September 19, 2019 Broadway, U.K.

In Stanton.
In the church in Stanton.

Back in Stanton this moning, the first order of business was to check out the village church. The most noteable feature of the architecture is a very tall slender spire. The original 12th century building had a large central tower that collapsed, taking much of the building with it. It must have taken some courage to rebuild with such a high steeple, although putting it safely on the west end. Much of the internal decoration is modern, WW I era.

This portion of the window behind the altar is thought to be saved from Hailes Abby after it was destroyed by Henry VIII.

There are a couple windows of unusual stained glass, possibly from Hailes Abbey.

I didn’t know they had fire weed in the UK. Known here as rosebay willowherb.

The walk today was short and we were back in Broadway by noon for lunch.

At the pub, ordering lunch.

The church in Broadway is not of note, the first stone being laid in 1846, so it is essentially modern. It is yet another church dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, the third in the last couple days. St. Michael was the archangel and “leader of the army of God against the forces of evil”, and was often depicted killing a symbolic dragon (earlier a snake) representing evil, not to be confused with St. George who is usually depicted killing an actual dragon. There was a note somewhere that St Michael and All Angels was often chosen as the name of a church in a reference to earlier, pre-Christian buildings on the site, where St. Michael’s protection was needed.

One immense wisteria along the whole front of that building here in Broadway.

We spent the afternoon lazing about eating ice cream under a shady tree on the village green. Tomorrow’s walk is harder.