Window depicting John Wesley preaching in the open-air. St John's Methodist Church, Llandudno
It may not be the biggest or the most famous but it’s...
Llanelian, Anglesey In our last issue the Memento Mori at Hickleton in South Yorkshire was mentioned, in St Eilian's on the Isle of Anglesey we have a medieval example Approaching St Eilian's church, in the Llan bearing his name, one cannot help but notice the solid broad tower with its unusual pyramid roof. The tower is twelfth century and as you turn your eyes along the length of church you are passing through several centuries of history and church architecture. However, it is when we go into the church that the real treasure house is entered. It seems to have avoided, perhaps by being a little out of the way, the worst attentions of reformers and 'restorers' but the centuries have taken their toll. Although the rood screen is probably the best known 'thing-to-see', there is much else of interest in this little church. Amongst items on display are dog tongs dated 1748; did parishioners bring their badly behaved dogs into church or were they to deal with strays? The solid oak chest dated 1667 was, you may be told, to hold the wealth of the church accumulated from the donations of medieval pilgrims. A slype (added about 1614) leads from the15th century chancel to the 14th century St Eilian's Chapel. Do not let these dates deceive you, for the chapel is very probably the 5th century site of the saint's original cell. It is here that you will find the very rare wooden base of a 15th century, probably portable, altar . The church contains some striking medieval woodwork and carvings, especially notable is the rood screen and and the vine carved on the rood loft. The paintings over the rood screen have become very faded, but pictures from the 1920s show them as they were then. Of course everyone's attention is drawn to the central figure — a skeleton. He is a memento mori , a reminder of th e mortality of man. The grim figure's message is emphasised by the inscription that he carries "Colyn angau yw pechod" - in English, "The sting of death is sin" St Eillian's Well is some 800 yards to the north-west near to the coastal path.
http://www.issuu,com/the-captain Email: magazines@post.com Š2016. The Captain's Library Issue 2. Lammastide 2016 The Church Mouse is published as an eMagazine and no paper version is available. You may however print a copy for your own use.
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The churches and churchyards of Britain contain many items that could be termed 'curiosities' - let's go and explore “WE
ARE SEVEN”
Near the entrance to St Mary’s Church in Conwy is iron-caged grave with a plaque reading ‘We are seven’ Guidebooks and guides will tell you that this is where William Wordsworth had a conversation with a young girl, from which he gained inspiration to write the poem. Although this grave has borne such a plaque for many years; compare the postcard with the more recent picture Reg Chambers Jones in his book ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ says, “It is still a mystery why there should be a plot within the churchyard marked ‘We Are Seven’. It certainly is for Wordsworth himself said that he spoke to the young girl who was his inspiration at Goodrich Castle in 1793. I have the feeling that whoever thought up this idea for attracting tourists, for what else could it be, had misread or misheard the poem. Although Conway is mentioned it is not in connection with the grave. The ‘little cottage girl’ makes it very clear that her dead brother and sister are buried in the graveyard near her home. The two siblings in Conway are alive and well, as are the two that have gone to sea. So it remains a mystery. Who first put up the plaque? Why was it put there (note its conspicuous position)? Whose grave is it? These are questions to which we may never know the answers. =======
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Within the precincts of the ruined Lindisfarne Priory stands the parish church of St Mary's. Entering the church my eyes were drawn not to the twelfth-century architecture, the Victorian stained glass; but to the modern wooden sculpture 'The Journey'. This sculpture, by Fenwick Lawson, is a life-size depiction of six monks carrying the coffin of St Cuthbert on "The Journey" which eventually took him to Durham. Perhaps we should call this journey "The Journeyings", for Cuthbert travelled far more after his death than when he was alive. The priory was abandoned in 873 after being subject to raids by the Danes. Benedictines returned about 1083 until the Dissolution in the reign of Henry VIII. Lindisfarne, like many other monastic buildings suffered during the Dissolution and fell into ruin during succeeding centuries. Walking around the site, however, one cannot help but reflect on the lives of the monks in what was then a wild and remote place. Travelling from Lindisfarne to Durham I found that St Cuthbert had already arrived in the shopping area, for a bronze casting of 'The Journey'. by Fenwick Lawson, that we saw on Lindisfarne, stands in the shopping area. We took a far more direct journey than he did however.. When the Danes overra Lindisfarne in 875 the monks fled, carrying with them St Cuthbert's body. For seven years they wandered around northern England. He was settled at Chester-le-Street until, in 995, a fresh threat came from Scandinavia and Cuthbert resumed his journeyings, this time to Ripon. The monks believed that the Saint was telling them to take him to Durham. In Durham a new church was built; “The White Church�. This the predecessor of today's magnificent Norman cathedral. St Cuthbert is still there in his simple shrine 995 9 Durham is renowned for the grandeur of its architecture. Its huge columns manage to be both sturdy looking and graceful at the same time. Its treasures of the past include relics of St Cuthbert and of the Venerable Bede, the head of St Oswald of Northumbria.and three copies of the Magna Carta. In addition, The Library contains one of the most complete sets of early printed books in England as well )as the pre-Dissolution monastic accounts, The prominent sanctuary knocker on the west door is a modern replica, the original being another of the treasures on display.
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The Cathedra
The cathedra or bishop’s throne is, of course, what makes a cathedral a cathedral. The word cathedra is from the Latin word for "chair", which in turn comes from Greek, καθέδρα ''kathédra'', "seat". The cathedra or bishop’s throne is, of course, what makes a cathedral a cathedral. The word cathedra is from the Latin word for "chair", which in turn comes from Greek, καθέδρα ''kathédra'', "seat". A cathedral is the church where the bishop has his seat. So, although there is a Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bath Abbey is not a cathedral as the bishop’s seat is Wells. Like most church furnishings cathedras come in many shapes and forms. The the bishop’s throne can be a fairly simple chair (Newcastle, Stoke-on-Trent and many other of the newer cathedrals), In some cathedrals we find a large and elaborate throne or what can only be described as a structure. Exeter, the largest in Europe, is an outstanding 14th century example with. a large and elaborately carved canopy. The other two surviving wooden mediaeval thrones, St David’s and Hereford have a similar approach. If we visit Durham, however, we find the ultimate in cathedra structures, perhaps reflecting the Bishop of Durham’s status, A stone built staircase rises to what is reputed to be the highest bishop’s throne in Christendom.
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP On display in the gift shop I saw a plaster cast labelled “Cathedral Boss”, I always thought that the Dean held that position!!
GREAT BOARDS. A Canon of 1608 ordered that the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments to be displayed in churches They are usually, but not always, placed at the eastern end of the nave. They were used by such of the Congregation as were literate in the days before Prayer Books were provided. In many churches only the Ten Commandments or the Lord's Prayer seem to have survived the 400 years.
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SAINTS AND THEIR SYMBOLS Faced with an array of saints, whether it is the hundred saints and kings at Lichfield or a half dozen in our local parish church, we may have difficulty in working out who they are. It is impossible to print a comprehensive list in a magazine such as this, but here are some of the more common ones, Probably the most common group are the four evangelists. They are often found around a pulpit, sometimes around a font or even as pew finials. All four are shown with something symbolic of writing and a representation of what is seen as their emphasis in the Gospel. So we have Matthew with a pen and a man; Mark writing with a lion at his feet; Luke is accompanied by an ox as he sits at his reading desk; John is depicted with an eagle. There are, as would be expected with such a commonly recurring theme, many variations of these representations. Commonly mistaken for each other are St George and St Michael, both are usually depicted on horseback slaying a dragon. Identification is simple however, St George is a soldier wearing armour and bearing his cross badge whilst St Michael, not always mounted, is slaying or trampling underfoot, a dragon representing Satan, he normally has wings. Other commonly represented saints are St Andrew who holds a saltire cross, St Peter with the keys, St David has either a harp or a dove usually both. Many are identified by the means of their martyrdom; Catherine’s wheel I think most people know. There are also St. Stephen with a stone, St Sebastian bound to a tree and shot with arrows, St Denis carries his own head (St Winifride has had hers sewn back on again - with big stitches.) Here are a few more: Agatha:-Shears, Ambrose:-Beehive, Anthony:-Bell, Augustine:-Books, Barbara:Tower, Bartholomew:-Knife, Boniface:-Tree, Cecilia:-Organ or harp, Hubert:-Stag, James the Great:-Shell, Jerome:-Church in his hand, Thomas:-Builder’s square, Francis of Assisi:-Skull Several books of Saints have lists: The Watkins Dictionary of Saints. Philip D. Noble. Watkins Publishing 2007 Saints. Giles Morgan. Pocket Essentials 2008 Dictionary of Saints Brockhampton Press 1996 (Doesn't have a list of symbols, but has a lot of details on saints.) 6
Visiting churches can be very confusing if we don’t know the terminology used by the guide or guidebook. The same thing may have different names in different churches; a simple example is chancel, quire, choir. This is part one of a dictionary of the terms used in a church building. It is not comprehensive as there are so many items to consider. Please email with any questions or items that you would like to be included. The ground plan of typical cruciform church is shown on the right . Churches, for various reasons, are not always built on an east to west axis, therefore when referring to compass points Liturgical North, South, East or West are meant. That is to say, the chancel is always the East end even when it is in the south-east or some other direction. Aisle. In common usage any passageway between the pews or seating from the western to the eastern end of the church. Strictly speaking an aisle is the passage to the north or south, usually separated from the nave by pillars or arches Altar. A table, traditionally of stone but in modern times often wooden, from which the bread and wine used in the Communion service are offered. Also known as and referred to in the prayer book as the Holy Table. In most non1conformist churches the Communion Table serves a similar function Altar rail. The rail or kneelers where the people kneel or stand to receive Communion. Also known as the Communion Rail. Ambo. From the Greek for "both", being a podium serving as both lectern and pulpit. The term is used interchangeably for either, even if the church has both. Ambulatory. From Latin: ambulatorium "walking place" is either the covered passage around a cloister or the processional way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar. Arcade. A series of arches or a covered walkway enclosed by such arches on one or both sides. Often found as a ‘blind arcade’ which is an arcade set against a wall. Arch. A curved structure spanning a space. Aumbry. A cupboard in the wall where the Reserved Sacrament and/or Holy Oil (such as chrism) is kept.
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A Glossary of
Church Architecture (continued)
This photograph illustrates many of the terms in the glossary. Clearly seen are the blind arcades on the reredos behind the communion table and round the pulpit. Arches mark the entrances to the transepts and chancel. A lectern and a font are in front of the chancel steps and are illustrated on the left
More of the glossary in the next issue. Also COMING SOON there will be another visit to the Orkneys, Tenby and Caldey Island and a look at holy wells.
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