Quodlibet: An English Country Churchyard

I love a good rummage round a churchyard, don't you?

I came home the long way yesterday, taking a right turn off the Ross Road at Barber's Bridge for a diversion through the villages of Tibberton and Taynton because it's Spring and the native daffodil is in bloom. The hosts of past centuries are depleted to a remnant in the hedgerow and churchyard now but there they are, and their tenacity makes me proud.

I guess St Lawrence's Church, Taynton, isn't grand, but it's loved, and worshippers have gathered here since the time when we had no King, when we were a 'Commonwealth'. A concept I rather like, and wouldn't be too sad to see return ... 'Commondearth' being what we have now. (Disgruntled sigh.)

This striking monument is for three soldiers from the same family killed or maimed in what their family who buried them would have called 'The Great War'

In Cherished Memory of Thomas Wetmore Ponting of the 12th BATT. London Regt. Rangers killed in action in Flanders April 21st. 1915, 29.

His brothers, Charles (40) and William (37) died within days of each other just two weeks before the Armistice. Can you imagine how this family suffered?

On a lighter note, the headstone below marks the final resting place of Ann Watkins (69) died 1894, ('Thy Will Be Done) and her husband, the quaintly named 'Comfort' Watkins who followed her to glory in 1900 ('Jesus Wept')

'Comfort' sends my thoughts off down a track. Do the last vestiges of this village's Presbyterian history reside in Mr Watkins' unusual name? The Church itself was Anglicised long ago, but maybe the Dissenting fervour that built it lingered on in family names?

Enough idle speculation! Today is St David's Day! Greetings to my Welsh family and friends. Here for you is one last glimpse of the daffodils!