1/31/11

My World - England II


The Diocese of Sherborne Abbey was created in AD 705.

The immediate area around the Abbey has many Middle Age buildings and structures, it's very impressive.


The architecture shows many different styles, but all of it is beautiful.


This is the south quire looking to the west and the font visible is medieval.


The roof of the nave is the earliest, and claimed to be the finest fan vaulting in England.

The Great West Window at the end of the nave was made by eminent stained glass artist John Hayward and was dedicated in 1998 by The Queen.

The main quire itself is very beautiful with medieval misericords, a painted ceiling and glorious coloured glass. With it's candlelit atmosphere it just feels like a special place.


There are many lovely things to see, I especially enjoyed these old flags, but could find no explanation for them.


This is one of a few smaller chapels open to view and for prayer.


If you look at the differing window styles on the upper and lower levels in this picture, you can clearly see where the Abbey ajoins what All hallows church a later addition in the 1400's.

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26 comments:

Linda Reeder said...

OK, I'm ready for another trip to England!

EG CameraGirl said...

Gorgeous, Sarah! England is such a wonderful place!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow, Sarah.... I would love to go to Sherborne Abbey. What an incredible place... Thanks so much for showing the pictures... I have been to several beautiful cathedrals which remind me a little of the abbey...

I love the ceiling/roof... Wow--fabulous.. And I always love the stained glass windows.

Thanks again. I LOVED seeing it..
Hugs,
Betsy

Sylvia K said...

Oh, I would love to visit there, Sarah! What a beautiful place and the history is so fascinating! Your photos are terrific and the next best thing to being there! Have a great week!

Sylvia

Noel Morata said...

aloha,

looks like it a beautiful church, love the flags

thanks for sharing this

Penelope Notes said...

The ornate abbey, high ceilings and stained glass windows can be visually overwhelming in their charm and beauty. I can almost hear the echoes! Thanks for sharing this historical place of worship and interesting piece of your British life. :)

Tyke said...

The flags are the "laid up" 'colours' of various regiments - at the front is the flag of the 3rd Dorsetshire Regiment. Laying up flags (inluding battle honours) is traditional when the flags are worn & faded. Here's more info & a link about the picture.

It was a similar situation in Dorset, where reunions were centred on Dorchester. Mr W G Hand GC MM was present in 1961, the year that he died. He was one of four Dorset Regiment soldiers awarded Empire Gallantry Medals 'for services rendered in connection with military operations in Malabar, 1921-1922'. This was the largest number ever awarded to a single regiment; they were subsequently exchanged for the newly-instituted George Cross, with which CSM Hand was invested by HM King George VI on 3 February 1942. In October 1961 the Colours of both 2 Dorset and 3 Dorset were laid-up in Sherborne Abbey. Three years later there was another large gathering at Sherborne, including The Dorset Regiment (TA), for the laying-up of the Colours of 1 Dorset.

http://www.keepmilitarymuseum.org/devonanddorset/wider_regimental.php?&dx=1&ob=3&rpn=history

Kay L. Davies said...

Fabulous place, Sarah. Would love to see it some day.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Unknown said...

Beautiful shots and such rich architecture. Probably as close as I will ever get. Thanks
Odie

Barbara (Xerraire) said...

Lovely subject. Enjoyed those photos.

Wow, an ex Brit in tornado alley.
You like excitement!
:)

Barb

Gaelyn said...

Magnificent architecture!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Very beautiful building and great photos. The building has certainly stood the test of time for both structural soundness and design. It is amazing that it was built so long ago without any of our modern construction machinery.

Unknown said...

Tyke thank you for your excellent and interesting explanation!

Yogi, that regularly blows my mind, how did they do it!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Thanks for sharing the photos of Sherborne Abbey. One of the joys of my visits to England (when my daughter was stationed there) was to visit English churches. I'm sorry I didn't make it to Sherborne Abbey; it's beautiful. I do not doubt at all that the nave ceiling is the finest in England.
These photos make me want to go back!

Kay said...

We just watched Pillars of the Earth and I thought this was the church. Oops! Wrong one! Gorgeous church though.

George said...

Thanks for showing this beautiful old abbey with us. I loved the old churches I was able to visit when I was in England.

Travel With Lulu said...

It just amazes me that they were able to make that without modern day equipment

BraCom said...

beautiful seriem, wonderful architecture

Have a nice week,
Greetings, Bram

Link to My Word Tuesday post!

Seen on My World Tuesday

Stewart M said...

Ah England and snow! Enough to make me homesick - 40c here today and way too hot!

Nice picture as an expat sweats through another day!

Cheers

Stewart M - Melbourne.

Midwest to Midlands said...

I love those flags. We were just saying on Sunday how much we love the churches in the countryside and how different the British landscape would be without the churches. From where we were stopped on a hill (by a church) we could count five other steeples.

eileeninmd said...

Sarah, it is a beautiful abbey. The details all over are just amazing. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.

Linda Jennings said...

Fabulous photos!! This makes me want to go to England for another visit.

Karen said...

So much history and amazing architecture. Thanks for the tour.

Pam said...

Hey Sarah, I was just reading where actor Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey, Lord Grantham) went to school in Sherborne. Small world! Totally agree that Sherborne is everything an American wants England to be. BTW, I have figured out how to get around it when your word verification does the dreaded red x on me. I copy my comments, hit refresh, and voile' ... word verif appears normally! Now maybe my comments won't disappear into cyberspace!

Barbara said...

I am enjoying your tour of Sherborne, it does look good in the snow. It reminded me I haven't visited lately, maybe I will go there when the weather is warmer. It is only about 45 minutes away.

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