Three Sussex Churches, Berwick to Glynde

5 July. We were a total of seven as we set off from Berwick Station shortly after 10 am,  the trains and connections having worked perfectly. And the temperature was a bit cooler – a brief respite from the oven-furnace heatwave.  The sky was overcast, but it did not rain on us.  

The first two of our churches form part of the Cuckmere Pilgrim Path, a 12-mile seven-Churches walk (recently completed in full by the South Bank Ramblers).  

We admired the stained glass of  Selmeston Church – including The Annunciation by Charles Kempe, Victorian designer and glass maker, and the recently installed glass  in memory of a parishoner and depicting the Cuckmere Valley.  

And then on to Alciston Church, sited on a small mound enclosed within a flint wall.  The group of buildings near the church once formed part of a Benedictine monastery.  The church was closed for several weeks to undergo some structural repairs. But, by previous arrangement, with the church warden we were permitted in and all seven of us were given the opportunity to sound the Pilgrim Bell, which had been commissioned by the church warden and cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundary.  

Both church yards, and possibly all seven of the Cuckmere churches, have sundials.

On we went to Firle Church following the Old Coach Road – a bit of a tedious trek with nowhere comfortable for a brief rest.  Finally, we reached Firle Church and were able to spend time with the John Piper Tree of Life glass window – inspired by a William Blake illustration of Job and his restored family under the Tree of Life.  And, at last, time for some refreshment at the Ram’s Inn.  We made it back to Glynde station with time to spare before the hourly train service back to London.  

Many thanks to my walking companions for joining me and to Mary-Jane and Deidre for the photos.  Patricia.