THE MIDKNIGHT GARDEN: Home to The Serpent Priesthood & Knights of the Red Order.

“Despite ‘Covid’ we squeezed in some extra Fenland Grail Quests!”

Church of St Thomas Becket: Ramsey: It was a very bright and sunny day in December 2021; Friday 7th to be precise, but oh so cold! An ideal day though, for a surprise fenland visit to the historical parish church of St Thomas Becket in the quiet village of Ramsey, not far from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The church was built late in the 12th century as part of Ramsey Abbey, and is thought to have been a hospital, prior to being converted into a church early in the 13th centrury; it is a grade 1 listed building. The church is in a beautiful setting with spacious lawns all around and the low winter sun on this particualar day, seemed to add to its charm. The church is named after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket (1118-1170), who is it well known of and, was assasinated on the 29th December 1170 AD, by followers of King Henry 2nd. Interestingly King Henry is actually one of Karl’s relatives so a very important connection there.

The Church of Thomas Becket at Ramsey looking stunning in the sunshine! <click to enlarge>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Thomas_%C3%A0_Becket,_Ramsey

The oldest part of the building dates from around AD 1180–90, when it was built as a hospital, infirmary or guesthouse of the abbey. It was originally an aisled hall with a chapel at the east end with a vestry on the north side and the warden’s lodgings on the south, but both of these have now been demolished. The building was converted into a parish church about AD 1222. The building is mainly of rubble masonry, with the aisles and other parts of ashlar. The roofs of the chancel and nave are covered with tiles and the aisles with lead and there is a north chapel and a south chapel. As in the case of all monasteries whose foundation predates the  Norman conquest of England, the parishioners of Ramsey would have had rights in the monastic church. After the introduction of stricter monastic rule and more elaborate services in the 12th century, and particularly the Sunday Procession, the parochial services interfered with those of the monks. Therefore, accommodation for the parishioners was made at a parochial chapel outside the monastic church, at Holy Cross Church, Bury, Cambridgeshire. The church has had a very interesting history with some firm royal (and Grail) connections; within it are to be found some interesting artifacts and monuments which you can see and hear more about in our video here….

St Thomas Becket Church Ramsey

The interior certainly was stunning and very ‘cathedral-like’ <click to enlarge>

In respect of our Grail Quest, it is said that the Grail had travelled some 98 miles from Bray, of which we have visited recently, all the way to Thomas Becket Church. It was 843 years ago and the Grail (it is said) stayed for 101 years from 1178 AD to 1279 AD. Some say that the church was built specifically to host the Grail and would have been the 18th church to hold the Grail. One needs to ask one’s self, just why all this secrecy, all this fuss, the hiding and the constant moving around to keep the Grail hidden forever from mankind, but why?

So many beautiful artifacts full of ‘grail-related’ meanings <click to enlarge>

The church is full of amazing windows, (including a beautiful window to St Michael) all which tell their own stories through symbolism, and hidden here too are some profound Grail symbolism clues, not often seen (or noticed). The church was quiet inside on the day we visited and had a lovely, peaceful energy and apart from the ladies there decorating the lovely tree, we were mostly on our own.

Grail Bloodline Connections:

• The Nevilles, the Clarkes and the Fordams (and the royal line over the years) are the bloodines that merge here at Ramsey.
• Lord Robert de Neville (b.1172) of Raby Castle. (the start of the Neville line) (22 X GGF)

St Michaels and All Angels, Sutton:  Sadly we could not get in as it was very closed, although the tree lights outside were on, so a sign that it was not abandoned as such. It was set in a very pretty rural area, alongside ‘Lovers Lane’ and so we were able to have a stroll around and take a few outside shots. It is a small church of Templar style. Sutton itself is a small village and civil parish just outside of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, with a population of 196. It was once describes as a ‘woody swamp’ and in ‘Old English’ it translates as a Southern farm or settlement. It is still a small village, with lots of green and cattle grazing around, being very much of an agricultral community.

The church was built in the 12th century (suggested date 1163 with Templar origins) as a chapel-of-ease to St Kyneburgha, Castor for the benefit of the villagers of Sutton and to serve the Peterborough Abbey Grange Farm and Manor in the village. The church was enlarged c1170 when the original South wall was removed, the two Norman arches erected and the South Aisle added. The Chantry Chapel (which now contains the Vestry and organ) added about 1225 was originally dedicated to St Giles, the patron saint of lepers and cripples (650 AD-710 AD, 60 years). The Abbey Almoner, who was lord of the Manor, was responsible for their care. Further rebuilding took place in the 15^th Century, when the roof replaced with a higher, flatter roof. The church also now serves as a community hall. The church has a connection to Europe, Edinburgh and Elgin in Scotland. It is of a design form familiar with Athen in Greece. There are also strong Craft (G) links with the Holy Trinity Church in Elgin; a ‘keystone’ church that we will be exploring at the end of February 2022. It is suggested that the ‘G’ arrived here in 232 AD and stayed for a length of nine years.

Sadly we could not get inside but the area around was peaceful and the tree lights were on! <click to enlarge>

Grail Bloodline Connections:

• A Neville connection (24th GGF) with further connection to Lord Dolfia Fitz Uchtred (1110-1165) of Raby, Durham.

As it was a sunny dry day and good to be out in the countryside and with time to spare, we had a lovely drive to The Church of St Kyneburgha at Castor, as had been recommended to us that morning. Although not a part of our quests as such, it does has a connection to the previous church, it was a beautiful church with some interesting artefacts inside and well worth a visit for anyone interested in history. As it’s not part of the quests i have not provided any write-up, but lots of interesting facts can be found on the internet, but i did take some lovely photos! It was lovingly looked after with a beautiful wooden ceiling depicting angels and saints and some very nice interpretations of Mary in other areas of the church.

https://aroundbritishchurches.blogspot.com/2009/05/st-kyneburgha-castor.html

Some of the interesting artworks and atifacts in St Kyneburgha near Castor <please click to enlarge>

 

“And then, ducking and diving between the ‘Covid Variants’, we squeezed in another Fenland Quest on the 7th of January and what a beautiful day for it!”

 

Church of St Michael, Chesterton near Peterborough: It was crisp cold day on Friday 7th January 2022 and we in the very historic area near Peterborough, on what was once a huge royal estate, and one could really get a sense of the royal past from the fabulous energies there. Chesterton is a small village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, approximately 5 miles west-southwest of Peterborough in an area, particularly rich in Roman history. The name Chesterton means Roman site, farm or settlement and there was indeed an old Roman town nearby named Durobrivae’, now lost in time, but the maine trade would have been in pottery from 125 AD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterton,_Huntingdonshire

So the first stop was indeed the church of St Michael hidden cleverly away in rural Chesterton not far Peterborough. Built on a much older foundation as are all the churches we visit on our quests – hence why we are there, it is said that it could be a potential Grail location with links to some local families (Breville, Dryden, or another?) for the church is a ‘Keystone’ Church.  Going by some of the symbols and artifacts inside this stunning church i would suspect that St Michaels church does have a cleverly hidden history.

A beautiful setting for an equally beautiful church! <click to enlarge>

The church was established in the 12th century and the ailses and tower renovated in the 13th and 14th centuries. The porch and chancel were rebuilt in the 17th century and in recent days St Michael’s has recieved funding from the American descendants of the Belville family whom were past ‘Lords of the Manor’ in earlier centuries before emigrating to America. There is a monument to this family inside the church.

Inside many beautiful artifacts and grail and quest clues <click to enlarge>

We were highly honoured to have been shown some altar treasures from the sixteenth century and allowed to visit the bell tower where there are three bells, the oldest being from 1440 AD . The steps were very steep and the journey upwards very dark and dusty….

Read more about this church and it’s Grail connections in the new book by Karl Neville

‘When the Trumpet Sounds’

I will post the link when the book is published!

 

Grail Bloodline Connections:

• A Keystone Church connected to the Grail itself
• The Guardians of the Grail (local families?)
• ST Michael (Archangel Michael) past, present and future…

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Warmington, near Peterborough: The second church of the day, of our ‘extra’ fenland quest (Fri 7th Jan) was the beautiful Church of St Mary the Virgin at Warmington near Peterborough. I was unfamiliar with this seemingly timeless area. The villages and dwellings, and even the odd posh hall or two, are of local stone and blend in seamlessly with the counrtyside. Driving around this area, one really gets a real sense of our historic past, a past that played an important role in the shaping of British history. Yet also one gets a sense of tales untold, secrets not shared…

Warmington can trace its origins back to the 7th century when the King of Mercia granted the land to the Abbey of Peterborough. A charter of Edgar in 963 also names Warmington among the estates of the monks of the Abbey of Peterborough. Warmington is listed in the Doomsday Book as a part of the land of Peterborough Abbey. The village is also located on the route of a Roman Road running from Elton to Barnwell.

http://warmington.org/index.php/about-us/gerenal-interest/local-area/places-of-interest-in-warmington

Such stunning architecture! <click to enlarge>

The church itself, which was originally built in 1243 AD, was beautifully looked after, both inside and out, maybe for good reasons, for it is said that there is a ‘hidden’ Grail Energy link associated with the church. The church has one of the most famous of all steeples in the area, built in the 13th century, it’s square lower part has three stages, the top one with highly decorated belfry windows. The church’s older foundations go back to 1178 AD.

Artifacts that allude to a ‘hidden past’…. <click to enlarge>

Inside are many fascinating artifacts, some of which allude to a ‘christainity’ very far removed from todays christianity, or should i say allude to a time when church practices were not as they seemed to be, and are certainly never written about. But the signs are all there to see…. The church contains one of the best collections of Green Men to be found in England and (interestingly) there are nine…. The Medieval font is has a base dated 1662 AD, there is also a rare 13th century piscina with a ‘circle of eight’ (Samnu Emua) to the left of the door upon entering, and those whom are of Craft will understand the significance of this.

Many signs and symbols that tell their own tale…. <click to enlarge>

“Of course as we have come to realise and acknowledge, nothing is ever what it seems – least of all the churches of our quests!”

https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-mary-blessed-virgin-warmington

Grail Bloodline Connections:

• The Hidden Grail Energy link…
• The signs and symbols of the Grail

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: Fotheringhay Castle, near Peterborough: When i was at school, history was more of a forgotton world than i cared to tell. I was unable to compute numbers and dates in my brain so i just got terribly lost on the history trail. However since going on our Quests and seeing history come alive before my very eyes, i have certainly made up for it and have attained so much knowledge, it is amazing. And so it was with Mary Queen of Scots, whom i have always been drawn towards and felt an affinity with. I had no idea she was actually executed just a few miles outside of Cambridge at Fotheringhay Castle, near Peterborough. She spent her final days here, and was tried and convicted of murder here. She spent her last night praying in the castle’s small chapel, before being being cruelly beheaded on a scaffold in the castle’s great hall on 8th Feb 1587.

There is not much left of the actual castle now, it is now a sad sight of rack and ruin, with just the earthworks visable. Succeeding royalty of the times had no interest or any kind of loyalty towards the castles upkeep. The day we went it was tempory closed so we could only look from over the locked gates. But one does get a sense of actions lost in time and of earthly deeds of the day simply decaying into time and space… Our interest of course lies with the actual ‘placement ‘ of the castle, as with all our quests and also with the bloodlines connected to our quest; our Grail quest and our quest for truth.

Sadly not much to see anymore, but what a history! <click to enlarge>

Fotheringhay Castle, also known as Fotheringay Castle, was, in it’s heyday,  a High Middle Age Norman Motte-and-bailey castlein the village of Fotheringhay three and a half miles to the north of the market town of Oundle, probably founded around 1100 by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northhampton. In 1113, possession passed to Prince David of Scotland when he married Simon’s widow. The castle then descended with the Scottish princes until the early 13th century, when it was consfiscated by King John of England. It continues to have an interesting history, passing down from royal hand to royal hand until becoming the final place of imprisonment of mary Queen of Scots, who was tried and executed in the castle in 1587. The castle was dismantled in the 1630s and most of the masonry was removed, leaving only the  earthworks, however the site is now a protected monument and open to the public.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fotheringhay_Castle

Very good detailed descriptions here below of the castle, of the times and of Mary – worth a read!

https://thetudortravelguide.com/2019/02/02/fotheringhay-castle-the-final-dark-act-of-a-scottish-tragedy/

Grail Bloodline Connections:

• Favoured residence of Cecily Neville (Karl’s cousin) whom married Richard The Duke of York on 3rd May 1415 at Raby Castle (visited on a previous quest)
• Mary Queen od Scots (Karl’s 6th cousin) excecuted here in 1587 AD. Also known as Mary Stewart, Queen of Scotland 14th December 1542. (forced abdication 1567 AD). Married to King Henry Stewart (07/12/1545 – 10/02/1567) The one son was King James 1st of England (1566 – 1625)
• King Richard 3rd born here in 1452 AD died 1485 AD. The last king of the ‘House of York’. He was ‘Lord of Ireland’ from 26/06/1483 til his death in 1485. King Richard married a cousin of Karl’s,  Anne Beauchamp De Neville.

‘The Keeper of Scrolls’ AKA Reverend Janis

December 2021- updated January 2022

<moon.willow@ntlworld.com>