Viewed from the outside, the stained glass windows of St. John the Baptist are as gloomy as the storm clouds which frequently hover over the English countryside. The gray opaqueness of the panes never hint at – and, in fact, almost willfully hide – the wonder within.
As I stepped inside the church, the ancient building’s shadowy dimness immediately enveloped, and the hum of activity from outside receded in the face of the chapel’s stillness. After a while, with only the soft echo of my footsteps to break the silence, my eyes grew accustomed to the dim interior, and this is what I saw.
What little there was of the sun on this day, enough rays peeked from behind the clouds to shine light through the windows, illuminating its colorful details.
Looking at the stained glass, I can understand why pilgrims trekked from afar to worship at churches. Oh, I don’t doubt the pilgrimages were just for religious purposes. Irregardless of one’s spiritual bent, when inside, sitting in the cool, quiet nave, the drudgery of life is certainly less of a burden. And who’s to say that gazing upon the beauty of colored glass is nothing short of heaven on Earth?
Response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside
© 2014 All Rights Reserved
When the Door Closes 
March 15, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Love the post. Takes me to this historical building. Beautiful colours in the window.
March 15, 2014 at 8:02 pm
Thanks, Lita! Stained glass windows definitely enliven gloomy interiors. 🙂
March 15, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Good call. Hadn’t thought of that dynamic before. Especially in churches that have tempestuous history!
March 16, 2014 at 12:45 am
🙂
March 16, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Lovely pictures and so true of many older churches – the windows are made to be appreciated from the inside
March 16, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Thank you, Siobhan! Not only for the kind words but also for the follow.
March 16, 2014 at 3:27 pm
I love the inside of Churchs and stained glass, one can never go wrong with a photo of a stained glass window as far as I am concerned 🙂
March 16, 2014 at 6:38 pm
🙂 I especially love it when the sun is shining and the window in question is a rainbow of color.
March 16, 2014 at 7:35 pm
yes 🙂
April 25, 2014 at 1:42 am
really beautiful photos – nice post! 🙂
April 25, 2014 at 3:23 am
Thanks, Yvette! 😀