A new venture this weekend, a weekend singing course, aka 'choir camp', organised by Choral Holidays.
It was held at Milton Abbey School in Dorset.
We had our rehearsals in a Benedictine abbey church...
...set in Capability Brown landscape.
As well as all sorts of super facilities, the school as a tea room!
It was fabulous to rehearse in such a fabulous location, under the direction of Jeff Steward.
I rather enjoyed these little chaps ...
... the Tree of Jesse window designed by Pugin, and made by his son John Hardman....
...the reredos screen, sadly denuded of colour and statues.
The organ is covered because there are swifts nesting in and around the church. The chirped away while we sang.
This is a 15thC portrait of King Athelstan handing a model church to a monk.
This pyx originally hung over the high altar and housed the reserved sacrament. It dates from the late 15thC, and is a unique survival in England.
My favourite was this Madonna child pew end. If you look closely, the Christ child's face has been weathered by the fingers of the faithful.
