There are literally 1,000's of churches all over Britain and many have fallen into disrepair or been sold off to be turned into residential dwellings.

In front of the church is a war memorial.

This church, in the town centre of Chatteris is still in use and is a good subject for architectural photography; as is the memorial below. They are both prime examples of these kinds of structures.

I took this photograph a few weeks ago when the trees were still bare of leaves and it makes one think of the church being bereft of people.

The empty tree is a metaphor for the church these days. Virtually no one goes to church.

This photograph below is a war memorial commemorating the dead from this small farming town.

Just about every town in Britain has a memorial to the dead of the Great War to end all wars.

To the undying memory
of the Chatteris men
who gave their lives
in the great wars
1914 -1918

The bare trees either side of the memorial remind us that many Dad's, Brothers, Sons and Uncles never returned. Lives cut short.

The 'Pals battalions' was a disastrous recruitment policy during the First World War where entire battalions were made up from men from the same family, village and town.

During the meat grinder style trench warfare at that time, almost the entire menfolk of a town or village were wiped out. Sometimes within days of reaching the front lines of the battles.

Today's post for @old-guy-photos #treetuesday photo competition and the #architecturalphotography initiated by @juliank.

My camera gear:-

Canon EOS 70 D Camera
Sigma 30 mm Lens

More in this series

Playing with filters
Trees in bloom
Leylandii
Bon-Sai
Lichens
Ancient Olive trees