Glorious Suffolk

My dear Friends
It's not difficult to see why they call Suffolk 'Constable country', after the famous painter. The undulating countryside, the open views and, above all, the wide skies. And I followed my swan all the way to Clare Priory, where Barbara and I went on the second day. Sitting in lovely grounds, the Priory celebrated the 750th anniversary of its foundation not too long ago. Barbara and I were given a warm welcome, and then we meandered through the not too extensive but lovely ground where my former mentor, Fr Billy Baldwin, is buried.

We glanced into the Oratory in the house and then saw the church in the grounds, a place suitable for deep meditation. As are all the Churches in Suffolk, one favourite being Long Melford, which goes back pre-Reformation and which shows the traces in its Lady Chapel, a separate building which may be unique in the country for that fact. The atmosphere was deep and still.

Barbara and I attended morning Sevice in this lovely church and it was like going back in time. The Vicar, Ian, couldn't have been more welcoming and preached a beautiful sermon on the Gospel reading of the Transfiguration, whcih is usually contained in the Lenten calendar, soon to come upon us. The singing was lovely both by choir and congregation and I chatted to some people at the end, who seemd interested in my Project.

It was a time to go back in time: the previous day we visited the gorgeous village of Lavenham, where every building seems to lean and have wooden beams. Having tea in the Swan Hotel was a delight!A little hilly, we wandered round one or two antique shops; one seemed to go on for ever!

Perhaps the highlight of the trip was the Evensong in St Edmundsbury Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. The setting was perfect, the reading was the still small voice that Elijah heard (my favourite and one I really resonate with) and the choir sang beautifully, men and boys.

All in all, a trip to remember! Thank you, Barbara!
Shalom from
Sister Gila