East Lydford

[smallhobbit]

We managed to go away for a couple of nights this week, which was very nice.  We stayed in a village called East Lydford, which is a few miles south of Shepton Mallett in Somerset.

The village has a church which is no longer in use and falling into disrepair.  It was built in 1866 and was only in use for 120 years.

 

 

And there were chickens where we were staying!


 

Comments

[kingstoken]

Nice pics. Forgotten churches kind of make me sad.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. A small and diminishing congregation and no money combined with costly upkeep.

[kingstoken]

I understand, its just that church buildings are so lovely and can't really be converted into anything else very easily. Although, I did read about one Anglican church here in a small town in southern Ontario that was closing down, because it had a tiny congregation and it cost the church too much to maintain it, but the community used the sunday school a lot for community activities, like scouts, etc and becasue it was such a tiny town it was one of the few pubic places for groups to meet. So, after complaints and press coverage, the archdiocese sold the church to the town for a dollar, and the town changed it into a community centre.

[smallhobbit]

That's really good that the church building could continue to serve the community.

For us it's a case of every village having had a church, and with falling numbers in villages, plus greater ability to travel, there is really no use for many of them. And a church built in the 1860s isn't that old (one of the two I attend dates from before 1315).

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Aw. Makes me think of Miss Marple et all and subscriptions for their church restoration funds. Glad you had a good time, and chickens!

[smallhobbit]

There are always subscriptions to church restoration funds. And thank you.

[corvidology]

Sounds like a lovely little getaway. :D

[smallhobbit]

It was so good to getaway for a couple of nights!

[scfrankles]

For a moment there I thought there were chickens living in the church ^^" (^__^)

I'm very glad that you had a nice stay ^___^

[smallhobbit]

No, they were at the end of the drive where we were staying. Thank you.

[adafrog]

Chickens!

[smallhobbit]

Happy chickens too!

[rusty_armour]

The church in East Lydford is beautiful. It's such a shame it isn't being used, though I suppose it would be expensive to fix it up if it's in a state of disrepair. Still, it could serve as a village hall or have some other function.

It's great that you had chickens where you were staying. It seems like a charming place to find accommodation. :-)

[smallhobbit]

A very small congregation couldn't afford the work. The problem is there are a lot of these churches in the area, and other facilities are available. And what was once a farming village, with little else, now has no farms and people living there with no connection to the area.

[rusty_armour]

I see your point. It would be one thing if the current inhabitants of East Lydford had strong ties to their church and the community, but even then it would be a massive challenge considering how small the congregation would be.

[margaret_r]

The church looks lovely, what a pity it's fallen into disrepair.

[smallhobbit]

It was lovely outside, clearly of its time. It was too dangerous to go inside.