Paths to Explore: Let's be Spontaneous

Door to the Chapter house

Were the words my DH said yesterday as we sat having lunch at Paddington station. So we finished lunch and booked tickets for Bristol. Now my DH was booking for nine a.m. and I interrupted and suggested he might want a bit later so at ten thirty (which was off-peak and therefore cheaper) we were on the train to Bristol.

We have had quite a day. We arrived just in time for lunch. Having never heard of Cowbee we thought we would give it a try. The waffles are delicious. Then we were off for the day. We saw the Cathedral, murals, St. Nicholas Market and had a fun spontaneous day.

The Cathedral and the College Green

The Cathedral had its start in the 1100's when an Augustinian Abbey was founded on the site. Remains of it are still on the grounds but the burial area of the monks has been converted into a green park (College Green). It is leased by the city, and is a well cared for space where on a nice warm day you can sit and enjoy the space and a picnic.

The cathedral itself has stood in the centre if Bristol since the 1500's. It, like most Cathedrals, is quite majestic but less heavy on the stained glass. The commercialism is less in evidence, not because they do not welcome donations, but the emphasis is a place of prayer and there are a number of quiet places where one can just sit and pray or contemplate.

The Nave

We went back for the five fifteen choral evensong which was quite lovely. The Eastern Lady Chapel hosted us for the service. It was nearly full with more sitting in the nave as we departed the service.

The Eastern Lady Chapel

The gardens of the Cathedral were well used. One could find lunch at the cafe and sit in the garden or just wander through. It was well maintained chaos! Herbs had their own section, holly was beautifully pruned in different shapes and was full and thick.

Well pruned holly

Beautiful full blooms

More of the garden, yes around the tombstones

Nestled in the garden was this sculpture simply titled Refugee. Dedicated to all that have suffered racial persecutions.

Once we were outside again we noticed, closer to the Cathedral, a green space that looked more randomly planted. This space titled Flowers in their Footsteps has been in existence for eight hundred years. Wildflowers grow here on the sight where protesters have gathered. One of the biggest crowds was in 2020 when 15,000 gathered to march for the environment.

Daffodils are currently in bloom here. The intent is to draw wildlife closer to urban dwellers.

It is an impressive sight to see this building standing in the city centre, surrounded by the hustle and bustle and yet offering both inside and out a place for people to commune with the divine.