In travelling all across the land I say
There are few gems more jewelled than just this place:
St Neot sitting in soft vales beside the Bodmin moor
Has much to marvel at, and more to see
Than in any place I know or I have seen these several years!
When I first wound with Gringolet in this world
In every church choice lights in chancels you would you see
But now our land has been levelled of such luxury
And empty now are many of the colours they once cast.
Not so St Neot calm above the winding road
For in its walls are wonders which bewitch
The eye, the soul, the senses and much more:
Glass from my own time, magnificent still methinks!
Look here, see Noah sailing in his ark
And there sweet ladies pray in soft calm thoughts;
Biblical stories beautiful in glass abound
In each and every light that lifts the soul.
Donors who once gave to this rich place
Are also shown, their arms as if caparisons
On this most holy church like cloth of gold in glass!
Fellow traveller, do not come this way without
a turn:
All who see St Neot sweet
Will gasp at what they learn.
They’ll never such another meet
Nor rich beauty will discern.
The church of St Anietus at St Neot has ancient origins stretching back to Saxon times. Since its rebuilding in the fifteenth century, the church has become famous for its remarkable collection of original mediaeval stained glass. These astonishing survivals include windows show the Creation, the story of Noah and of St Neot; each window is a joy to behold and well repays the journey to see. The interior also includes a wealth of monuments from different periods, in addition to a fabulous fifteenth century waggon roof. Even the churchyard contains much of interest, in particular a collection of ancient mediaeval wayside crosses. For more details of the church, please refer to this listing.
New Book by the Author: Michael Smith’s new translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will be published in July 2018. To pre-order your special collector’s limited first edition – with your name in the back – please click here
Sir Gawain's World 