The British Invasion: Part VIII - Plymouth and Buckfast Abbey

[shanmonster]

A good meal and a proper night's sleep meant we were eager to go the next day. I got up a little bit early so I could photograph the church ruins adjacent to our hotel. In 1941, Charles Church, the second oldest parish church in Plymouth, was destroyed by incendiary bombs, and the shell of the building was left to stand as a memorial. 1,200 people died in the WWII bombings in Plymouth. The main streets go right up to and around the husk of the church, it is a blatant, ever-present reminder of the destructive nature of war.



After knightky and I examined the church as best we could in the morning rush-hour traffic, we got back onto the coach and made our way to Buckfast Abbey. It is a working Roman Catholic abbey and Benedictine monastery, although it rather inexplicably also is the home to another small church of a different denomination. I can't recall which. It may be Baptist. If you happen to know, let me know and I'll correct this.

The abbey is self-supporting and has an apiary, numerous gardens, and a vineyard. The monks make wine: Buckfast Tonic Wine. I purchased a small bottle, but have yet to try it. I fully expect it to be plonk, as I've heard it's popular with the underage set, much to the consternation of grown-ups. I wandered for a while in a lavender garden filled with numerous varieties of lavender. Honey bees buzzed all around me, and the smell was lovely.



The abbey was formed in 1018 during the reign of King Cnut. In 1539, in the midst of King Henry VIII's church-destroying fervour, it was looted and destroyed. It remained in ruins for 200 years, until it was gradually rebuilt over the centuries, not being completed until 1937.

The grounds and interior are lovely. Although not as ostentatious and grand as Salisbury Cathedral, it still has a lot of ornate beauty. For the most part, everything is a pale dove grey, with accents of colour.

Copious bouquets of carnations, baby's breath, and other pale- and pastel-coloured flowers decorated the interior.



In one place, I found a brightly-coloured stone mosaic floor.



An enormous but simple candle chandelier hung from the ceiling.



I was amazed by the baptistry, which I think looks like a fancy cauldron for cooking babies.



I was not permitted to photograph the most impressive thing I saw: a massive stained glass window. Fortunately, the Wiki for the abbey has a photo so you can see.



When I saw it, it appeared more blue than purple. It is huge: 8 meters across, and two inches thick in places.

Our morning visit over, it was time to continue onward to Glastonbury Abbey, and the tomb of King Arthur.

For more and larger images, visit my annotated gallery of Plymouth and Buckfast Abbey.

Comments

[arachne.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaah, Buckfast! It's not like a wine - it's much thicker, and definitely doesn't taste of grapes. A bit of an acquired taste ;)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I guess I'll find out!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I love cathedrals. The duomo in Milan is one of my favorite places on earth. Very weird thing for a firm atheist. Thank you for all these pictures!

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I love them, too. I consider them religiously-themed art galleries. I may not be religious in the slightest, but I love me some good art, and cathedrals often have some of the very best.