slow death

Nice day today so took +3/3 to nursery on the bike then cycled into work. The route I take from home to the office passes this ex-church in a tiny wee village surrounded by arable fields; it looks like it should be in the home counties somewhere as the church has a tower and the scene has a very pastoral look.

The church itself is in a sorry state. It was, I guess, deconsecrated some time ago and appears to be a store for a builder or farmer at the moment. Oddly the graveyard surrounding the church is still intact; I'm not quite sure how that is handled. The roof has holes, the windows are smashed, the gutters and stonework are full of weeds. Without some remedial care it's going to go downhill quite fast.

Unremarkable in itself; there are loads of wee, unloved churches around the country. However, the old manse next door was a picture in comparison: beautifully maintained building and gardens. A stark contrast: the church, hand built by stone masons and carpenters to praise their God, full of intricate details; the manse, a functional house for the minister. Now exactly opposite.