220/365 Gate

I captured this beautiful gate at the rear of St Werburgh's Church on the way back to Bold Lane Car Park with Jodie this afternoon. The church hasn't been a church for many years but looking at this image, you wouldn't guess this was in Derby's city centre (downtown) right next to a concrete multi-storey car park! I was trying out my 40D :0)

78/365 Lychgate, St Edmund's Church

There wasn't any confetti this time, but the day was brighter than my last visit. Apparently, 'lych' is Anglo Saxon and originates from the German word for corpse. The lychgate provided shelter and a resting place for coffin bearers on their way into church.

For some interesting historical information about Allestree, including St Edmund's church see http://www.picturesofderby.co.uk/area_allestree.htm

Here is a detail from the carved stone doorway into the church which dates from Norman times.

12/365 Lone confetti

A lone piece of confetti clings to the gate of St Edmund's Church, Allestree. This is, I think, the oldest church in Allestree and dates form the 12th Century (although only an ornate doorway survives of the original) and this is the best I could do given low light (!) and no tripod. (Please don't peek at my pixels!) The green reflection is from grass within the churchyard, and some rainwater has pooled on the strap hinge just left of centre. While we are having such grey days I think I'll keep my tripod in the car, and before the year is out, I'll take a shot of the whole lychgate which is rather beautiful.

(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allestree for more info.)

Lychgate: noun, a roofed gate to a churchyard, formerly used as a temporary shelter for the bier during funerals.
Bier: noun, a coffin along with its stand.