Church Micro 111 - St Hughs Charterhouse Traditional Geocache
Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache, I'm archiving it.
Andy
Long Man
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Church Micro 111 - St Hughs Charterhouse
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A Church Micro with a difference!!!
The
Carthusians are a Roman Catholic Order of monks and nuns that
was founded in the 11th Century by St Bruno in the Chartreuse
valley in the French Alps. A Carthusian monastery is known as
a Charterhouse.
There are Charterhouses around the world but the largest of all is
St Hugh's Charterhouse,
Parkminster.
In summer the 182-foot spire is scarcely visible behind the trees
that screen the religious complex from the road, yet the buildings,
cloisters and courts that comprise this monastery cover ten acres.
The cloisters, nearly a mile in length, are the longest monastic
cloisters in the world. The monastery is built entirely of stone
(mostly quarried locally, though all the paving for the mile of
cloisters was brought in from Belgium).
St Hugh's was built in the late 19th Century to replace those
destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It was built
at a time when, owing to religious persecution in continental
Europe, it was felt prudent to provide a safe haven in case the
Carthusians were forced to flee.
A
Carthusian monk spends a great deal of his time, in silent
contemplation, alone in his hermitage. He wears a habit which
is made of plain thick white serge with a pointed hood. A
hair-shirt is worn continuously, even in bed, and removed only
for washing. This is a very simple garment worn next to the
skin. It consists of two pieces of rough material made from
horse-hair, one to cover the chest and the other the back,
joined by simple shoulder-straps to keep the whole thing in
place. This is always uncomfortable, and its purpose is to act
as a constant reminder that physical pleasure must be
subordinated to the love of God. The scourge, a form of whip
or lash used for self-mortification, may also be used, in
moderation, especially during the penitential seasons, at the
monk's own discretion.
The monks get together to talk twice a week. This is for a period
after Sunday lunch, and during the Monday afternoon walk. The walk
is considered very important and always takes place except in the
most severe weather. The walk lasts a whole afternoon, when the
monks may be seen walking in pairs through the surrounding
countryside. Every 20 minutes or so they swap and pair up with
someone else.
Apart from very limited family visits, the Carthusians, unlike
other monastic Orders, do not normally offer hospitality, and
anyone wishing to make a visit must have a valid reason for doing
so and needs to apply well in advance for special permission. Men
only, of course!
This cache is hidden in a place where there is a good view of
the monastery and church. I strongly recommend that you approach
the site using the footpath from Littleworth (waypointed) as it is
much easier to park. I have provided an alternative parking
waypoint for the main Cowfield - Henfield road. There are paths to
the North and the South of the monastery; the latter offers by far
the best views.
If any body would like
to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could
let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church
numbers and names to avoid duplication
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gerr