I think we were all ready for a quiet day. And, Sunday came to the rescue.
After breakfast we split up, Lindsey & Yim going to Diddly Squat Farm Shop and Cynthia and I walked down a short public path to St. Mary's Anglican Church. I'll show you pictures of the church later on in this post. I'll tell you about the service now. What a church! It's been a while since I've been inside a church and the first few songs felt like they were chosen for me. I cried. It was beautiful. Folks were very friendly and all ages were there this morning. After church, the lady next to me told us about The Branch (pronounced The Bronch 😉). This congregation has raised 5 million!£ and still need another 200,000£ for this endeavour. Here is their stated purpose: The Branch will restore local access to vital services, helping individuals and families overcome barriers and release potential. This page will give you some idea of what impact they are having in their community. My introverted self was thinking of staying home and resting for the morning, but I am so glad I went to St. Mary's. My heart is full.
Which leads to lunch. With a full heart, we also wanted a full stomach and roast beef was on our minds. It looks like we were vegetable-free, but that is not the case. Two bowls with cabbage, broccoli and a mystery vegetable were placed on the table after I took this picture. The waitress didn't know either.
Below is the outside of the pub where we ate lunch.
Our quiet day had one other thing on the schedule - a walk around town.
This is how I felt about that. ⬇️
Cynthia carried the walking guide and it went a lot better than in Witney. We pretty much found every place on the map.
I like this view.
There's the guide in her hand.
I think these were workers' cottages.
The town is centred by St. Mary's church. It's had its ups and downs over the years. This morning, I stumbled upon this nugget of history:
The 15th Century
Chipping Norton flourished as a wool town in the fifteenth century. Wealthy merchants of the Guild of the Holy Trinity gave Chipping Norton a Guildhall, Grammar School and almshouses, in addition to rebuilding the parish church. Six priests, three of whom served chantry chapels where masses were said for the souls of the departed, staffed the church in Henry VIII’s reign, but under his son, Edward VI, all chantries were closed down. There was widespread local resistance to the changes, and when the new English Prayer Book was introduced, Henry Joyce, the vicar, helped to lead the Oxfordshire Rising against it in 1549. As a punishment, Henry Joyce was hanged in chains from the church tower until he died.
Isn't it wonderful that anyone can just walk into this place of beauty and peace? No staff on hand, no locked doors.
This is a Creation Story window.
Some tombs, dating back to the 1500's caught our attention
There's been some damage in the ensuing 600 years. It looks like a nose was lost and someone tried to reconstruct it with the remaining marble.
The family pooch is still keeping watch over its masters.
And, even though this gentleman's fingers are missing, his pillow is probably still as amazing as it was when it was first carved.
What if we had almshouses like this today? Built in 1640 for 8 poor widows by a benefactor. Now there are 4 flats.
There's a front view. Lucky widows.
The last thing on our list - an addition by ourselves - was to walk to the Bliss Mill which formerly was a tweed mill and now has been transformed into condos. It has been on our radar for a couple of days.
So, there it is. Now .... how to get there.
We walked over grassy fields.....
.... down yet more muddy pathways......
(we are really getting good at cleaning our shoes on grass)
..... and up this seriously long hill. Only to find out that we needed to go back down the hill again and find a laneway next to a factory which would lead us there.
And, there it was.
I think everyone was happy to have finally found it and to be going back home for a rest.
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