William Dunford and an eddy of time ...

One February morning, in the parish church of Winterbourne Abbas, I came across William Dunford's memorial - 

We'd been walking the ridgeway - now we were on our way back to Martinstown - 

Winged gargoyles crouched at the top of the church tower - there was a lichened angel guarding the doorway - the Bible on the lectern was open at the book of Ezra - as always, I looked for strange names - 

Phineas, Azariah, Eleazar, Abishua - these names could be the names of angels, glimpsed in a scrying glass - 

Underfoot was smooth shining stone - 

I read the words of William's memorial - he'd sung sturdy hymns in the gallery, in sunlight and by candlelight - 

I looked at the framed pencil sketch depicting members of the church band - 

An eddy of time, caught under the roof, still carried their brave music - 

11.45

18 February 2015

St Mary's Church

Winterbourne Abbas