Amy's Sabbatical, Adventures in the United Kingdom, # 2

Monday, June 13.

This was a day to just catch up on our jet lag, so we took it pretty easy.  We went into the city of Chester and walked around this wall that surrounds the entire city.  It is a walk of about 2 miles.  Sections of the wall  were built during the days of Roman rule in Chester and other parts were built in the medieval times. 


We also stopped to view the Chester Cathedral (of the Anglican Church). Built over thousands of years this cathedral is huge.  Tim, Huw, Evan and I just wandered around the cathedral.  At one point a priest came out and asked all the tourists in the church to pause for a brief period of prayer.  He offered a prayer for the people suffering in the world, for people travelling on holiday that they may be refreshed and renewed, and he asked us all to say the Lord's Prayer in what the language that we were most comfortable praying in.  It was wonderful to pray in this ancient cathedral.

Main entry way into Chester Cathedral

The church was established by Benedictine monks in 1092. And thrived until 1540 when the monastary disolved and  the building of the church ceased. In 1541 Henry VIII signed the Letters of Patent creating the Cathedral and construction resumed.   There is massive amounts of stone work that took thousands of years to build.  It boggles my mind to think of the history of a church that is so long.  Nor can I imagine what kind of work it must take to keep such a building going.  It is a thriving church with a worshipping community.  In the brochure it says it takes a million pounds to maintain every year.  Imagine that stewardship campaign!!!
  

Inside the Chester Cathedral

After touring the cathedral we stopped for some tea and cakes in the Refectory.  There is a full service cafe inside the church in the exact same spot where the 13th century monks used to eat their daily meals. 

Beeston Castle

Later in the day, we went back to Tim's house for lunch, picked up his dogs, a big black lab puppy named Lester and a mutt called Nancy, and took them for a walk up Beeston Castle.  There are old castles in almost every town in England in various states of ruin.  My son Evan says that this was one of the high lights of his trip.  I think he really enjoyed the company of the dogs.

Then dinner at Tim's house with his wife Ashlea - a chicken curry dish that she had cooking in the crockpot all day.  She put out some different chutneys and pickles, some hot and spicy, some sweet.  It was a diversity of flavors.  Wonderful!  Then we all watched the original version of the movie "The Italian Job," starring Michael Caine.  I must admit that I slept through much of the movie because I was tired.  Still suffering from a bit of jet lag.