Here it is, finished at last:
 |
Jane and Cassandra Austen Walking to Steventon Church, Christmas Morning
|
And, as you see, titled.
And signed.
And now released into the cyberworld.
But only in a highly unprofessional my-own-not-very-good photo form for the present. This was the best I could do. It will be properly scanned ready for printing as Christmas cards later on. So the snow WILL be snow-coloured and not dirty grey!
Appropriately enough this church is dedicated to St Nicholas. Very seasonal!
For any history geeks (like me) out there, here is a relevant bit from the church's official guide I dug up while originally researching the idea:
"Steventon church is best known for its associations with Jane Austen and is the single most important building left standing in Steventon which relates to her life when she lived here. The rectory is gone, but the church survives. It was an everyday part of the first 25 years of her life.
"Her father, George Austen, two of her brothers, James and Henry, and her nephew William Knight were all Rectors of Steventon. Prior to George his cousin Henry had been the Rector. Which is to say members of the Austen family were Rectors of Steventon from 1759 to 1873, a period of 114 years, more than any other family in the church's history.
"Jane was baptised here as were four of her siblings - Henry, Cassandra, Francis and Charles. Her grandmother, her eldest brother James and both his wives, Anne and Mary, are buried here. As are Jane's nephew William Knight, several members of his family and a number of her friends and acquaintances.
"Every memorial, bar one, inside the church has a direct connection to Jane Austen. No doubt several of the graves in the churchyard are those of people she knew in the village."
