St Genny's in Cornwall
While out on a drive yesterday, John took a detour and quite by accident we ended up at a place we might have never found had we not been up for a little adventure.
St Genny’s Church
Photo by John Winchurch
In a clear departure from my normal behavior, I did not take any photographs of the inside of St. Genny’s, but John got a nice one from the back center aisle.
I followed the path to the right of St Genny’s around the corner to see the surprise below.
Walking between the church and a stand of trees shading several rows of ornate gravestones, I stepped out into a place that took my breath away with the perfect beauty of all.
John had gone inside the church looking for me and after coming around the corner, caught up with me here on this hill.
He walked with a stride and purpose that I’ve seen before as he came straight up the hill to the place where I was standing. Reaching for me without saying a word, he kissed me with the kind of kiss that felt like a sweet benediction in what seemed like a holy place of rest. I thought nowhere could a woman feel more loved than I did then and we stood quietly together for another minute admiring the view from this field of flowers and stone.
As we turned to walk on I asked him if he’d seen a John and Elizabeth yet, because I know from experience now that there’s always a John and Elizabeth lying together in every churchyard we visit and no sooner did I finish the question then I saw two stones next to where he was standing. I smiled as I noticed that he happened to be standing in front of John the husband’s gravestone while I was closest to Elizabeth’s.
I would have photographed him where he stood, but sometimes I get a bit superstitious about photographing the living in a memorial for the dead. Except for wedding day photographs like ours below.
Elizabeth Harper & John Winchurch - Wedding Day - 2-2-2009
After seeing the graves of John and Elizabeth Marshall, we climbed to the top corner of the churchyard for a longer view …
… and noticed this sweet little bench tucked up near the wall.
It was a perfect place to sit and think.
There were wild flowers growing everywhere and not so much in the way of cut flowers,
… but I did find this tender message of love and memory on one grave.
It you’d like to know more about St Genny’s church, I found a wonderful blog post from a woman named Jan Windle who spent several days nearby and did some interesting research complete with detailed photographs. It’s well worth a look.
*Note that she speaks first about St Juliot, a church associated with Thomas Hardy before going on to St Genny’s.
Gifts Of The Journey 
Hello, I came across your blog in the new posts section and the title grabbed me. So glad that I clicked on it…pictures are breathtaking!! Almost brought on tears from the serenity and peacefulness of the scenery. Thank you so much for sharing this. -Rebecca
What a truly beautiful place, and how fortunate that you found it.
I absolutely love your wedding dress by the way…gorgeous!
Lovely, lovely, lovely….. I especially loved the bench photo with the roses with the memorials on the wall–at least I think that’s what they were. I’m always surprised by how sunny many of your photos are. It goes against my made up concept that it’s always dark and dreary in the British Isles–which was really never my experience. But I don’t remember the crispness of the light. I remember something softer.
what an incredible place. the view from that hill takes your breath away for sure with it’s beauty.
Touching moment and gorgeous pics. My, oh, my.
What a beautiful place and beautiful pictures. I also enjoyed the link to Jan’s pictures and blogs.
I’m in awe ! Such wonderful balance here…
What more can I add really…Just absorbing it at a deeper level…
Thank you for this post Elizabeth!
I’m sure you’ve said before but I’d love to know about your camera equipment. What kind of camera do you use? lenses?
thanks!
Kisses without words are moments of Love 🙂
Such a fabulous walk , with FAB photos too. I love the bench photo with the views .. Serene and a place to think .
I am so pleased your postcard arrived , It is so great to get snail mail 🙂 I think everyone should get mail in the postbox ..
Happy that you like my new haircut .. a spur of the moment on holiday thought !!
Love love love the photo of the Celtic cross, the wildflowers, and the sea, and then to read the breathtaking love that comes with it. . . .heavenly.
Beautiful 😀
the bench and the view Wow 🙂
the cemetery where my dad is buried has so many rules about grave decorations. The grass is mowed every week.
I like the looks of this one, with many kinds of flowers, and the grass tall enough to be nodding in the breeze off the sea.
Your photos capture much depth, with feeling.
Elizabeth, these photos and your love story absolutely take my breath away.
Jayne
Wow…what an incredible view and your photo’s are amazing…
This post blew me away and I had to return to it – love, love, love the photos (and the image of your hubby coming up and giving you a lovely kiss) — this is sooooo one of the things that utterly knocks me out about England and the UK, these churches in these settings — amazing.
Cheers to you and John and love the photos!