I stumbled across this image a few days ago and it really sparked my interest. The casual way they are depicted pleased me greatly, not really dead but rather just resting for a moment from a busy 16th century day.
He, Sir George St Paul, depicted in full armour and she, his wife Frances in a black farthingale (such a great word) and white ruff.
Directly underneath them is a small figure of a girl, Mattathia their only child, born after twelve years of marriage and sadly dead before she was two. What sorrow they must have felt.
The small medieval church where they rest is tucked away in the Lincolnshire countryside with not much around it at all. It is believed a Viking settlement was here and it had a thriving village in the 16th century. The building itself was started in the 12th century and the nave has been dated to the 13th century. This depth of history just blows me away. Currently it is classed as a redundant church, but is grade 1 listed and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Thank goodness.
It is a little gem that I will be visiting.
How very beautiful yet poignant. And yes, farthingale is a marvellous word! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt blows you away??? To live in a place with such an incredibly rich history would take my breath away...so I likely wouldn't survive long there LOL. The bodies in repose are so unique...but, oh....that wee little girl saddens me. Please go visit...and share with us more, more, more!! I'm curious as to who else is "resting" there! ~Robin~
ReplyDeleteI promise when I go I will report back. x
DeleteOh, isn't that sad that they lost their only child so young. It's certainly an uncommon pose, I wonder who decided that they'd be depicted in this way.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm intrigued by it all and will make a visit at some point. I will let you know what I find out.
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