Wilden church on the shortest day of the year. St Nicholas: "his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus ("Saint Nick")" (wiki) I meet a local resident who told me that the church would be 800 years old this year. The tower's being restored at the moment. I was struck by the church's extensive churchyard - sparsely occupied - as well as by its tall surrounding pines: you can only see one, but others cast their shadows on the church's south side. I sat by the stream so that I could get this ivy-clad, leaning giant to loom over the building. It's a similar perspective to yesterday's sketch of Renhold church, but this time further back and with pine instead of chestnut. The very last rays of sunlight were sliding in before the sun set and everything turned cold. But I managed an hour before I had to pack up. |