We met at the Kings Manor early on a Saturday morning, and all piled into a minibus. It was a funny little affair, all white, with white rims and a big Mercedes logo on the front. You half expected some famous rapper and his entourage to come out of it. So in typical fashion, it was snowing again; first snow we've had since the last planned trip was cancelled! Not that this slowed our dear driver down at all. We careened out to the motorway, taking round-abouts on two wheels. Did I mention that I am a nervous passenger? It was not a pleasant ride.
Our driver assured the course director that he didn't need help with directions, because he knew exactly where we were going. You would have thought the pimp-bus came with a GPS, but not so. Well he managed to find the only other town in England called Norbury, which was not the Norbury we were supposed to be going to. Luckily, it was only an hour or so out of the way, and after another hour of hair raising, careening, back-road driving hell, we made it to our destination. We actually made it to Checkley, our second destination, where we headed to first because it was closer to Norbury II.
So let me tell you about the glass.
Checkley and Norbury are both very old, small parish churches, first built in the late 13th century. Both have spectacular chancels with amazing original glass. The glass at Checkley has protective glazing, which sits on the outside of the glass, and protects it from the weather and further deterioration of the glass. The glass at Norbury, unfortunately, has gone many years needing protective glazing, and not having it. After extensive cleaning in just 2004, it is covered in algae and micro-organisms again. Both are amazing, fantastic churches, with a lot of other beautiful furnishings and fabric (original materials) from the 13th century.
Here are some photos from St.Mary and All Saints in Checkley, Staffordshire...
Early 14th century glass
Tracery with heraldic shields
The martyrdom of St. Thomas a Becket, a rare image to see in glass after The Reformation
Saint Stephen, being stoned to death, and some more lovely grisaille glass. Grisaille is the clear glass which is painted with intricate foliage patterns.
The labors or past-times of the month. This one is March. These were moved from the rectory into the chancel and date from the 17th century.
July.
October
Stunning 19th century glass from the South aisle. I LOVE this glass!
Beautiful alter pieces
Godfrey and Margaret, alabaster stone sarcophagus
Dated 1560
Old graffiti, poor Margaret!
Godfrey
The churchyard
Sofia in amongst the greenery. It was sooo damp here. Everything was covered in green.
After leaving checkley, we went on to Norbury to the church of St Mary and St Barlok. This church is the most damp church ever recorded in England! Check out the algae on the walls and glass. Still a beautiful place, and scheduled for futher conservation and protective glazing in the coming year.
The churchyard
Some more heraldry
Another fine alabaster tomb.
Exquisitely detailed
A sheep or dog at the foot of the master?
Lovely blue glass, my favorite color.
Finely detailed grisaille glass.
A peaceful resting place.
I hope you enjoyed the photos. The next installment will be about our trip to the East Riding of Yorkshire featuring High Victorian architecture by Street, and some wonderful 19th century glass. Stay tuned!
