Historical faith

I love old churches, so I was delighted to visit one at Staunton Harold in Leicestershire at the weekend while staying with friends. It is gorgeous, with most of the original 17th century features, including an extraordinary wooden ceiling depicting the creation (above), painted by Zachary and Samuel Kyrk (yes I thought the surname was apt, too).

And what a rich history this church has. I’m resolutely anti-monarchy and the church was built by Sir Robert Shirley, who was an ardent Royalist. So I don’t exactly agree with his outlook. But if I tell you he founded this church in 1653, two years after the end of the English Civil War at a time when Cromwell was Protector of England, and that he built it with all the High Anglican richness so despised by the Puritans, well you have to admire his courage.

Robert Shirley’s immediate ancestors had been Roman Catholic, and his brand of Anglicanism was influenced by Rome and by the teachings of Archbishop Laud (who had been executed in 1645). The man Shirley regarded as divinely appointed to rule England, King Charles I, was executed in 1649 when Shirley was just 20.

So the richness of this church Shirley built – which is not very big and was the private family chapel – created ripples well beyond his Leicestershire estate. Cromwell was enraged and demanded Shirley use his wealth to fit out a ship for the Navy. Shirley refused and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He died there, aged 27. The church he founded was completed by his son’s guardians in accordance with Shirley’s detailed plans.

Part of me is just really irritated by all this. What a fuss – on both sides – about the externals of worship; what a waste of life. But I’m also in awe of this young man’s bravery. He wasn’t fighting physically, but he was using his wealth to fight for the right to worship as he saw fit, and he paid the price in more ways than one.

The stone inscription above the church’s west door is stirring:

In the year 1653
when all thinges Sacred were throughout ye nation
Either demolisht or profaned
Sir Robert Shirley, Barronet,
Founded this church;
Whose singular praise it is,
to have done the best things in ye worst times
And
hoped them in the most callamitous.
The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

Elsewhere:

A while back I started a blog focusing on creativity, Pilgrim’s Moon. I’ve dismantled it for the time being because it seemed like a false division of my life. I’m going to import a few of the posts over the next few days, so apologies if they show up in your blog reader software.

I’m thinking about the gorgeous bounty nature provides at this time of year: I’m a little envious of Elaine’s eggplant – I tried to grow some this year and failed; and Kate’s lemons are just so, well, lemony and the recipe sounds wonderful.