cool, really.
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing with the headstone and it looks good.
I was pleased with its simplicity and the way it was executed.
DeleteYou were doused with a carved stone relic? That sounds painful!
ReplyDeleteHa-ha! I see what you mean Steve. Well-spotted!
DeleteStruck me while reading this that the town and village where I grew up ceased to be "home" for me when my parents moved away from there in their retirement years - to return to the area where they themselves grew up. I moved here myself at age 30 and all family graves are here too. So feel more rooted here than where I was born...
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