By Bernie Bell

Our neighbour Steve walked to Hackland Old Church

https://canmore.org.uk/site/188185/north-hackland-church and took some crackin’ photos which I believe capture the atmosphere to be experienced around ruinous churches

In this one, I’m reminded of the old church/monastery on Eynhallow

Bernie Bell: Orkney Walks (with stories) – Eynhallow ….to Canada

I particularly like the image of the window, where the remains of the support echoes the shape of a cross

Steve pointed out that there are owl pellets on the window-sill – which brought the Tower of Flints in Mervyn Peake’s  ‘Titus Groan’ to mind – and I quote….….

“Over their irregular roofs would fall throughout the seasons, the shadows of time-eaten buttresses, of broken and lofty turrets, and, most enormous of all, the shadow of the Tower of Flints. This tower, patched unevenly with black ivy, arose like a mutilated finger from among the fists of knuckled masonry and pointed blasphemously at heaven. At night the owls made of it an echoing throat; by day it stood voiceless and cast its long shadow.”

There’s always more to be discovered…..

All pics. courtesy of Steve Davey.