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Dist:0.4km<br/>A view looking to the north approaching Melbury Abbas on the descent of Spreadeagle Hill.
©Phil Williams
Dist:0.4km<br/>This little postbox serves what would be considered the main village, while the parish has a couple outlying hamlets such as West and East Melbury which each have their own. It is emptied finally at 5pm on weekdays and at 10:30am on Saturdays. The shapely slopes of Melbury Hill can be seen in the background.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.6km<br/>Distant view of Melbury Abbas from point where Bridleway crosses the beginning of the ascent of Melbury Hill
©Mike Searle
Dist:0.6km<br/>Looking across the dip from Clubmen’s Down to Compton Down, on top of which a farmer is out at work.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.6km<br/>The tower of St. Thomas's parish church can be seen down in the valley, ahead of a wider view of southern Wiltshire.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.6km<br/>The church was rebuilt entirely in 1852.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.6km<br/>The lych gate dates from 1920 as a tribute to the soldiers of the First World War whose names are recorded on a stone. On a separate stone are the names from the Second World War. Unusually, more men were lost in the second war.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>Many of the old gravestones have been moved to the boundary of the churchyard.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>The European yew (Taxus baccata) has a reputation for longevity. Whilst there is no direct evidence to support the view that yew trees were associated with pagan worship it is not hard to imagine that they were. The yew, a tree symbolising longevity, death and rebirth, became woven into folklore and its association with churchyards may simply be that in certain circumstances its foliage and fruit can be poisonous and in medieval England churchyards were one of the few places fenced against stock.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>Partially hidden amongst trees and undergrowth are the remains of what appears to be a Morris Minor van.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>The door allows the priest to enter the church without walking through the congregation.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>The elaborate octagonal stone font with its roof hung cover stands on a plinth of blue lias in the traditional place near the door, signifying the entry of the child, at baptism, into membership of the church.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>The north window of the chancel depicts St Thomas and St Michael.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>The sanctuary is dominated by the glass of the east window. The three panels portray the presentation of Christ to Simeon, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. For a closer view of the Agnes Dei [[2689109]]
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.6km<br/>This religious symbol goes back to the early centuries of Christianity and has been passed on from church art to heraldry, and then on to a more modern world as a pub sign. The lamb is the symbol of Jesus Christ in his role as sacrificial victim, an interpretation based on several Bible texts, most notably John the Baptist's words about him: "Behold the lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29) In Medieval art this Agnus Dei, 'Lamb of God', is shown with one of its legs hooked round the staff of a banner which bears a red cross; this is to express the idea that Christ's death became a triumphant victory. It is this banner which in modern terms has become the 'flag'.
©Trish Steel

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