Mum's Trip Abroad

I found a disk of photos she took on her last trip to England Europe a few years ago. I don't know if she knew, but she seems to have had a little natural knack for photography.

She went to Paris:



She always loved flying buttresses


and gargoyles


and particularly statues of Our Lady.


Figures in the north portal of Notre Dame.

She visited the little village of Clynnog Fawr, often simply called

"Clynnog",

on the north coast of the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.

She visited the church of St. Beuno:



rood screen


passageway


rectory


portal arch

Wiki says,

The main feature of the village is the church, dedicated to Saint Beuno, which is much larger than would be expected in a village of Clynnog's size. The site is said to be that of a Celtic monastery founded by Beuno in the early 7th century. It developed into an important foundation and some Welsh law manuscripts specify that the Abbot of Clynnog was entitled to a seat at the court of the king of Gwynedd. The church is recorded as being burnt in 978 by the Vikings and later burnt again by the Normans. By the end of the 15th century it was a collegiate church, one of only six in Wales. The church was an important stopping place for pilgrims heading for Bardsey Island and contains Cyff Beuno, an ancient wooden chest hollowed out of a single piece of ash and used to keep alms donated by the pilgrims. "Maen Beuno" or Beuno's Stone has markings reputed to be those of Beuno's fingers. Outside in the churchyard there is a sundial dated between the late 10th century and the early 12th century.

Saint Beuno (died 640) was a 7th century Welsh holy man and Abbot of Clynnog Fawr in Caernarfonshire.

Beuno was born in Powys, supposedly at Berriew, the grandson of a prince of that realm, with Cadfan King of Gwynedd, being his generous benefactor. Cadwallon, Cadfan's son and successor, deceived Beuno about some land and, when the saint demanding justice, proved unsympathetic. Thereupon, Cadwallon's cousin Gwyddaint, in reparation, "gave to God and Beuno forever his township" of Clynnog Fawr, where the saint founded the famous abbey.

Beuno became the guardian and restorer to life of his niece, the virgin Saint Winefride. He was relentless with hardened sinners, but full of compassion to those in distress. Before his death "on the seventh day of Easter," he had a wondrous vision. Eleven churches bearing Saint Beuno's name witness to his far-reaching missionary zeal. His feastday is 21 April.

After a day of wandering about, ended it, like a sensible person, with a pint in the pub.