England - Day 1

Klaus 'collected' us from the Manchester airport, then turbo-whisked us away, and through town. On the way to take me to Sheffield ... ... he pulled over and parked, still in Manchester. Lovely lamp post, I thought, looking up at it and not paying attention to anything ahead. I walked forward a little, past a bench ... And then I saw THIS! St. Michael and All Angels Church. My photo didn't turn out, but the view from here? Gah. I've realized my shooting style is in three's: same subject, three different angles, and ESPECIALLY doors and windows. Part 1 of this Trio. Part 2 of the Trio. Part 3 of the Trio.
Clearly someone special - this grave was set off on a separate side of the lawns, and enclosed with this beautifully weathered, almost crusty, wrought iron. Approaching the church from the car park, past the ancient parish building (foreground). Trying to shoot the worn engraving - quite difficult! You can see the date: 1697 ... and this was one of the 'newer' headstones. Dates were SO hard to make out, but I did see one that said 12?8 (I couldn't read the 3rd number). And so so many children - heart wrenching! Because these headstones are so old, no one remains living to tend them. When they remained upright, they drooped, sagged, tilted, and so ultimately they were laid flat. Such an odd feeling, that, to approach a graveyard of this age and see this. Close-up of the engraving on one of the lowered markers. Most of the very old ones have worn away almost completely. Someone watching me, watching him. A little eerie. Goodness knows how old this stone is but such a patina! Pointing the camera UP, at the tall tall narrow windows.