Thursday 21 November 2013

Medieval Church Paintings

As you might have guessed ho-hum I am just a little bit of a history fan- not so much the big stuff but social history- the everyday lives and experiences of the masses that go unrecorded. Every once in a while I get a chance to glimpse of their world in the faint hints that have escaped our wanton destruction.

Last week, whilst watching The Tudor Abbey Farm, Ruth Goodman visited St Teilo's at St Fagan's- a medieval church which has had its original wall paintings [preserved under the plaster] repainted to give an idea of how they would have appeared to the congregation in 1520. One is immediately struck by the colour and vibrancy of the images as they were used to inform and educate their largely illiterate audience. It was a new discovery to me and definitely on the list of places to visit. The following link gives you both pictures and a brief description.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/1206/?image=4669

I am incredibly lucky that in my little part of the world we have a handful of churches within close proximity of one another which still have their original paintings remaining. The similarities in the work has given rise to the belief that they were probably created by the same artist travelling from one to another.

St Peter Ad Vincula, Wisborough Green


St Mary's, West Chiltington




And last but most definitely not least- St Botolph's, Hardham


If you are ever near this little church it has extensive wall art remaining and is charming- it has a leper hole as well.
More detail for you from here
http://www.arunchurches.com/wallpaintings.html

Arilx

6 comments:

  1. If you ever go to Lincolnshire St. John the Evangelist at Corby Glen is worth a visit. The wall paintings there are some of the best in the county. Thank you for these, we will try to visit them if we ever come to your part of England.
    Oddny x

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  2. Thanks Oddny! I went on holiday to Lincs this year but missed that one. Shall aim to put that right when I'm next back that way!
    Arilx

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  3. Well that's very exciting. I worked at the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans as it used to be called and I remember taking pictures in the churchyard. For some reason I never made it inside. What a shame.

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  4. I shall have to find out more next time we meet Ruth!

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  5. We know St Fagan's well, as it's about 60 miles from us. The church is gorgeous - just stunning. It used to stand on the marshes near Pontardulais - now just the surrounding wall is left, looking bereft. We visit a tiny church in Kempley, on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border (St Mary's) which has amazing wall paintings too.

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  6. Ooh thanks for that BB- we're planning to go that way for our holiday next year!
    Arilx

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