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A Quiet Place - Marden Church

Writer's picture: Dave FDave F

We have a little ongoing joke in our family that it's not a proper car journey unless part of it takes place on minor roads with grass running down the middle. It usually happens. This week it happened - even driving through the middle of a farm into the bargain! We were in the Herefordshire flatlands in the sleepy village of Marden, home to prime S&A fruit farming and to the church of St Mary the Virgin. Only 7 miles from Hereford, there's a lot of history to absorb here, a lot of quietness and a lot of church. The first thing to strike you is the quiet stillness and reverence. This really is a Quiet Place.


A little background then. Dating back to 794AD, when Marden was home to the opulent but wild palace of the Kings of Mercia, young Ethelbert of the East Angles arrived on the palace doorstep fully expecting King Offa's daughter's hand in marriage, The Queen, however, was unhappy. King Offa was probably having a bad hair day and subsequently decided to have Ethelbert beheaded. A miraculous spring then erupted at the spot where his blood was spilled. To repent for this rather over the top response, King Offa built the church - although originally out of wood - the stone version dating from 1220. Its size was solely due to the huge medieval pilgrimages that followed.


Inside the church it's cool, dark and very restful even though Ethelbert’s sorry corpse was unceremoniously dumped here many moons ago. The building now can't seem to decide whether it's a church, a pilgrim meeting place or a bookshop but it's a lovely quiet place to be browsing, the old wooden pews supporting the printed word. Much like the pilgrimages, the trains don't stop here anymore and now rattle straight through between Shrewsbury and Hereford.


Back outside into the dazzling sunlight and warmth of a summer’s day, the bell tower has been crudely butted up to the rest of the church and holds its own ghostly tale. It is believed to be haunted by a Civil War cavalier soldier who was chased by Roundheads into the upper chambers of the bell tower and killed. His ghost now haunts the tower. All I will say is that the atmosphere inside is more than a little oppressive and I would probably pass up on the offer of an overnight stay, thank you! The large graveyard however provides another haven of peace and wildlife - prime thinking territory. Meanwhile, across the gravel car park, the silt laden River Lugg floats quietly by, huge water lilies hugging the deep and steep banks. The rickety stile leading onto the riverbank walk looks like it’s also from Offa's time! Despite the river’s obvious penchant for regular flooding, some benches wouldn't go amiss here, just to sit and wonder at the Constable-esque view of beautiful cows drinking from the river in dappled sunlight. The Lugg and Lugg Meadow are SSSI (site of special scientific interest) protected - it's a site teeming with more birds, fish, flora and fauna than you can shake a stick at. But don't do that - you’ll scare the cows!


Timeless and serene. Dappled with sunlight. A Quiet Place indeed.


So, where are your Quiet Places? Feel free to get in touch.



Dave Fletcher @ 2022

Photo by Dave Fletcher

www.cariadwelllbeing.co.uk


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