holiday

Trials,Tribulations and Happy Moments in my busy life

Saturday 12 January 2013

St. Lawrence Church, Mereworth, Kent.

Hi folks,

Well not too good in the UK weather wise and whilst on our way to Tonbridge we stopped off at this Church that for years I had been past on my travels to Yalding but never visited. We were lucky to arrive as the Diocese were visiting so all the lights were on and even the central heating which makes a change in an English Church.
I was also trying out a new application to my photographic software that blends bracketed images to give a better exposure and reduce blown out highlights. As you can see the weather was a bit murky but onward and upwards as they say. View of the entrance from the far end if the cemetery.


Inside we were amazed at the newly painted ceiling renovated in 2009. The Spire was also strengthened and the clock and bells refurbished at a cost of one million pounds.


The pillars were also redone as the church decorations were brown due to the smoke from the candles and age. Next is a closeup of the Altar's upper stained glass windows.


The next image shows a stained glass window with flowers below, this type of shot would normally underexpose the flowers, this is my first attempt to merge the images in software.


Closeup of a painted pillar showing the "trompe l'oeil"  marble effect with flowers below.



 At the rear of the church is a war memorial with a plaque on the right to Rear Admiral Charles Davis Lucas who was the first person to receive the Victoria Cross in 1854 during the Burmese War and in the Baltic, he died in August 1914.


The Church was built in 1744-1745 and has the most remarkable neo-classical interiors in Europe designed like a Roman Basilica. and is a grade one listed building.


Glorious view of the Organ pipes on the west wall.


Hope you enjoyed the visit as much as we did.

Many thanks to Andrew Wells and others for allowing us into their wonderful church.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, Luv Mike XX

10 comments:

  1. Wow, what a fabulous church. My dad used to teach just along the road from there at Mereworth Primary

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    1. Thanks Gareth, I found it by pure accident the other day and it being open with the heating and lights on was pure luck.

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  2. I have passed that church when I went to wateringbury, never been inside, the windows are wonderful.how lucky that it was open, and people to show you around.

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  3. I'm blown away by this post Mike... beautiful pictures from you of a fabulous place .. gonna ask Ken if we can visit it to see it for ourselves... fantastic history!
    E xx

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    1. Smashing place Eileen, well worth a visit but you need the lights on. XX

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  4. OTL would love to know more about the bracketing plug in, is it the same as his HDR plug in where the pictures are stacked?

    Me, I get bored with the technical bits, I just love the picture!

    Daisy

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    1. Hi Daisy,
      yes it's the same thing as OTL uses but in different programe. I am still trying to get to grips with it but it is a steep learning curve.
      Sorry to bore you with the technical bits, glad you liked the end result, a bit more treeking methinks. XX

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  5. Wow Mike.......more of this please !
    Fabulous shots of a fabulous church........wonderful post Mike,
    Thank you,
    hugs
    Chris and Dave Richards
    xxxxxxx

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    1. Thanks Chris, I will return as I only scratched the surface of the place. Send Dave our best wishes xx

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