Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life…
I am not quite on target for arriving to coordinate with my actual walk to Stonehenge in August. Life and on occasion a lack of Mojo have got in the way.
I wonder if I can get myself back on track…
That being said I am still on track to complete my ‘Walk 1000 Miles’ by the end of the year.
6 Comments CherryPie on Jul 25th 2025
Filed under Faith Foundations, Heritage, Out & About
This intimate chapel sits beside the nave, close to its immense tapestry and the high altar, both of which are so often, by design, bathed in natural light. In contrast, the Chapel of Gethsemane is small with relatively little lighting. Its mosaic depicts the Angel of Agony by Steven Sykes which, on approach, is viewed through a wrought-iron crown of thorns, designed by Sir Basil Spence. Thus, beside the large, blazing glory of the tapestry and high altar, this quiet, small chapel serves as a reminder of suffering and a place of prayer and contemplation, away from the focal point of the Cathedral.
4 Comments CherryPie on Jul 22nd 2025
Filed under Faith Foundations, Heritage, Out & About
This chapel, also known as the Chapel of industry, connects us with the everyday world through clear glass.
Christians are not called to step out of the world but to be deeply involved, loving and serving others. Here we give thanks that we meet God in our daily life and work and ask for grace to know God there and make God known.*
*from a signboard at the entrance to the Chapel
2 Comments CherryPie on Jul 22nd 2025
The Charred Cross is made from two medieval roof beams which had fallen in the shape of a cross in the rubble after the bombing of the Cathedral in 1940.
Cathedral Groundsman Jock Forbes’ instinctive action was to set up this sign of Christ’s suffering amidst the destruction. the beams were bound together and placed the Sanctuary of the Ruins. the Charred Cross remained there until 1978 whin it was brought to this location for safekeeping.
The beams were originally held in place with medieval roof nails. The ‘Cross of Nails’, formed from three such nails, is the internationally-recognised symbol of our peace and reconciliation ministry. You can see the original ‘cross of nails’ in the centre of the High Altar Cross. *
*from a sign board next to the Charred Cross
4 Comments CherryPie on Jul 20th 2025
I managed to persuade the reluctant adventurer to join me for a walk. First we visited my mum, who once again wasn’t quite herself so we didn’t stay as long as we would have liked to. Next we went to Shrewsbury to purchase some Sherry from Majestic Wines which led us nicely into lunch in the Cote Kitchen at Churncote Farm Shop.
After lunch Mr C drove the scenic route to Newport where we parked in Water Lane carpark next to the start of our walk. The first part of the walk led us to a part of the canal that I had no idea existed. It was delightful and teaming with wildlife. I will definitely go back there again. The walk then lead us alongside fields, through fields, through a churchyard, country pathways and a long stretch of country road ending with some paddocks which involved navigating several styles before arriving back in Newport and the start of the walk.
Overall I enjoyed the walk, although after a while I found walking along the country lane a bit hard going.
My milage differed from the 4.75 miles mentioned on the walk page. By the time we had finished the walk my FitBit registered that I had walked around 6.5 miles. We did go a bit off track on one part of the walk (map reader failed to read instructions) leading us to retrace our steps but the small detour didn’t account for so much difference in mileage.
7 Comments CherryPie on Jul 20th 2025
A few days ago I took part in a training course that will allow me to lead community walks around Attingham Park. Community walks within Attingham Park is something new and I will be helping shape which walks will be on offer to start off the project.
After the training, which finished mid afternoon I put my best foot forward in the glorious sunshine. I walked my extended ‘mile walk’ route and took advantage of my favourite benches to sit and rest a while. Nearing the end of my walk I had to wait until the cows came home.
2 Comments CherryPie on Jul 19th 2025
Details from Coventry Cathedral website:
The artist John Piper was asked to design the stained glass. His view was that with 198 small areas of window to fill, the glass needed dazzling colour and an abstract pattern to create unity.
Working with glassmaker Patrick Reyntiens, he created the window from thousands of differently-sized pieces of glass to visually vary the space and rest the eye.
The baptismal font is situated in front of the baptistery window and is carved in the shape of a shell. The Inner City Peace Trail provides further information:
The font is carved into a boulder that was donated by the government of Jordan as a gesture towards Muslim, Christian and Jewish cooperation. It was shipped from a hillside near Bethlehem in 1960 and placed before John Piper’s stunning Baptistry window.
The font was carved into it by Ralph Beyer. He was a German letter-cutter, sculptor and teacher. He is most noted for his work on the new Coventry Cathedral, including carving not only the baptismal font but also the foundation stone of the cathedral, the greetings set into its floor and, what is perhaps his most famous work, the huge inscriptions in the nave.
Born in Berlin, Beyer served in the British Army during WWII. His mother was murdered in Auschwitz.
6 Comments CherryPie on Jul 18th 2025
