LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, July 26, 2010

Serene and Peaceful

Cleaning up some folders, I came across some photographs taken and forgotten. One folder held some pictures of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church.

When my daughter visited us in May, she and I took day trips to nearby areas. Both of us adore old graveyards and old churches with their cemeteries. It's not surprising that we would visit this church. St. John is a lovely, quiet, and serene place in nearby Flat Rock. Originally built in 1833 as a private chapel, the church is rich in history.

The church was racially integrated from the beginning with families and "servants" sitting together. In fact, the very first wedding ceremony performed at the church was between two slaves.






The cemetery surrounding the church is a wonderful place to roam and ponder. Three signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here, and many fallen soldiers of all our wars.

I could linger for hours in cemeteries, reading the epitaphs and admiring the art gracing the tombstones. This cemetery calls me back again and again and there are still areas I haven't walked.
I've never given a thought to the wording on my tombstone, but wouldn't it be wonderful to be remembered as "exceedingly beloved?"

19 comments:

Thistlebrooms said...

I'm with you...
On vacations and in my journeys I love to visit Old Graveyards.
I read the epitaphs on the Old Tombstones, try and get a glimpse into their past...
I've also taken many, many photo's of the artist's fine chiseled workmanship on the Gravestones for the Loved Ones.
Amazing, The Beauty we find from the Past...

Always My Best~Marilyn

Karin said...

Love the history that goes with the old graveyards and churches - miss that up here!

KGMom said...

What a neat way to see the immediate countryside and soak up some history too.

Folkways Note Book said...

What a nice church and cemetery. Graveyards are intriguing -- so much to tell us about our culture. Where I live, I am always coming across tiny family cemeteries that usually contain some lovely handmade tombstones. -- barbara

Busy Bee Suz said...

Exceedingly beloved would be nice.
Love the rich history of this church...if those walls could talk.

JeanMac said...

Beautiful words - beloved - what more could one ask for?

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Carolyn, I too love to visit old churches and cemeteries... Most everytime we go on vacation or take a ride, we will stop and check out an old church and cemetery.

Great pictures... Thanks!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

carolina nana said...

Hi Carolyn, This church is one of my favorite places around here. Alex Viola the priest there now is one of my dearest friends,he and his wife are the sweetest people. I love old grave yards that are full of history that theirs. Have a blessed day
and by the way my son's vascular surgeon called off the nerve block and wants to tame the pain with medicine. Hopefully this is a plan that will work.
Thanks for the info you gave.
Marilyn

Barb said...

I, too, love old cemeteries and wandering among the headstones. This particular one looks very well-kept, as befits a piece of history.

Rudee said...

I love visiting graveyards, too, and old churches. It would be exceedingly wonderful to be remembered with such fondness.

Anonymous said...

It's been a long time since I walked around an old graveyard. They're not quite as old here in the west. I remember cemeteries in Connecticut and Massachusetts where the headstones told stories that were over 300 years old. It's quite a thing to have etched in stone words like a short poem to tell your story.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, indeed.

What a special place! I'd like to see it sometime.

Shelley said...

I love visiting graveyards and old churches too. These were great photos. And yes - exceedingly beloved sounds nice to put on a headstone!

Vicki Lane said...

I, too,love old graveyards. This looks like a dandy!

Jayne said...

I love seeing old churches too. What a wonderful tombstone... exceedingly beloved.

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

And this is by far the best cemetery ever! Husband and I have visited this church several times. I love it! It practically defines the word "sanctuary".....

Ruth said...

That is a wonderful epitaph. Old graveyards are favourite places for me as well. The church building and grounds are very beautiful.

Janet said...

What a beautiful inscription!

Love your photos and adventures!

Twisted Fencepost said...

Oh I love old cemeteries, too.
There are a couple around here I will be checking out, if I can ever get time.