12 Comments CherryPie on May 22nd 2017
What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scripture, I learnt in woods and fields. I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.
St Bernard of Clairvaux
12 Comments CherryPie on May 21st 2017
The earliest part of the Bishop’s Palace in Wells was built in 1206 by Bishop Jocelyn, who also built a two storey chapel on this site. Some years later between 1275 and 1292 Bishop Burnell used the existing foundations to change the chapel into the single storey building we see today. In the nineteenth century a second storey was added to the Palace building and the chapel parapets were raised to keep the Chapel in proportion.
To celebrate the eight hundred years since Bishop Jocelyn was granted land to build a Palace in Wells in 1206, a new altar and presidential chair were commissioned.
The celtic knot design represents reconciliation and connectedness.
The altar stone is engraved with the words: ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and he has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.’ (2 Corinthians 5.18)
*information taken from the The Chapel of the Holy Trinity and St Mark information booklet
14 Comments CherryPie on May 20th 2017
Visitors approach the Garden of Reflection along curving paths past the well pools. The planting echoes colours and shapes of the stained glass in the palace chapel.
Within the garden they find themselves beneath the gaze of the Cathedral tower, in a green and sheltering enclosure. Beside the path is a long, curving stone seat.
a place to pause and experience the Garden. Bishop Peter chose a line from Machado’s poem to inscribe on the stone bench because it expresses a spiritual journey ‘towards eternal values of truth, peace, justice and love. How we walk the path determines our destiny, we walk in hope.’
Wanderer, your footsteps are the path, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no path, the path is made by walking, by walking one makes the path and upon glancing back one sees the path that will never be trod again. Wanderer, there is no path – only waves upon the sea.*
At the centre is a rounded, chapel-like ‘poustinia’ open to the sky. This design reflects a religious tradition in Russia, where people seeking solitude to deepen their self-understanding would go into the woods and to small hermitages to reflect.*
*From A guide to the Palace & Gardens
10 Comments CherryPie on May 17th 2017
This part of the Bishop’s Palace was built in the 1400’s by Bishop Bekynton, it is the home and working offices of the Bishop of Bath & Wells.
Prior to 2011 the wells and gardens were within the bishop’s private garden.
4 Comments CherryPie on May 16th 2017
The part of the wells can be found is a complex of small pools and channels, fed by an underground river. The sluice gates regulate the flow of water into the moat and other water channels. Water can sometimes be seen bubbling up in the clear water of the wells.
Bishop Law enclose a group of three small well springs to create a new pond. On a still day this pool perfectly mirrors the cathedral.*
After heavy rain the flow of water increases, and local flooding becomes a risk. The palace gardeners can open sluices to let more water into the moat so the pool doesn’t overflow.*
*From a signboard next to the sluice gate
4 Comments CherryPie on May 15th 2017
Where there is friendship there is infinite possibility.
From a Thousand Paths to friendship by David Baird
6 Comments CherryPie on May 14th 2017
