Bella!!

Gardening rained off :-( so took a trip to Wilton Garden Centre which is one of the best in the area. I blipped Wilton's Italianate parish church on the way home.

By the mid-19th century the old medieval church of Wilton was in a dreadful state of disrepair. The Hon Sidney Herbert loved Italian architecture, so in 1845 with his mother (the Countess of Pembroke) they built a new church in the Italian style. This new church cost £20,000, an extortionate amount of money for that time. They appointed 34 year old architect, TH Wyatt, and this was his first really major commission.

In accordance with Italian tradition the church has a totally separate bell tower or companile. There is a beautiful central rose window over the front door with cloisters either side. The interior is breathtaking. The Capocci Shrine has magnificent twisted black marble columns originally part of the 13th century shrine at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Between these twisted columns is a beautifully carved 17th century door made of pear wood. Everywhere you look you can see intricate and ornate carvings and delicate embellishments. The east wall is made up of a stunning mosaic pattern incorporating Biblical images in the geometric patterns. This was the work of Gertrude Martin, who was also responsible for the mosaics at Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral in London. Effigies of the Hon Sidney Herbert and his mother stand either side of the altar.

Wilton's church is so different from our usual historic churches and bonus today we were able to listen to the orchestra rehearsing a Vivaldi concert scheduled for this evening. Ah well not so bad it rained today!