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Ian Dalgliesh | all galleries >> Galleries >> Views along the Roding Valley > Lychgate,with Church building behind
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12-NOV-2006 Ian Dalgliesh

Lychgate,with Church building behind

St.Mary the Virgin Church,Aythorpe Roding,Essex view map

Another of those Parish Churches whose founding village has gone with the wind of change,leaving the Church,isolated and alone.
I think I'm getting the beginnings of an idea now,the Lychgate,was just an ornamentation of an entrance point,behind which is the much more important focal point of religious ceremony,namely,the church itself.One question springs to mind;why was the lychgate so impressive,when in this case,the church building is so dull,in comparison.Answer,more homework to try to find the answer.We live in a bizarre world.This impressive lychgate was the second last resting place of the poor of the parish.Their earthly remains,corpse,to you and me,would rest here,to be attended by the Parish Priest,prior to burial.I didn't say coffin,because its only recently that all have had access to coffins,in the middle ages,only the rich had those,poor folk were swathed in cloth.So,they couldn't afford coffins,but how much would this fancy lychgate have cost?

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Chris Spracklen26-Feb-2008 16:00
Lovely shot of an archetypal English scene, Ian.
Best regards, Chris
Guest 30-Sep-2007 00:11
A beautifully English kind of scene. An interesting and thought-provoking commentary too. ~V~
Guest 29-Jun-2007 01:27
A lovely scene Ian, taken at just the right time of year, V
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