York

[helenic]

I was surprised to find in Gabrielle someone who shares my attitude towards faith and spirituality almost more than anyone else I know. I also don't believe I've ever talked so much about the church in one weekend, although this fact isn't a consequence of the former. In fact we even went to evensong (although the real reason was that it was the easiest way to see the Minster for free) which I haven't done since I sang in one. After an afternoon slowly cooking ourselves in the park it was a huge relief to step into that cool, shadowy space among the pillars, to find peace in the way the light fell so softly onto the stone. During the service I found myself barely listening to the singing, beautiful though it was, unable to stop myself looking up, following with my eyes the graceful lines of those vast, vaulted arches, the endless magnificent pinnacles soaring up forever. There was one window facing me in the north wall which had clear glass instead of stained, textured so that the view through it was indistinct, the mere suggestion of bright domes and rooftops, of clouds high in a perfectly blue sky. To me, it was far more beautiful than any of the lines and colours of the more elaborate windows.

As for the elusive Mr Jones - with his quiet gravity, his thoughtfulness and store of interesting lore, his obvious intelligence and perception, he struck me as the sort of person who would be wonderful company at a dinner party. They were both remarkably easy to be with, and I instantly loved their tiny, elegantly furnished house; the way the light splashed through the lace curtains on Sunday morning, their crammed spice rack and cupboards full of interesting teas. We agreed that he should be my Tea Baron (in more ways than one!), that Gabrielle should join me on pilgrimage next year, and that you can't have two many pairs of shoes - although we disagreed on such controversial subjects as Marmite and Terry Pratchett.

Over our riverside jug of Pimms the day before Gabrielle told me candidly that she hadn't felt the spark with me she'd expected from reading my journal, but I quickly realised that didn't mean our friendship was worthless. In fact their company was so easy and pleasant, they were both so generous and their conversation so intelligent and engaging, I have high hopes of it continuing for a long while yet.

Comments

[citra.livejournal.com]

i love medieval religious architecture ..... it's dizzying and beautiful and thoroughly transcendental.

[insert trademark rant about medieval catholic pleasure in religion etc etc and so on] x

[libellum.livejournal.com]

I hadn't been to the minster since I was about 9, and not really old enough to appreciate it. It wasn't gloriously sublime, but - perhaps it was the time of day, the quality of light - it seemed perfectly peaceful, cool, and still. My favourite thing about it is the way the eye is automatically drawn upwards - and the breathtakingly high ceiling before the pulpitum is almost like looking into another world, dust motes sparkling in the sunlight, so far away it's actually dizzying.

Of course, I also love the fantastic medievalism of it. The seemingly random faced carved all over the place, half of which are making faces. The cats and mice chasing about among carved foliage. The Green Men, wonderfully out of place in a Christian church. The crypt with its 16th century graffiti, the way it fires the imagination. We looked at the chapter house and it has such a great round table air to it. The kind of place you could set a trashy fantasy novel. Ah yes. Love it. xxx

[beeswing.livejournal.com]

It was such a pleasure to have you up to stay with us. You're very good company, + also terrifically brave for coming to stay. The horrors of other people's houses! Okay now no more talking about churches for at least a year.

xx

[libellum.livejournal.com]

agreed! x