St.Mary's Church, Kempley

“If you have no road map, you have to create your own.”
Jacqueline Woodson
Other side of the street barely visible through the mist when I surfaced to head off to join fellow Blipper BobsBlips for another foray around the beautiful churches of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. By the time I’d reached the Coldra it was burning off, although looked like it was lingering in the Usk valley. But first stop a cooked breakfast in Ross and a catch up since our last outing just over a month ago, must be getting withdrawal symptoms as it seems longer.
First stop St Mary’s Church at Kempley, probably C12th with later additions (the tower and entrance porch) with well preserved medieval wall paintings, whitewashed during the Reformation but rediscovered in the late C19th. The roof and doors have been dated as the original Norman timber; yep, nearly 900 years old – I’ve lived in houses where I’ve had to replace 1960’s windows!
Not surprisingly the church was prone to flooding and was replaced by a C20th Arts and Crafts church in the village in 1903, so we headed off there afterwards for a quick visit on our way past.
Coffee withdrawal symptoms were setting in so we headed off to the Little Green Hut to revive our spirits, no philosophical discussion this time, before Bob took me to visit another little gem he’d discovered at Michaelchurch - St Michael’s. Easily missed behind a high hedge, looking more like a retirement bungalow in the countryside (I don’t think). Bob must be competing, this one is said to have been founded by Bishop Herwald of Llandaff in 1056, so nearly 1,000 years old. Even more C13th wall paintings and C16th/17th written inscriptions, and a Roman altar… ok, you win.
Time for me to head back for a hospital visit to see a relative, before collapsing in front of the computer to get my Blip for today sorted out, another great day out courtesy of BobsBlips.