IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Terrace, WARMINSTER, BA12 0EQ

The banner of the Heytesbury Mothers Union. Mary Sumner (1828–1921) founded the Mothers Union as an organisation that would unite mothers of all social classes in mutual support and promote motherhood. In 1876, after the birth of her first grandchild Mary was inspired to bring together the mothers of the parish in mutual support and held the first meeting of what was to become the Mothers’ Union in the Old Alresford Rectory. Today the Union is a global movement with over 3.6 million members. Mary is buried with her husband in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral. For a photograph of Mary's grave see Image by Jonathan Kington

The banner of the Haytesbury Deanery stands at the church crossing. The Heytesbury Deanery is part of the Salisbury Diocese and covers an area between Mere in the south, Westbury in the north and east as far as Sherrington.

Looking down the chancel with its beautiful carved bench ends.

A terrace of five houses next to Church of St Peter and St Paul. Accessed off Tytherington Road.

Gives access to some fine brick building located just outside the perimeter wall of St. Peter and St. Paul churchyard, Heytesbury.

Looking down the nave with its decorated Christmas Tree, towards the chancel and sanctuary. Today we chop down or buy a tree, carry it home, set it up in a stand, decorate it and place our presents underneath it. It wouldn't seem like Christmas without a tree. How did trees become so important in our celebrations of Christmas? Trees were originally given as New Year's gifts. And, like other New Year's gifts, trees had symbolic significance. Originally, hawthorn, blackthorn and other trees with bright, small blossoms were kept indoors and their blossoms forced, in hopes that they would appear by the New Year. If they did, it was regarded as a good omen for the crops in the coming year. But forcing blossoms was a chancy business, and rather than tempt fate, many turned to evergreen trees, especially those that bore fruit at the New Year. The evergreen was a great mystery. Why should it remain green and, as in the case of the holly, even bear fruit, in a season when all other types of trees seemed to die? People thought evergreens had magical powers and would ward off evil spirits. The oak was sacred to the Celtic Druids. At the winter solstice, they decorated oaks with candles and apples painted gold. In one legend, on any eighth-century Christmas Eve/solstice night, St Boniface chopped down a huge oak that had been used for human sacrifice and, pointing to a young fir that had survived the crash of the oak, told the assembled barbarians that this "young child in the forest" should be their holy tree. Trees, like oaks which outlive man by hundreds of years, or evergreens which never seem to wither, were believed to contain a mysterious life force. They became central features of the rites celebrated on the darkest day of winter, when the life force seemed most vulnerable. A tree designated as a 'Christmas' tree made its appearance in the late 16th century. It was merely the latest in a long line of mystical or sacred trees that held special significance in popular folklore. In the earliest description of a 'Christmas' tree, that heritage is clear. In a fragment from a travel diary dated 1605, an unidentified visitor to Strasbourg, Germany, describes tree decorations that included apples (from the Tree of Life?), paper roses (from solstice celebrations?), sweets, wafer-like biscuits (to wish for good times in the coming year?) and golden spangles (to wish for riches). When Queen Victoria married Germany's Prince Albert, the Christmas tree became quite central to the holiday in the British Isles. It was a time of Victorian commercialism, and of a growing middle class eager for ways to display their new wealth. The tree provided an opportunity to sell more goods to the public and was vigorously promoted. British trees were only two feet high and sat on tabletops. Tall trees were too precious to be cut down as adornments. Christmas trees had not been officially sanctioned by the church and many regarded them as frivolous. I expect many people who attend church at Christmas do not realise that the pretty decorated tree has its 'roots' in pagan mythology.

The bench mark is to be found on the southwest angle of the west wall of the church. For a view of the church Image and for further information on the cut mark

Looking west down the length of the church from the sanctuary steps.

The door handle to the south door of the church.

The ivy clad tomb is near the south porch. Ivy is an excellent winter food source for birds. The ivy blooms near the end of the year, usually around November. Although its flowers are small and inconspicuous, they attract many late-flying insects. These provide tasty nibbles for birds such as the wren, dunnock, robin and blue-tit. Later on, when the ivy berries turn black, they will be gobbled up by the blackbirds and wood-pigeons. Winter visitors such as redwings and fieldfares will also benefit from this late feast, especially if it has been a hard winter. Common Ivy was used by medieval herbalists to treat the bloody flux. Today, its modern use is not recommended internally as it can cause the destruction of red blood cells. The leaves however, are used by master herbalists as poultices for boils and abscesses.