A notice on the church door urges visitors: “Please close the door. It conserves heat and keeps the organ in tune.” On this chilly April morning, the interior welcomes with pleasant warmth.
Rebirth from Devastating Fire
Nearly three decades ago, on 16 September 1998, a fierce blaze engulfed the church. Temperatures soared above 1,000°C, consuming the old organ, floors, windows, roof, and 900 years of history. Only a charred shell remained. Over the next seven years, dedicated reconstruction transformed the space into a light, airy sanctuary. Simple pale oak furnishings now replace the former dark, ornate designs, while a striking new east window depicts an exotic floral paradise.
Vibrant Stained Glass Honors St Brendan
Artist Helen Whittaker’s Paradise window captures St Brendan’s legendary voyage, the Irish traveler’s lifelong pursuit of an earthly Garden of Eden. Early sunlight streams through, projecting rainbow hues of subtropical blooms he may have seen: strelitzia, jacaranda, hibiscus, and angel’s trumpets. Clear panels below frame the churchyard’s native trees, revealing a natural haven teeming with local wildlife.
Seasonal Blooms and Busy Pollinators
February brought drifts of snowdrops and winter aconites around the grave of Jack Warner, a cherished figure. March ushered in daffodils. Now, bee-flies dart among primrose blooms in the longer grass along mown paths. A buff-tailed queen bumblebee probes a vole tunnel near an old tree stump, scouting nest sites. A seven-spot ladybird navigates a lichen-covered table-tomb.
Harmony of Silence and Song
A song thrush’s melody dominates the soundscape. In the profound quiet, the faint scratch of a treecreeper’s claws echoes as it scales an ash tree’s bark. Thoughtful churchyard management strikes a perfect balance: honoring those laid to rest while nurturing nature’s renewing cycles.
One ancient yew bears tiny male pollen cones. A gentle shake of its branch releases a fleeting yellow pollen cloud, suspended in a sunbeam before drifting upward like dissolving smoke through the foliage.
