WELCOME TO THE BAYLISS LINE. This blog has been created for my family. By "my family" I mean all those who are related to the Bayliss family either by blood, marriage or even relationship. There are, of course, other Bayliss families not related to us but this blog has at its heart a very specific family who had their origins in Gloucestershire. I am connected to that family because my mother was a Bayliss and it was her curiosity that started my research back in the early 1990's. So, what are you likely to see on this blog? Well, as it is a blog, I want it to be as entertaining as possible rather that a dry listing of facts (that is for Ancestry.com). I will, hopefully, be posting entries on our ancestors and relatives, on the places where they lived, and the historical times they lived through. I have an extensive collection of photographs of people and places which I will, of course, be sharing.

I'd like to ask anybody who reads this blog to give me some feedback. I'd really like this to be a two way thing. It sometimes unearths new information and, to be honest, it gives me encouragement. There will be two ways of providing feedback - either through the comment button (you will need a Google account for this) or via the e-mail address which appears on this page - alternatively, ring me. Now scroll down to read the latest entries.....and, of course, via Facebook.

Friday 11 November 2011

THE ST.ALBAN'S POPPY CROSS

 As we are coming to the end of this blog's coverage of World War One with a especial Memorial Day post on Sunday, I thought it might be worth saying a few words about the St.Alban's Poppy Cross which is shown in pictures here and which will appear again in Sunday's post.  The Church of St.Alban the Martyr is one of the four Anglican churches in the Parish of Southend. I have attended the church since 1997 and have been Sacristan there for the last six years.  In addition to myself and my late partner Terry several other family members have attended the church for various services - even Susan and Jeff during their visit to England.  The Memorial Poppy Cross was designed by Terry about twelve years ago and has become a tradition in the church which has been carried on since her death - many people, including myself, refer to it as "Terry's Cross".  It hovers in the arch of the Rood Screen and has no visible means of support, seemingly just floating in mid-air. The first time you see it it can be quite startling - it certainly was for me. Although the cross is quite solid its ability to float in the air and to appear to change size depending on where you see it from(which you will see on Sunday)  is, of course, an optical illusion.

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