Saturday, 3 December 2016

Greatham Old Church


This little church sits beside the manor at L'Abri. It is Greatham Old Church from 1280. For one who has a love of church buildings it was a spectacular bonus to be given a tour by Peter who is involved in its preservation and continued historical research.

Inside the existing structure is a small nave with a communion rail from at the latest the fifteenth century and a white alabaster statue above a sarcophagus from a similar time.

Incredibly in the grave yard is a Templar knight's grave... You can see it in the first photo: the stone set/lying in the ground. It has a long sword running down its length.

The church is no longer used except for an annual carols service (scheduled for next week regrettably) where the community pack into the grounds and drink mulled wine. Across from the church still exists the village green, although the centre of town has since moved a kilometre further down the road and the new church (still positively ancient by Australian standards).

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