Blymhill's vomiting lion

This little monster is part of the reason that Blymhill Church in south Staffordshire is one of Simon Jenkins' '1000 Best Churches in England'. The vomiting-lion, as he is affectionately called, is basically a gargoyle but quite an attraction, espcially when it's raining heavily and he is 'spewing'.

The strange thing is that, in old Greek, both 'vomiting' and 'preaching' can be translated with the same word. Was the maker who named the lion having a sly dig at clerics whose sermons went on and on and on...?
Quite possibly.

Adopt a gargoyle!

Adopt-A-Gargoyle? Yes, that’s exactly what you can do at Lichfield Cathedral. 

This rather original fund-raising wheeze has apparently been very successful, as the organisers have extended the scheme until the end of the month as young people rush to get their names associated with one.

The sub-text is that it’s about educating schools about the decoration of the historic church – but let’s face it, we all love a gargoyle.

The one in the photo is my favourite in Staffordshire. He’s not on Lichfield Cathedral sadly, he’s at Blymhill Church. Still, I’d adopt him if I were given the chance.

Link: Adopt-A-Gargoyle