Church in the Wood

by Joe Schofield

Title

Church in the Wood

Artist

Joe Schofield

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Photograph - Photography

Description

This wee metal-clad church is situated in a wood on Bramdean common, Hampshire, U.K.
Rosemary took me here in 2017 to visit the just-as-small wee hamlet of Bramdean, where she grew up and lived with her grandma. Weather permitting, this is where she walked through the woods on Sunday mornings. The country life in Hampshire, England. You just can’t make this stuff up. 🙂❤️.

The church is maintained by the three trustees of the charity of Louisa Francis Katherine Bishop for Divine service. Mrs Bishop was the widow of the Rev Bishop who caused the church to be built here in 1883.
When she died in 1893 she gave instructions to her trustees by a codicil to her will, in which she left £2000. They were to pay the vicar of Bramdean to take services, to maintain the church, and to ring the bell. The latter they do, beginning 15 minutes before each service, to guide the congregation through the wood.
Evensong is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from May to September at 3pm, with a carol service on the second Sunday in December. Baptisms and wedding blessings, sometimes of gypsies, take place quite frequently.
The church has no parish and no funds apart from those donated by the congregation or well-wishers. Recently attendance has averaged 17 at evensong with greater numbers coming to open air services.
Access is on foot by mud track. Park your car on Bramdean common, and listen for the bell!

Uploaded

October 29th, 2023

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