All Saints' Church, Orby

The Church of All Saints in Orby, Lincolnshire, appears to be a patchwork of different styles, with six centuries of building and re-building clearly evident. Although the internal walls are whitewashed, giving it a uniform or even Reformation feel, the externals host a great deal of brickwork in the older stonework, where repairs have been made. One written source inside the building even blames World War II German bombs for some of the damage, though I am a little surprised that Hermann Göring’s Luftwaffe had even heard of little Orby.

Worship within All Saints is ‘higher’ than I would prefer, with a rather unattractive statue of Mary glowering over a side altar, but I did like the place, especially seeing so much evidence of its repair and re-repair. The chancel has been too long and distant for the service of communion, even for the Anglo-Catholics who worship here, so a little communion table had been brought to the top of the nave, complete with wooden chair for priestly oversight.

This church has suffered much damage and decay; it has been battered, bruised and altered; it has been refurbished, restored, and remedied. It may look a little rough and not very uniform without (unlike those pristine -but boring- Victorian parish churches) but it has been much used and loved.

Just as little scars and blemishes on our bodies may bespeak an energetic and happy childhood, so the scars of life demonstrate an active and lively existence. The lad who broke his leg climbing a tree, or the lass who scarred her leg falling out of a homemade go-cart, probably had better early years than the one who stayed inside watching TV or playing online games. Those who fight get scraped and grazed; those who stay at home look smooth and unruffled.  

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Leaning wall, above.