Warleggan Church
Entering the village of Warleggan the visitor is greeted by the village sign, Warleggan twinned with Narnia which immediately brings a smile to the heart.
Warleggan church is situated at the end of a narrow ancient lane. Perched on a circular raised enclosure it has all the hallmarks of an ancient Celtic Christian site.
On entering the church, I was a little startled by the cardboard cut outs sitting in the back pews. This is a reference to a previous eccentric vicar who made effigies because he had no congregants to preach to.
Having collected myself I’m immediately drawn to the table with small candles. I light some and marvel at the light flickering warmly. It’s strangely comforting and hopeful, drawing me into God’s presence. He is the light of the world and the darkness has never put that light out.
On the panel by the organ my eye rests on the words, ‘Let saints on earth in concert sing with those whose work is done’. I hear the song ‘Holy forever‘ inside my mind and the line ‘all those who’ve gone before us and those who will believe’ resonates. This sense of the continuity of believers through the centuries makes me so grateful for those who established a church on this site and aware there is a cloud of witnesses cheering us on. The circular churchyard suggests a ‘lan’, an ancient Christian Celtic site but the information I’ve researched doesn’t know for certain and the dedication is to St Bartholomew. However, Celtic saint names were often replaced and anglicised. Lidarfinder shows a distinct circular enclosure.
Megsy, our dog, picked up in the presence of God and took off with joy around the pews. She senses God and when she does she responds with exuberant joy.
I settled to pray and listen.
Such Silence:
Such silence
So grateful for the silence
No rush
Just hush
Already my soul breathes out in a sigh of relief
Peace
Presence
God
You are here, always here, waiting for us
And you always will be
Always
Forever
Waiting for us patiently
To come
To you
And be
Together
Just being together
No agenda
Other than
I love you
You love me
Together
And suddenly all is right with the world
I pour out my heart in prayer
Laying the burdens down one by one
Peace
As I turned to leave and looked down the main aisle it was as though the whole church had come alive with the presence of God and was full of a light that wasn’t there when we arrived. This truly is a thin place one where I will return.