Lud's Church,
by Jane Brookes
from the 'Sacred Space' occasional series
Considering the mythology associated with it, arranging to meet at Lud's
Church is either brave, or asking for it - rather like marching to the top
of a Faerie Mound and asking for blows or a vision! Lud's Church is in Forest
Wood, towards the north west fringe of the Peak District National Park.
As we should have perhaps expected, the day began with an almost impenetrable
fog blanket, which would remain throughout the day.
.........Passing into the wood, through the gateway of graceful, ancient
beech trees, we realised the appropriate nature of the weather. The wood
was positively saturated. We were totally enfolded in the trees, isolated
from the rest of the world. Beside the path rose a wet, slippery, rocky
outcrop, from which we might on another day have seen across the moors.
Climbing up confirmed our isolation.
Returning from the "vantage point" we re-entered the woodland.
Lud's Church lies just off the path. It's a narrow chasm of deep red sandstone,
entered by clambering down some "steps". Wetness was all-pervading
- it glistened on the mosses and lichens, shimmered in the puddles on the
floor, enhanced the beauty of the spider webs, shimmered on the stone walls,
fell from the precariously growing trees above in occasional drops, and
filled the air in heavy saturation. Lud's Church is a place which is supremely
of earth and water. The stillness here is almost overpowering in its depth.
Every shade of green is represented. The atmosphere is bursting with an
imminence. There is a sense that this place would have been the last hide-out
of some ancient energy or creature of the Land - a place of final refuge
to be coiled into. A cloak of trepidation is impossible to shrug off, winding
down into the narrow, twisting gorge.
I mentioned the mythological associations of Lud's Church. It is the Green
Chapel of the tale of Gawain and the Green Knight. In an obviously initiatory
tale, Gawain takes up the challenge of a huge Green Knight who arrives at
Arthur's Court. He smites off the giants head, but as he replaces it, he
realises that he has a bargain to keep - to meet at the Green Chapel on
New Years Day, for the blow to be returned. Towards the end of the year
Gawain travels far and wide in his search for the Green Chapel. Eventually
he finds a castle inhabited by a knight, his lady and an old hag, and learns
that the Green Chapel is nearby. For three days he exchanges the spoils
of his day with those of his host - the host giving his hunting prizes,
Gawain giving only the formal kisses exchanged with the amorous lady of
the castle. On the final day, the lady presses upon Gawain a sash which
will protect him from the danger he expects at the end of his quest. Guiltily
Gawain doesn't declare this when he and his host exchange gifts that evening.
Journeying to the Chapel the following morning Gawain meets the huge Green
Knight. The first blow stops in mid-swing, as Gawain flinches. The second
also stops short. The third blow just nicks the back of Gawains neck. Leaping
to defend himself he finds that the Green Knight is in fact his host at
the castle. He and his lady have been enchanted by the hag - a disguised
Morgaine, testing Gawain.
Indeed, climbing out of the far end of the chasm, as we looked back, we
could see the outline of the Green Knight's head in the very rocks of the
gorge. He is still there, ready to test our metal. Morgaine was probably
lurking in the fog nearby, presenting initiatory opportunities and challenges.
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