Angel

I am still here. I know there hasn't been much word from The House of Stories lately, but The House of Stories is still the House of Hobbling and there is far too much going on just now.

Some of you like to have news from Mistmantle, but just now it's pretty standard Mistmantle summer. Berry harvest, a lot of partying, and animals on the beach jumping in and out of the water. They're all right, Fingal and Tide keep an eye on them. I've no idea where Corr is off too these days. Scatter is making flower chains.

As you know, I love my garden, and especially roses. I have an angel corner in my garden, with clematis Angelique and Lichfield Angel rose. I bought Lichfield Angel largely for the name, but having said that, she is the most beautiful delicate rose and is at her best just now. Being concerned about some droopy stems - and we can't have droopy angels, can we? - I looked up Lichfield Angel on-line and, by accident, found out how she got her name. Great story.

Thirteen hundred years ago, the monastery on Lindisfarne was famous. Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is the tiny tidal island just off the Northumbrian coast which St Aidan used as his base. Most of the monks and teachers in the north of England were trained there, and sent out to do whatever needed doing. Among these monks were four brothers - Cedd, Cynebil, Caelin and Chad. Chad was sent to what we now call the Midlands, and built a church dedicated to St Mary. It is now Lichfield Angel.

About eight years ago some work was done on the floor of Lichfield Cathedral and in the course of this the archeolly-jollies found the Saxon foundation. We're talking between thirteen and fourteen hundred years ago, the original church built by St Chad, and among what was left of it they found a carved stone, which might have been part of a grave. It's beautiful. the figure of the Angel Gabriel, broken in two places but still perfectly clear because it's been safe from weathering for centuries. There are still traces of paint on it. That is the original Lichfield Angel, after which the rose was named. It may have been part of St Chad's grave.

From the seventh century to the twenty-first. From Northumberland to Lichfield went Chad. From a stone to a rose, and so back to Northumberland again. A weaving in and out like a Celtic knot, with no beginning nor end.