The recent film taken by drone of the church tower and gargoyles reminded me of this poem I wrote a dozen years ago.
To Grizwald - The Badsey Gargoyle
That we overlook you, we must own,
With your ugly 'phiz' hewn out of stone.
We rarely spare you a casual glance,
And when we do, it is quite by chance.To great trouble your ancient mason went,
Às you are not there just for ornament.
Your primary purpose, so they say,
Was to frighten evil spirits away.And in that task you have had success,
No evil spirits have gained access.
One look enough to interrupt
Any scheme to enter, and corrupt.There are other gargoyles on the tower, true.
Some being much uglier than you.
But you are the one situated best,
To watch the path from East and West.What sights you've seen from that lofty perch,
High up there on Badsey's church.
What if a camera there had been
To record everything that you have seen!How many vicars have crossed your gaze,
Since back before King Henry's days,
When the tower, for which you were selected,
Was planned, then duly was erected?Many bishops came to our church to visit,
Complete with entourage, how many is it?
My imagination then suffers complete failure.
Bishops on horseback in full regalia!How many gentry passed you with their swords?
How many peasants in their hordes?
How many servants, each one carefully dressed,
All scrubbed up in Sunday best?How many to Sunday School would attend,
And learn that Jesus was their friend?
How many teachers gave their time?
How often did the church clock chime?Of all the hymns, how many different choices?
And of all the choirs, how many voices?
Now we have lady choristers, quite mature ;
Where men and boys gave voice before.You've seen hundreds assemble in the tower,
To ring the bells for many an hour,
Providing information for all around,
As well as pleasure with their sound.You've watched wardens and vergers, but how many?
And organists were never ten a penny !
But just how many? More than a few.
Mrs Marshall and Marlene being just two.How many 'ne'er do wells' have you seen congregate
With intent to rob or desecrate?
What a pity that you can't reveal
Names of those who from our church would steal.You watch as bereaved tend graves of dear departed,
Some cheerful, others broken-hearted.
You observe villagers taking short cuts through,
All equally unaware of you.How many baptismal parties gathered below,
For their infants their support to show?
How many parents held their son or daughter,
Awaiting a splash of Holy Water?And of the lovely weddings, how many of them?
How many bridesmaids holding up the hem
Of bridal dresses of such variation,
Worn by brides of every rank and station.How many coffins passed within your sight?
How many mourners, who in their grief unite
To say their very last goodbyes?
How many pairs of red and streaming eyes?Grizwald, I promise from now, when I pass by,
I will look up to you and wink an eye;
And when my journey is my very last,
Perhaps you might wink back as I'm carried past.Yes, you've seen us come, and you've seen us go,
In an endless line passing down below.
For centuries to come may you remain,
Bearing witness to our joy and pain.
And since I wrote this, I have looked up at him, and winked.
Brian Smith
