A Couple of Days Away in Dorset ,

We had a couple of days away in Dorset . Just for a change of scenery and to have a little pootle about on the beach looking for fossils .

My needlework basket came too .

I started a little patchwork project . A mug mat in Hallowe'eny colours for my middle brother who loves Hallowe'en . I don't do Hallowe'en , but he loves it !

  Anyhoo , this is my favourite patchwork block - Friendship Baskets . I love this patchwork design/pattern  .  I think Baskets and the Bear's Paw are probably my absolute favourites .......and the simple nine patch block also .

It was a nice and easy project to take with me and do on our travels in the car .

Also to do in the evenings back at the Premiere Inn whilst watching the television .

I had been looking forward to visiting the church and the Shrine of St Wite .

They were just finishing a Harvest Festival Service as I arrived . It was a beautiful welcome to hear the children singing . 

 I crept in after they finished . 

I felt a bit shy , to take photos, but I'd come a long way and so I did take a few .

The plaque on top of the Shrine says "HIC-REQESCT-RELIQE-SCE-WITE"

   ..... which means "Here rest the relics of St Wite ".

There are only two churches that still have the actual remains of Saints , since the Reformation . St Wita also known as St Candida and Blanche was said to be a 9th century Saxon hermit healing woman  . 

  She is said to have kept the beacons burning up on the Golden Cap to guide trading ships in to port .

   Unfortunately one incoming ship was not a friendly one , but a Viking Longship . They plundered, burnt and slaughtered everyone including poor Wita .

   Her Sainthood was affirmed by King Alfred the Great .

Pilgrims came to visit her shrine . To place their limbs into the three openings in the shrine for healing and there have been many miracles .

✨ There is a tangible feeling of holiness in the air as you kneel here 🕊️ The only other place I've felt this , is in Canterbury Cathedral , at the spot where St Thomas a Beckett was murdered . ✨✨

 

I presented my Angel to her through one of the openings and prayed for blessings on my hands .

  I prayed for my family and for peace .  🕊️

                               Sat in silence for a little while .

Then went on to look at the church's own pieces of needlework .....but I was really taken with such fine stonemasonry , such as the finials at the top of these pillars .

    I am no expert but this one looked much older than the others . Very early . 

                                The Baptismal Font ..which is Norman !

  Just think of how many babies have been Christened here , the Priests and the families gathered around it . 

This was a pretty window ....I didn't get to the other end of the church as there were still lots of people there talking after their lovely service and I felt a bit shy .

 I will look for stained glass windows next time I visit .

                                                 🕊️🌍🤍

Outside there are open mouthed lions and gargoyles built to carry away water after the rain .

There are two sculptured pictures high up here which portray St Wite , the Viking longship and the axe that killed her .

I had wanted to visit St Wite's Holy Well , which is said to be close by ...but I could not find it !!   

I walked a little way down a footpath until I became a bit nervous of walking on my own any further . There was a trickling stream . Was this the Holy Well ?

                I will explore a bit more next time I visit . 

Did I find any fossils ? You ask .......

              Well as I have already said , I don't do Hallowe'en ....

           But we had a good laugh when I found this on the beach !

                    ( and yes , of course he has come home with me 🤣)

              So then I stitched all the way home .

                    And stitched on the binding that evening .

Here's a little peek of the other side .

 I got it posted off that evening ......very sad at the price of postage stamps now .....very sad indeed . £1.80 to send a small birthday card to my mum and £4.80 to send that little parcel to my brother .

 I won't be able to afford to send any Christmas cards ..... only to give out by hand from now on .   Very sad .

                      Good news ! My lovely black braid has arrived !

              I'm hoping it will look good to finally finish off my Angel .

                                           Peace and Love 🕊️🤍

                                            love Debbie 💐x