Painswick churchyard with yew trees

On my return from dropping Helena in Gloucester, where she was working, I couldn't resist pulling off the A46 after passing St. Mary's church, Painswick and its array of yew trees in the church yard. I last stopped here to enjoy, and Blip, the Art Couture Festival which was held amongst the trees, when it became a vibrant scene of artistic endeavour!

I tried to get far enough away to include a large tree with yellowing leaves just beginning their fall, as well as the church, but the narrow streets made that impossible. So I entered through the wonderful old lych gate house and on its far side I shot this view.


From Wiki:
Legend suggests that there are just 99 yew trees growing in Painswick churchyard and that the devil would destroy the hundredth if it were ever planted. On the first Sunday following the nineteenth of September, there has been an annual festival called "Feast Sunday." Three customs were historically held: feasting, drinking and disorderly conduct; clipping the church; and eating dog pie. The ceremony known as "clipping the church" involves mostly children, but also adults, who join hands, dance around and "embrace" St. Mary's parish church. Clipping the church and eating dog pie are customs that have been revived and are practiced in the present. The dog pie that is eaten is not made of actual dog meat, but the custom is based upon plum pie baked with china dog (dog meat) that had been baked annually between 1870 and 1880.

Painswick churchyard also has a unique collection of chest tombs and monuments from the early 17th Century onwards, carved in local stone by local craftsmen.