Driving back from Kirby Hall (on Kirby Lane heading toward the A43 in North Northants) we noticed a sign pointing into the distance saying “Historic Church”. We parked the car in a nearby lay-by and walked for about ten-minutes until we located a well-kept but very old (and ornate) graveyard. We have been told that this Church once served the substantial community that resided in and around Kirby Hall – be they noble or peasant. There used to be a place called “Kirby Village” – but this died-out sometime in the late 1700s – as Kirby Hall was abandoned and was sold-off.
The local peasanty had served the Absolute Monarchs from Elizabeth I to Charles I (including hosting James I in 1619) – and then a series of Constitutional Monarchs – until the area fell-out of royal favour. The local peasants either died of hungar or moved away. Even so, St Peter’s Church was constructed in 1060 CE – just six-years prior to the Norman Conquest. The interior of the Church is substantial for a local place of worship and must have once hosted hundreds of worshippers – even though it is not in use today. A sign on the Church door reads “Open to All” – and indeed – the door is always open. I would say this Church is the size of some Cathedrals.
As matters stand, its upkeep is administered by the “The Churches Conservation Trust”. Many Churches have been abandoned, vandalised, and sold-off – so perhaps the activities of this charity is an attempt to reverse this trend. Churches are the focus of local and national genealogical data and may construed as the analogue search-engines of their day. Of course, for the faithful – Churches are vital conduits between the material and the spirit world. History is all around us and is imbued in the stone-work and functionality of all ancient buildings.
Even a committed atheist will be at one with the deepest aspects of the mind and nature whilst sat quietly in these hallowed halls. On the way out, whilst walking back to the car, we met a man with a dog who used to live in Leicester – and even in Barclay Street, where my father and his parents lived! He has relatives in St Helena – and although an English gentleman – we got the impression that his White relatives had mixed with the Black population (former slaves) who lived on that famous British colonial island that once housed the Great Emperor Napoleon during one of his exiles!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 