Essentially the Only One

Another photo visit to the church of St. Mary the Virgin in Dennington.

Here's an interior view, showing the beautiful woodwork, much of it 600 or 700 years old and still in immaculate condition. But what caught my eye when I was framing that shot was a captivating little detail far off the ground.

Looking up to the stone supports that form the base for the wooden arches that hold up the roof, I saw that each had been fashioned into the shape of a head. (As shown by the yellow arrow in my photograph).

A close up revealed a surprisingly detailed view of some unidentified medieval person. Was it someone of significance, or perhaps a more ordinary figure? In this case, perhaps the beautiful wife of the stone mason. Were these the ordinary folk, high up and overlooking the far grander monuments to the wealthy and renowned of the village.

I liked to think so. These faces were open and friendly, much as I might like myself to be remembered in future centuries.