Steeple Houses

Some of you may remember the phrase 'steeple houses'. Well here we are again. Are we going backwards or forwards? When does a building matter and when doesn't it? Yes, I know the church is not the building, but the disassociation is a lot harder when the beautiful building in question sits in the middle of your village. Yes, the church is the people. So what does that make the building? A meeting place, a historic artefact, a museum?
These are questions that may mean more to us in the year ahead.
Friday 6th November saw the outward culmination of our prayers. Our new rector, for whom we had prayed since January, was installed. (Yes, I know the term sounds more as if it's to do with central heating, but that's what they say) We look forward in hope to New Things. Above all, that Jesus would be glorified.

The key of the church door, presented to the rector. The original was lost and a replacement made by taking off the lock to make a model for the locksmith who treated it as a labour of love.


Meanwhile I am transcribing the register for the first decade of the eighteenth century. I wonder what church meant to the folk back then.......