Church Micro 967... Goodnestone 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
Volunteer UK Reviewer - Geocaching.com
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Church Micro 967... Goodnestone
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The cache is a 35mm tub, (Thanks to Sorarse who replaced the original), sited at ground level. Parking can be tight, (there is room in the entrance path, but park to one side so walkers can get by). The church is up a very gentle incline and the cache itself is at ground level. You will need you to step over something to get it!
St Bartholomew's has been Goodnestone's tiny Norman church for around 900 years, having been built on a small knoll around 1100, shortly after the Norman conquest.
As it has never been enlarged it is notable for being a largely unspoilt example of a Norman church consisting of just a nave and chancel. The only alterations include enlargements to the windows in the 13th and 15th centuries, a fine 14th century roof and repairs to the porch in 1837, (following damage due to an earth tremor!). Although only a small church one of its priests, William of Sardinia, advised King Edward the 1st, ("Edward Longshanks" if you've ever seen Braveheart!), against Pope Boniface VIII's wish to claim Scotland's Lordship for the Roman Catholic church. Who knows what influence on history this local priest may have had?
Goodnestone itself was called ‘Godwineston’ in 1242, so it is likely that thus was the ‘ton’ (farmstead or settlement) of a person called Godwine. Records show the Church served 33 people in 1578 but only 24 in 1640. It ceased to be used for regular worhsip in 1982 and, although still consecrated, is now maintained by The Churches Conservation Trust "to be preserved and conserved by and for the Church and the Nation".
St. Bartholomew' himself is the patron saint of tanners and apparently one of his arms is kept in Canterbury Cathedral.
If anybody would like to expand this Church Micro series, please do. All we would ask is that you let sadexploration know first, so that he can keep track of the numbers and names to avoid duplication. Please also include a variation of this sentence in your cache description.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N qbja gb rnegu fglyr...