|
THE SCULPTED CORBELS
IN THE CHANCEL
The roof beams in the chancel are held on
eight stone corbels. These are all sculpted into plant designs. They
are pictured here numbered 1 (top right) to 8 (top left) in
sequence starting at the east end of the south wall and ending at
the east end of the north wall. The style is not mediaeval and we
can deduce that these corbels were made and put in during the 1875
restoration when all the roof timbers were replaced.
1 Ears of corn and bunches of
grapes with vine leaves. These symbolising the bread and wine of the
Holy Communion at the altar below.
2 Oak leaves.
3 Flowerheads like lilies.
4 Hawthorn leaves
5 Hawthorn leaves, flowers and hips.
7 Acanthus leaves.
8 Ears of corn and bunches of grapes
with vine leaves. These symbolising the bread and wine of the Holy
Communion at the altar below.
The plants on these and the corbels in the
north and south aisles all have religious symbolism. The ears of
corn and grapes symbolise the bread and wine and they are located
where, at the time the corbels were put up, there were altars as shown
by the piscina in the south wall of the east end of the chancel and
south aisle. The other plants symbolize:-
Rose and lily - Virgin Mary
Hawthorn - the crown of thorns
Oak - the wood for the cross
|
