All Saints Church, Hempstead

M is exhibiting his paintings at the annual Hempstead Village Art Fair this weekend and we went along this afternoon to take in his watercolours.  While we were there I walked along to the utterly charming All Saint's Church.
  
We met the Art Fair organiser many years ago as his late wife S used to run the local toad-watch patrol.  M and I used to take part every year helping the toads to cross the village road safely to reach their breeding ponds.  I understand their numbers have declined recently despite the toad patrols still taking place which is very sad to hear.

S was a talented stained glass artist and it was so lovely to see that one of her panels (Poppy Fields shown in Extras) has been incorporated into one of the church windows in her memory.  It's just visible in the narrow window of the thatched apse in my main photo.  The church is lovely inside with an organ loft and beautifully stitched kneeling mats, these are another extra.