Kilpeck Church

Kilpeck church is an absolute gem. Built in the mid 12th century it has lots of ancient carving - with Celtic, Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon elements, as well as Romanesque - which has miraculously survived nine centuries of turmoil. Of the 89 carved corbels which support the roof, the Sheela-Na-Gig is probably the most obscene carving on any building in the UK, never mind a church. The outstanding carving around the south door illustrates the variety and complexity of the design. All achieved with an axe, a mallet and a chisel. Those masons were incredibly skilled.

I’m really enjoying all the concerts. This morning I attended the Festival Eucharist, based on a Haydn Mass with added Mozart. The evening concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales was Arvo Pärt, Elgar, Britten, and a new commission from Richard Blackford, “The Black Lake” (the lady sitting on one side of me said at the end, “we don’t get this in Tennessee”). And then the very late night concert involved a young Aussie mezzo-soprano and a young Greek guitarist playing songs by John Dowland and Nick Drake. She dedicated a Nick Drake song to the Lionesses, who beat Spain on penalties in the Euros this evening.

My second past midnight evening.