Below the Christ in Majesty figure, and on top of the choir screen is the more traditional rood cross. The rood cross is found in great many churches and cathedrals around the world. It depicts the crucifixion with Christ on the Cross at the center, and at the sides, Christ’s Mother Mary, and St John the Evangelist.. Here we also have a golden seraphim on either side. The central Cross has the well-known initials INRI attached (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), and the four roundels at the Cross extremities bearing the symbols of the Four Evangelists. These are the Angel (Matthew), the Winged Lion (Mark), the Winged Ox (Luke) and the Eagle (John). INDEX
42. FIGURES AT THE CROSS
The four figures along the base are described above. Each seraphim has six wings as described in the Book of Isaiah 6:1-3, with two covering his face, two covering his feet, and two for flying. Mary and John both seem to be standing on dragons.
43. NAVE ALTAR
The nave altar is a simple affair with not even a candle! The covering cloth bears an Alpha and an Omega – the First and the Last (Rev 22:13) – as a descriptor of Christ. The pulpit is also simple in design, and very tall and thin. In his book, Simon Jenkins writes: ‘The thin pulpit seems to disapprove of anyone preaching in such a church’.
44. CHOIR SCREEN
Then-there is the choir screen – and where to start with the overlapping intricacies of design?
45. INSIDE THE SCREEN
If we stand within the screen and look up we see a double row of octagons filled with golden sunbursts.
46. OUTER SCREEN FIGURES
And along the front there is a figure at the top of each column support. The two outer figures are St George at left with the Dragon (a strange looking-creature we have observed before), and at right St Thomas Becket.
47. INNER SCREEN FIGURES
The two inner screen figures are St Anne with a young Mary, and St Joachim. Church tradition has it that Joachim and Anne were the parents of the Mother of Jesus.
48. CHANCEL
Beyond the choir screen the carpet leads between two large candlesticks to the high altar, sited beneath a large canopy – technically a baldachin or ciborium. Early ciboria had curtains hanging from rods between the columns, so that the altar could be concealed from the congregation at certain points in the liturgy. In the background is the large East window. And above is the glorious sanctuary ceiling, recognisably similar to the vaulting of the nave.
49. SANCTUARY VAULTING
Features in common with the nave vaulting are the pendants and the smaller bosses. But here there is a night time theme with a multitude of stars.
50. VAULTING BOSSES
The central rib carries larger bosses with angels each carrying a scroll. As well there is a boss showing a fleur-de-lys, and two bosses with Mary ‘M’ symbols.
51. HIGH ALTAR
The high altar bears six candles and a covered tabernacle, holding the reserved Elements of the Eucharist. The front panel is a work of art in gold, with the central roundel once more depicting the Annunciation, with the angel Gabriel telling the Virgin Mary of the forthcoming birth of her Son.
52. VIRGIN AND CANOPY
This closer view of the sanctuary reveals this statue of Mary and the young Jesus at one side. Again the traditional serpent under her feet has transformed into an even more sinister creature. We notice too there are various golden figures along the top of the altar canopy.
53. ANGEL AND RESURRECTED CHRIST
On the top of the canopy, the figure of the Resurrected Christ stands at the center, and there is a worshipping angel on either side (only one shown here). Behind the Christ figure are the golden radiating beams we have seen elsewhere in this Church.
54. CANOPY CORNER
The smooth columns supporting the altar canopy sprout into a dense leafy foliage at the top, surrounding prayerful angels.
55. EAST WINDOW
Then finally there is the nave East window, difficult to capture because of the proximity of the high altar and canopy. We can capture some of the detail though.
56. ADAM, EVE AND CHRIST CHILD
Some naked figures featured at the corners of the top ‘triangle’ in the East window ...
57. EARLY EVENTS I
A number of early events in the lives of Jesus and his family – a strip along the bottom of the window ... . From left: • Anna and Joachim embrace; • Young Mary at the Temple; • Marriage of Joseph and Mary.
58. EARLY EVENTS II
Continued ... . From left: • Flight into Egypt; • Virgin and Child with St Anne and Donor; • The Visitation (from row above?).
59. EAST WINDOW DETAIL
These images form a row near the top of the window.
60. ANNUNCIATION AND CORONATION
And finally, images of the Annunciation, and the Coronation of Mary.
61. CHRIST IN MAJESTY
This competes our tour of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Wellingborough. We leave with this memorable image of ‘Christ in Majesty’.
CONCLUSION
I hope you have enjoyed visiting this Church. It is a remarkable church. Not every critic has liked it. But even the ultra-Modernist, Pevsner, wrote that St Mary’s ’glistens and reveals and conceals to one’s heart’s delight’.
All the photographs which appear here, apart from a couple which have special acknowledgement, are by Aidan McRae Thomson, and I am very grateful to Aidan for his support of this project.
I take little credit for the text which comes from a variety of different sources.
I also express my thanks to my wife Margie who dutifully reads through all my websites and checks the typing.
I would be glad to receive any comments, criticisms or corrections to this site. The best websites are those which contain no errors!
The Church of St Mary the Virgin has its own website with link:
http://www.stmarywellingborough.org.uk
The originals of Aidan’s photographs can be found at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/amthomson/albums/72157712504261416
Site created 03 / 2021
Paul Scott