Today Friday 15 August is The Assumption of Mary.

Once the day was known as Our Lady of the Harvest and today it is a holiday in many countries although in England now it is little noticed.

Upper Foyle in Hampshire is rare in having its 13th-century church dedicated to St Mary of the Assumption. This is probably because its patron at the time was Winchester’s St Mary’s Abbey, Nunnaminster.

It is interesting how important the doctrine was considered at that time since it was not finally defined, and the 15 August made a major holy day, until 1950. However, King Alfred the Great of Wessex (871-899) had made the day a holiday.

The 19th-century lord of the manor was Sir Hubert Miller who with his wife spent the autumn in Venice, winter in Rome and spring in Florence.

So he was home for The Assumption and saw that his church had the best vestments from Italy.

Sadly there is no Assumption celebration in the church today nor any service next Sunday.

But the church is usually open for pilgrims to see some of the vestments on display and the window featuring Winchester and Canterbury cathedrals.

Upper Foyle is on the Pilgrims’ Way out of Winchester between Alton and Farnham. Statues of saints are attached to the estate houses.