What a fascinating account of an amazing woman. Thank you, yet again, for such an interesting glimpse into the life of someone else I hadn't heard of! As I was reading the first part of this I was visualising a really small church - and to see that vast expanse of painting in your later photo was a shock! Thought-provoking too, to read of a woman overcoming obstacles to fulfil her passion for art with determination, and what must have been a high degree of belief in the value of what she was setting out to do. x
It must have taken a steely determination to create this vision and one can imagine the opposition she must have faced from both the parishioners and the church! Thank you very much.x
What an amazing church and such an incredible achievement. Despite living in Suffolk I didn't know about this church or or the woman who decorated it. Thank you for the article, it was a really interesting read.
Thank you for bringing this church and a woman's accomplishment to light. What an interesting, incredible woman! It's such a pity that there are no pictures or details about her. She must have been a formidable woman and I'd love to know more about her.
I would love to know more too of people's reaction to the ceiling when it was revealed, as I can't imagine everyone liked it. Some critics today find it too garish, but it is not unlike what would have been there centuries earlier. She must have been quiet singleminded to see such a task through and what a joyful legacy to have left. Thank you very much for the restack.
I have read the Huntingfield Paintress and really enjoyed it. I'd forgotten about it until I read your post and couldn't work out why I thought I knew this church!
I found it a moving novel and very well written. I found her account very plausible but just wish I had been clearer about what was true and what was imagined. Perhaps that is a problem I have with historical fiction!
A problem many of us have with historical fiction! On the plus side, I find it easier to remember the facts when they’ve been presented as a story with a personal touch, even if the feelings and dialogue are very inaccurate.
Yes, that is true. I have just remembered how I used to read Jean Plaidy when I doing A level Tudor history - it stayed with me much more that the lessons!
Yes I remember that. In fact, until you reminded me it was historical fiction, I was remembering it as non-fiction, so I understand what you mean about clarity.
There is a wonderful episode in the novel about her being fitted for trousers, which would have been so practical but would have caused outrage. Only on investigating later that I found no evidence that she wore anything but skirt and somehow that made me doubtful about much I had read.
Fantastic paintings but such a shame that so little is known about her. On the other hand, maybe a respectable life would pale beside the vibrancy of her work. What a legacy to leave though.
I giggled too at the gravestone too. I wonder how often he used his full name.
I like to think that she must have been at the very least, quietly determined and can you imagine the reaction when this proposal was put to the senior clergy - she must have ruffled a few feathers!
What on earth was his parents thinking of? I think I might have insisted that the full name be omitted on the headstone...
Deborah, you have reminded me that years ago, when I worked in a school, we had a trip to London to see David Threllfall play Skellig at the Young Vic. Just mesmerising! X Sarah
I had no idea it was a play! I can imagine David Threllfall would have been brilliant. There was a TV adaptation too but I remember that being very disappointing and it veered drastically from the novel. x
Such a lovely read, Deborah. I knew nothing of Mildred Holland and am going to look into her now. You’ve probably seen the amazing Mary Watts chapel which I saw for the first time a couple of years ago. I’d love to go on a tour of chapels and research the artwork (I think there’s an artist that does that and documents it on Instagram too).
Skellig is such a beautiful book. I once went for an Art teacher interview and used the book in the lesson to get the students to draw from it. X
What a wonderful post about such an interesting woman Deborah, thank you. My first thought was there could be a novel in this but someone obviously thought the same before me! There are so many interesting avenues to explore and things to read and I especially enjoyed listening to you read it. Wonderful!
I posted the audio before I had time to think about it too much! I find it very sad that there is so little kept from her life, but perhaps it was because there was no one who valued its importance. Thank you x
What a fascinating story Deborah, and you tell it so well. What an extraordinary talent Mildred had. Like you, I tend to prefer the nonfiction version of a life, limited as our knowledge is of her, and you get across the meaning of her life so well, her exuberant creativity and the limits she is likely to have encountered as a rector's wife. Thank you for mentioning my Substack book club reading of The Rector's Daughter next month! That was a lovely surprise, and I can see the parallels of the fictional Mary with the real-life Mildred.
Thank you very much, Ann. Discovering that certain details were purely imaginative cast doubt on so much I had read and would perhaps have liked an afterword that made this clearer.
In the context of the time and milieu, it makes her achievement even more extraordinary. Thank you very much.
You have really brought her achievement to life! It makes me think of (on another scale) the slightly bonkers obsessiveness with which David Parr decorated his house in Cambridge - it's a gem too, and a tribute to his granddaughter who preserved it.
I loved the novel, but all the time kept wondering how much was her imagination and how much was true. I do think she did a remarkable job. I just find it sad that there is so little about her especially as her achievement is so remarkable.
What a fascinating account of an amazing woman. Thank you, yet again, for such an interesting glimpse into the life of someone else I hadn't heard of! As I was reading the first part of this I was visualising a really small church - and to see that vast expanse of painting in your later photo was a shock! Thought-provoking too, to read of a woman overcoming obstacles to fulfil her passion for art with determination, and what must have been a high degree of belief in the value of what she was setting out to do. x
It must have taken a steely determination to create this vision and one can imagine the opposition she must have faced from both the parishioners and the church! Thank you very much.x
What an amazing church and such an incredible achievement. Despite living in Suffolk I didn't know about this church or or the woman who decorated it. Thank you for the article, it was a really interesting read.
You must visit! You need to take a £1 coin to illuminate the church as it makes such a difference on a dull day.
Thank you for bringing this church and a woman's accomplishment to light. What an interesting, incredible woman! It's such a pity that there are no pictures or details about her. She must have been a formidable woman and I'd love to know more about her.
I would love to know more too of people's reaction to the ceiling when it was revealed, as I can't imagine everyone liked it. Some critics today find it too garish, but it is not unlike what would have been there centuries earlier. She must have been quiet singleminded to see such a task through and what a joyful legacy to have left. Thank you very much for the restack.
I have read the Huntingfield Paintress and really enjoyed it. I'd forgotten about it until I read your post and couldn't work out why I thought I knew this church!
I found it a moving novel and very well written. I found her account very plausible but just wish I had been clearer about what was true and what was imagined. Perhaps that is a problem I have with historical fiction!
A problem many of us have with historical fiction! On the plus side, I find it easier to remember the facts when they’ve been presented as a story with a personal touch, even if the feelings and dialogue are very inaccurate.
Yes, that is true. I have just remembered how I used to read Jean Plaidy when I doing A level Tudor history - it stayed with me much more that the lessons!
Yes I remember that. In fact, until you reminded me it was historical fiction, I was remembering it as non-fiction, so I understand what you mean about clarity.
There is a wonderful episode in the novel about her being fitted for trousers, which would have been so practical but would have caused outrage. Only on investigating later that I found no evidence that she wore anything but skirt and somehow that made me doubtful about much I had read.
Fantastic paintings but such a shame that so little is known about her. On the other hand, maybe a respectable life would pale beside the vibrancy of her work. What a legacy to leave though.
I giggled too at the gravestone too. I wonder how often he used his full name.
I like to think that she must have been at the very least, quietly determined and can you imagine the reaction when this proposal was put to the senior clergy - she must have ruffled a few feathers!
What on earth was his parents thinking of? I think I might have insisted that the full name be omitted on the headstone...
Deborah, you have reminded me that years ago, when I worked in a school, we had a trip to London to see David Threllfall play Skellig at the Young Vic. Just mesmerising! X Sarah
I had no idea it was a play! I can imagine David Threllfall would have been brilliant. There was a TV adaptation too but I remember that being very disappointing and it veered drastically from the novel. x
Such a lovely read, Deborah. I knew nothing of Mildred Holland and am going to look into her now. You’ve probably seen the amazing Mary Watts chapel which I saw for the first time a couple of years ago. I’d love to go on a tour of chapels and research the artwork (I think there’s an artist that does that and documents it on Instagram too).
Skellig is such a beautiful book. I once went for an Art teacher interview and used the book in the lesson to get the students to draw from it. X
I have never been to the Watts chapel but it is a place I would love to visit.
I am in awe rather of Mildred Holland and what it must have taken to achieve this work. It is such a pity that the details of her life are so sparse.
Skellig is marvellous, isn't it? I never had a class that didn't love it and what a perfect choice for an interview! x
Fascinating and extraordinary - such an interesting piece.
Thank you, Gina, very much. Hee achievement was astounding.
What a wonderful post about such an interesting woman Deborah, thank you. My first thought was there could be a novel in this but someone obviously thought the same before me! There are so many interesting avenues to explore and things to read and I especially enjoyed listening to you read it. Wonderful!
I posted the audio before I had time to think about it too much! I find it very sad that there is so little kept from her life, but perhaps it was because there was no one who valued its importance. Thank you x
Breathtaking. Thank you.
Her work is extraordinary, isn't it? Thank you.
I'm grateful I got to see photos. It’s incredible!
Every little detail has been considered, they are incredible., especially for someone who had never been trained.
It’s incredibly ornate. And the scope and balance of the design is stunning.
What a fascinating story Deborah, and you tell it so well. What an extraordinary talent Mildred had. Like you, I tend to prefer the nonfiction version of a life, limited as our knowledge is of her, and you get across the meaning of her life so well, her exuberant creativity and the limits she is likely to have encountered as a rector's wife. Thank you for mentioning my Substack book club reading of The Rector's Daughter next month! That was a lovely surprise, and I can see the parallels of the fictional Mary with the real-life Mildred.
Thank you very much, Ann. Discovering that certain details were purely imaginative cast doubt on so much I had read and would perhaps have liked an afterword that made this clearer.
In the context of the time and milieu, it makes her achievement even more extraordinary. Thank you very much.
You have really brought her achievement to life! It makes me think of (on another scale) the slightly bonkers obsessiveness with which David Parr decorated his house in Cambridge - it's a gem too, and a tribute to his granddaughter who preserved it.
https://davidparrhouse.org/discover/
This is an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing it. The tombstone in your photo made me giggle too! Hope you are feeling better now xx
It did make me giggle! Poor chap being called that.
I am feeling much better, thank you, and hopefully it has at least boosted my immunity for a while! xx
This is genuinely magical. Thank you Deborah.
Thank you so much, Laura.
I did enjoy The Huntingfield Paintress, and it does mean that her work will gain fresh interest from it.
Your images are beautiful and just what was missing from my ebook!
I loved the novel, but all the time kept wondering how much was her imagination and how much was true. I do think she did a remarkable job. I just find it sad that there is so little about her especially as her achievement is so remarkable.
What a gem!
Thank you, Anne!
Fascinating, thank you!
Thank you, Sarah!