Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 22nd December, 2022)

In my minds eye an eerie silence over the graveyard. Most grave yards have broken headstones either through age or vandals. A lot have had to be removed or placed around the borders of the grave yard to make them safe.This makes family graves lost in time.

I like to walk around an old rustic broken down graveyard, but having said that the reason this gravestone is lying flat is because the family have neglected it, if families want graves they should be forced to look after them and if they don't the church should knock them down.

Today's photograph reminds me of a funeral I once went to and they played a song called the old rugged cross, I've never heard a more boring song in my life.

...and a Merry Christmas to you Alice....

You have no idea about whether the 'family' have neglected this head stone, or even if there is any remaining family to look after it. Don't let that stop you being mean spirited for the sake of it though....

Slack Alice your family take note and throw you into black bin when you shake off your clogs, no grave to look after then

Tom - I must admit I always tried to steer families away from choosing The Old Rugged Cross for a relative's funeral.....
As for detached crosses - sometimes they have been the subject of vandalism, but I think most that have been taken off their stands have been declared unsafe - they should be sunk well into the stonework below - but often they're cemented on with small pegs which don't stand the stress tests which graveyard authorities have to subject them to.

Another great photo Dennis, please keep them coming, they are something to look forward to and a breath of fresh air for folks not getting out and about during winter. I see what you mean with the frost glistening on the stonework of the cross. Yes we should all give thanks for the beauty of the cross, albeit old and rugged it is still full of grace today as then, and a sure and steadfast anchor in life's storms.

Always like walking round cemeteries,full of history to read on gravestones.They do get damaged through time and weather.The most damage I see see these days is done by mowing machines usually contractors.A gang of young people have been clearing up in my local cemetery,it said something like Firs community on their van and they have done an excellent job.Gareth,agree with you about Moaning Alice .

Abram Alice I have grandparents mother father brother sister niece nephew mother in law father in law 3 uncles and god knows how many relatives on the wife's side all buried and paid for In time the missus wants burying in her own grave with a head stone. When I pop my clogs if after the boss who maintains her headstone then

Well said Cyril although the hymn wouldn’t be what I would want at my funeral. It’s more for Good Friday to consider the suffering and shame of Christ put to death as a criminal for us as a human sacrifice. It was written by George Bennard an American Evangelist in 1915. Seems very old fashioned these days of ‘happy clapping’, tambourines and guitars. It’s mainly a Methodist hymn but Catholics sing it as well on Good Friday when venerating the cross.

"which don't stand the stress tests which graveyard authorities have to subject them to."

Like the stress subjected by a mini-digger being backed into them, you mean?

If all you can hear is the piano or organ playing the tune of The Old Rugged Cross then I can understand, but that is the same with all hymns at funerals with folks not feeling like singing. Though if George Beverly Shea was giving his rendition over the sound system then bring it on. George Beverly Shea sings The Old Rugged Cross:- https://youtu.be/E5zTISroqqg

Wonder who this can be attributed to:- https://youtu.be/_9XtgWYTrv4

All our family members have been cremated, that's my mother & dad, 2 brothers, 1 sister, 1 niece and both in laws and my first born son.
If you think about it, how daft is it to want to be buried in a wooden box 6 feet down.

Veronica, glad to hear it's still sung on occasions. I know a number of Pentecostal churches who as well as those happy clappy choruses would also sing a lot of hymns written by Fanny Crosby, even though written for the Methodist church. If you ever see a book about her have a read of it, she was blind from a child yet went on to learn piano and a host of other instruments and also wrote quite a multitude of hymns, she was a really gifted lady. There are also a lot of her hymns featured on youtube.

I'd make a noise of sorts as I've got a singing voice like Irene has - like a cinder trapped under a door.

You cheeky monkey, young Cyril!! xx