Marc Chagall's wonderful windows!

I have always loved Marc Chagall's paintings, so vibrant, colourful and unique so I drove to All Saint's Church at Tudeley, a few miles away where there are stained glass windows by Chagall. It was another stunning day and  the countryside looked amazing so green and lush after all the rain we have had, I took what I though was a short cut and ended up driving through the tiny lanes and came upon another church The Thomas a Becket at Capel where Becket himself had preached, I had the church all to myself and could look closely at the 13th century wall paintings, I sat in a pew imagining the artists  creating the wonderful designs.  It was deliciously cool in the church but I dragged myself away and drove the short distance to All Saints' to photograph the Chagall windows. I opened the church door and the sight just took my breath away, the colours were simply amazing, after a few moments I was again alone in the church, I moved around taking photos of the stunning windows and taking in the beauty of the space. This blog was started to showcase my jewellery designs but it has turned into something else altogether, but I do take inspiration from places I visit and theses two visits are no exception, I have some ideas which I will be posting soon, but in the meantime hope you enjoy the photographs.  I feel very privileged to live in such a beautiful county with history all around me, and I never take it for granted.

The Thomas a Becket  Church, Capel, Kent

13th Century Wall paintings

Oast Houses and Apple Orchards, view from the church

All Saints' Church, Tudeley, Kent

The largest of the Marc Chagall windows

Reflections in the Grand Piano

Beautiful dappled ancient floor

This is a record of all the Vicars of All Saints' dating from 1252 to the present day!



Wishing you all a wonderful week, keep Calm and Cool!

Heaven on Earth

After weeks and weeks of rain we finally have some glorious weather. I had been wanting to take some photographs of  St Peter's Church in Boughton Monchelsea, Kent,  which is just a mile or so from where I live. It really is the most stunningly beautiful place, with views to die for (pardon the pun) The church and graveyard overlook the Kentish Weald and it is one of my favourite places to sit, there is always a heavenly breeze on hot days like today and had to drag myself away from this glorious spot. St Peter's was built on the site of a Roman Temple and parts of the church including the Lynchgate date from 1470 and is one of the oldest in the country. I ran my hands over the ancient wood of the Lynchgate and imagined all the people that had passed through it. I find graveyards hauntingly beautiful, the lives of unknown people engraved on the headstones are enormously moving to me. I sat on a bench with a plaque dedicated to a 22 year old girl who had passed, she loved the place and wanted other people to enjoy the peace and breathtaking views, a life so short yet I sensed so happy. I thought about my own parents and those dear to me that have passed, I felt comforted by the serenity and feeling of peace that overwhelmed me, it really is  heaven on earth.
I hope you enjoy the photographs I have taken and are able to see what a heavenly place it is.

She must have been a very special person