An afternoon stroll to Buckland

We set off one glorious sunny late afternoon for the village of Buckland across green and muddy fields edged with blackberry bushes and dark red berries. We pass black faced sheep who seem disinterested in us Australians until Jonathan decides to chase them and then they run.

We walk uphill towards a forest, leaving behind the village of Broadway in a sleepy golden haze. It is a steep climb, and the boys leave me way behind. We then enter the forest to earthy smells that are rich and what I associate with "England". They are smells I remember from my childhood holidays in England doing similar walks.

Once at the top of the hill, we cross another field which is cold and windy and I'm glad I have my jacket and scarf on. Just below us, is the tiny village of Buckland. It is tucked away in a gap in the hills. It is dominated by the church which looks old and beautiful.



We are able to enter the church and feast on the treats inside. There are three tiles displayed on the walls dating back to the 1400s. They were dug up in a nearby field and were part of the original abbey that stood here.



Keith is excited to to discover a copy of "Fox's Book of Martyr's" - a book written in the 1550s about Protestant men who were killed because of their faith. It includes the death of Bishop Hooper, who was put to death as a martyr by burning at the stake in Gloucester on 9th February 1555. He was an austere man and a very pious churchman who had attempted during his short time as Bishop of Gloucester (1551-1554) to reform the evident abuses in the church. As a result he was revered by the common people but disliked by some powerful men whose lax conduct he had rebuked. He was burnt just to the west of the Gloucester Cathedral precincts.



According to Keith, this book was enormously influential on future generations and shaped the faith of those who read the stories contained in its pages. In a similar way today, it is inspiring to read biographies of people such as Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, Corrie Ten Boon and Joni Tada Earickson (I am just naming those that I have read). I enjoy reading books about how God uses people's lives and how people were prepared to stand up for their faith. Perhaps this was the magic of Fox's book - it helped future generations remember God's hand in His people's lives. We are good at forgetting - we forget that God is at work in each of our lives. Such stories are good reminders.

Buckland is such a tiny village filled with adorable cottages and beautiful gardens that are still filled with colour and vitality.





We came home to the aroma of lamb shanks slowly cooking in Margaret's Aga.