Story of the Farmhouse

Eucharist ends

Process from marquee to Courtyard

Window 1 (Farmhouse bedroom) - Paul

1512

Let’s build a house! What materials do we have? We’re on good solid rock here. We can dig out plenty of mud and stone. We can fetch some lime for mortar and ryegrass for the roof. A long house with a cross passage is the local fashion. We’ll put in a high open hall with a granite fireplace we can cook and warm ourselves and a wooden screen to keep us snug. Might be a nice place to put in an Aga when they get round to inventing them.

Window 2 (Porch bedroom) - Jim

1642

The farm and the family is growing – we have some cash to spare – let’s extend the house! A dairy out the back, a fireplace for the bedroom upstairs. And how about a fancy porch with a room a top. Build it straight mind you! What’s that you say, Christow for the King and now fallen to Fairfax? Thank God they didn’t find the stained glass windows up and Doddiscombsleigh. And now what? Sequestering our lands? Bankrupting the farm? For the crime of being Catholic? ‘Tis sorry times we’re living through … We must pray for the day when no-one is persecuted for believing the wrong thing.

Window 3 (Farmhouse spare room) Tess

1883

Now my dear, modern farming means we need ourselves a proper shippon. We’ll add a nice two storey wing at the south end. The cows can be downstairs and rooms for the hired hands above. Yes I know they’ll accidentally burn it down along the way. But it’ll get built up again and mark my words, there’ll be many a meal made and letter typed there too in years to come, and extra living quarters always come in handy.

Window 4 (Porch bedroom) Jim

1947

I can’t hear you! What’s that infernal noise? Even the pigs at feeding time don’t kick up a racket like that. So that’s what a tractor looks like is it? Can’t see it catching on myself. The horses will do me just fine – see me out. But you young things, you have to do it the modern way I suppose. I’m off down the Brethren at Bridford Mills. You just be careful with that machine – could do someone a nasty injury …

Window 5 (Farmhouse spare room) Tess

1967

Cooeeee! Darling! It’s the Bishop on the phone. Wants to know what a village curate like you is doing up and buying a farm? No I can’t tell him that! You come and tell him yourself! I know dear, you’ve always been one to think big. You just mind out what those Charity Commissioners have to say too. And remember to keep the Bank Manager happy … Oh, okay, so we’re moving on are we?

Window 6 (Farmhouse bedroom) Paul

1976

A lot of trees and sheep round here. More used to housing estate concrete and people myself. But I can see some potential – anyone want to come and join? Mmm. Yes, we could put a theatre over there, and bring that back as a chapel, and make that into guest rooms, and put a reception there and a kitchen there and some more bedrooms there. Extend this, re-order that. Need some cash for this lot. Oh and how about a library and some offices. I know! A Jacuzzi! On second thoughts … oops, too late.

Window 7 (Porch bedroom) Jim

2015

Let’s build a house out in the garden! What materials do we have? We can get heat from the field now and plant grass on the roof. In here the Aga still going strong and the screen still standing. Bet that’s heard some secrets down the centuries. Good job we’ve got the wifi and the cordless phones in now.Been some moving about inside in recent months I hear. And water reed shipped from Turkey is the latest fashion on the roof. A Community needs a hearth and a home. Good to see the old place having a new lease of life …

Trumpet fanfare

Blessing by Bishop Richard

God of our comings and goings

God of our nights and days

God of our work and rest

Bless this house

Each wall and floor

Each room and step

Each stair and door

May it stand the fiercest of storms

And protect from the summer heat

May it be a cradle of your love

And a cauldron of your desire

Bless all who live here

Bless all who work here

Bless all who serve here

Bless all who build Community here

This day, this night and every day and night.

In the name of Christ our Lord

Amen.

Walk along the house sprinkling water

Bless the congregation

Trumpeters lead all to sing

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.