At this time of the year, at the end of the Summer season and just before Toussaint (All Saints) on 1 November, we have a cleaning session, to bring the Abbey up to muster after 50k+ visitors over the Summer months. Yesterday was the day. Afterwards I sat on the altar steps for this shot...and his shadow. The flash of red (mental note to remember this in February) is a marker to signify the dragon, the contra view. The magnificence of this angel moves me.
PS. When the Abbey underwent significant restoration work in 2003/2004, as a congregation...in the sticks...we had the privilege of welcoming and working around gifted craftsmen who worked exclusively with historic buildings.
I remember well talking to one of the carpenters who had worked on this angel. He told me he'd engraved his initials on the angel's foot. True? Probably. Yay or nay, they can't be seen from ground level.
