Medieval History
Look carefully at the photo above, in fact click through to Flickr and look at the image in its original size. Down at the bottom of the window, flanking the altar on either side you will see two crouching figures. Here is a detail of the one to the left. He appears to be in early fifteenth century civilian dress, and is holding what looks to be a candlestick.
What is he? Well, in the late medieval period is was customary during mass for civilians to come close to the altar and raise large candles or torches at the moment of the elevation of the sacred species. A clerk holding a torch of this sort at the elevation of the Host, is portrayed in the Seven Sacrament window at Doddiscombsleigh in Devon (see below). And I suppose that the two little figures at Friskney represent this liturgical custom. Odd aren't they.
Doddiscombsleigh, Devon. Photo by Gordon Plumb
- Sick Bed
Doddiscombsleigh, Devon, nII, 1c, Unction, originally uploaded by gordonplumb.My apologies for the lack of activity this week. I've been hit with the flu. Not a good thing for the clergyman to go down with a week before Christmas. Never mind. Rest...
- Shadows Of Former Things
My apologies for neglecting the blog, it has been rather a hectic ten days. My day off last week, which is the day I usually write for the blog was taken up with a visit to Nottinghamshire with Gordon Plumb. We went to a couple of very fine churches....
- Gordon Plumb's Photography
Tattershall, Lincs, I, 2a, detail of Confirmation, originally uploaded by gordonplumb.I want to draw your attention to the Flickr photostream of the Revd Gordon Plumb. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/ Gordon is associated, as I am, with the...
- Spandrel Paintings In Lincolnshire
Friskney, Lincolnshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum. Lincolnshire is not known for its medieval panel paintings, but recently I came across these two naive censing angels at Friskney in the Lincolnshire marsh. They are painted on the eastern spandrels...
- Elevation Squints In Screens
Church Hanborough, Oxfordshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.One of the things I sort of obsessively look for and photograph in churches are elevation squints. These little openings can often be seen cut into the dado of medieval screens and were...
Medieval History
Elevation torches at Friskney in Lincolnshire
Look carefully at the photo above, in fact click through to Flickr and look at the image in its original size. Down at the bottom of the window, flanking the altar on either side you will see two crouching figures. Here is a detail of the one to the left. He appears to be in early fifteenth century civilian dress, and is holding what looks to be a candlestick.
What is he? Well, in the late medieval period is was customary during mass for civilians to come close to the altar and raise large candles or torches at the moment of the elevation of the sacred species. A clerk holding a torch of this sort at the elevation of the Host, is portrayed in the Seven Sacrament window at Doddiscombsleigh in Devon (see below). And I suppose that the two little figures at Friskney represent this liturgical custom. Odd aren't they.
Doddiscombsleigh, Devon. Photo by Gordon Plumb
- Sick Bed
Doddiscombsleigh, Devon, nII, 1c, Unction, originally uploaded by gordonplumb.My apologies for the lack of activity this week. I've been hit with the flu. Not a good thing for the clergyman to go down with a week before Christmas. Never mind. Rest...
- Shadows Of Former Things
My apologies for neglecting the blog, it has been rather a hectic ten days. My day off last week, which is the day I usually write for the blog was taken up with a visit to Nottinghamshire with Gordon Plumb. We went to a couple of very fine churches....
- Gordon Plumb's Photography
Tattershall, Lincs, I, 2a, detail of Confirmation, originally uploaded by gordonplumb.I want to draw your attention to the Flickr photostream of the Revd Gordon Plumb. http://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/ Gordon is associated, as I am, with the...
- Spandrel Paintings In Lincolnshire
Friskney, Lincolnshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum. Lincolnshire is not known for its medieval panel paintings, but recently I came across these two naive censing angels at Friskney in the Lincolnshire marsh. They are painted on the eastern spandrels...
- Elevation Squints In Screens
Church Hanborough, Oxfordshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.One of the things I sort of obsessively look for and photograph in churches are elevation squints. These little openings can often be seen cut into the dado of medieval screens and were...