ACHURCH. CHURCH : ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

 I was looking forward to visiting Pilton, after Chris Stafford sent in the below photograph, which is one of my favourite photographs on either of the church websites that I run. I decided to take in Pilton on a glorious mid April day, when I was on holiday. A chance to escape the rat race just for a short while.

  The church was locked when I arrived but there was lots to see in the small churchyard. Was particularly impressed with the small Norman window, with a wide variety of grotesque stone heads on it and above it, please note the pigeon in the photograph as well.

  Some very lovely mid 17th Century tombs, and a beautifully carved slate headstone, detailing the passing of one Elizabeth Langham, sadly at the very yound age of 17 years. The inscription at the foot of the stone reads as follows....

  "A ling'ring illness did me seize, Physicians, they could give no ease, But when the Lord, as he saw best, Took me in to his blessed rest"...

  As I was preparing to leave, a very nice lady came up to the church walking her two dogs. Turned out she was a church wardern, and she asked me if I would like to see inside. This was the easiest question that I had to answer all day, so she went to get the key. She was very interesting and knowledgeable about her church, and obviously cared very much about it. Always nice to meet people like this.

  Very nice inside, with some good stained glass and interestingly part of the floor in the chancel was tiled with tiles bearing birds, animals and flowers, with wooden carvings of the same on the pews as well. These are late Victorian and almost certainly the work of distinguished ornithologist the Fourth Lord Lilford.