Thurgarton, All Saints et al: From Uphill Struggles to Being Present in the Moment

 

Over the past few weeks I've noted a few warning signs that hard-wrought experience tells me is an indication that my mental health isn't so good at the moment. My self-assessment translates into an amber light flashing, rather than a red one, but, nonetheless, it is something I need to do something about. Having delivered a talk this week about the healing potential of heritage, it therefore felt apposite to be heading off into north Norfolk with friends to explore/experience some lovely medieval churches. It is quite unusual nowadays for me to visit a Norfolk church for the first time, but today all five of the churches we visited we new to me (namely: Baconsthorpe; Plumstead; North Barningham; Barningham Winter and Thurgarton). Not only that, but they were all also open and each, in their own way, was interesting, beautiful and inspiring. 

The final church of the day was Thurgarton. The church has a lovely collection of medieval bench-ends, but the one that 'resonated' with me is pictured above. Life can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle and, as I stared at the resolute little figure, I recognised in myself a degree of existential weariness of late. In part, it's about the seemingly relentless pursuit of the 'Black Dog' of depression that seems to always be snapping at me if I stop doing the wellbeing work that keeps me well. I accept that, as a survivor in 'recovery', the maintenance of my personal wellbeing will necessarily require vigilance and an active state of being. 

Ironically, however, sometimes that 'active' state is about inviting inactivity, space, silence, stillness and serenity. At several points today, I invested some time to slow things down and contemplate:

-> How time flows through everything, sometimes creating fragile beauty as once pristine human creation teeters towards ruination... (for some reason, as I write this I imagine an elderly woman with dementia smiling radiantly as she recognises music embraced by her younger self.)

North Barningham, St Peter - piscina and sedile

-> How the open door beckons us to enter a space and explore it...

The Open Door: vestry within St Mary, Baconsthorpe

-> How letting light within can create serenity...

Plumstead, St Michael: lines of beauty

How the grain of time is inscribed in the wooden window sill...

Plumstead, St Michael - time-lines

And, finally, at our' last church of the day, I looked southwards across the fields opposite, towards the enticing horizon. As I stood there, I felt a stillness and inner peace - what a planet this is!

Thurgarton Fields: Perspective...

Please note: The 5 Ways to Wellbeing (Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning, Give) are an evidence-based set of actions that empower us to build our wellbeing and emotional resilience. For further information, click on the following link: 5 Ways to Wellbeing

<*(((((><{ The Fallible Flâneur, April 2025