"Helen Whittaker's vibrant stained glass Paradise window celebrates the quest of the Irish traveller St Brandon, better known as St Brendan, who spent a lifetime searching for an earthly Garden of Eden."
"Early-morning sunlight, streaming through the glass, casts rainbow shadows of subtropical flowers that he might have encountered: strelitzia, jacaranda, hibiscus and angel's trumpets."
"Sympathetic churchyard management like this achieves a fine balance between respect for those whose life has passed and the flourishing of local wildlife."
"Today, bee-flies are darting between primrose flowers, in longer grass between mown paths. A buff-tailed queen bumblebee, searching for a nest site, explores a vole tunnel around an old tree stump."
The church experienced a devastating fire in 1998, destroying its historic organ and structure. After seven years of reconstruction, the interior was transformed with pale oak furnishings and a new stained glass window by Helen Whittaker. This window depicts St Brendan's search for paradise, with sunlight creating vibrant displays of color. The churchyard is managed to support local wildlife, showcasing seasonal flowers and providing a habitat for various species, including bees and ladybirds, while maintaining respect for the graves.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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