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St Aldhelm's Chapel Lytchett Heath, Dorset
Builder, musician, scholar and poet
many miracles were attributed to this remarkable holy man.
Builder, musician, scholar and poet
many miracles were attributed to this remarkable holy man.
Celebrated as the first English scholar, and noted as the builder of many churches and abbeys, St Aldhelm's life is celebrated in this set of five new windows designed and made for St Aldhelm's Chapel, Lytchett Heath, Dorset in September 2001.
Various illustrations of the miracles attributed to St Aldhelm and references to his life's work as scholar and mediator between the different traditions of the Church at that time are depicted. He was advisor to the 8th century King Ine of Wessex, and was also well known for his composing and singing of songs to the ordinary people and which he would cleverly turn to Christian themes.
Various illustrations of the miracles attributed to St Aldhelm and references to his life's work as scholar and mediator between the different traditions of the Church at that time are depicted. He was advisor to the 8th century King Ine of Wessex, and was also well known for his composing and singing of songs to the ordinary people and which he would cleverly turn to Christian themes.
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In window #1 St Aldhelm, noted for his asceticism, sings the Psalter in the pool and spring at Malmesbury, above is his harp and reference to him as singer of a thousand verses.
In window #2 he is honoured as a builder of churches and the Abbey at Malmesbury, and the founder of English Romanesque style of architecture. The Green Man boss symbolises the way in which the early Church 'Christianised' images and deities of much older religions and brought them into the carvings and decoration of buildings of the new religion, often as protectors and guardians.
Window #3 recalls St Aldhelm's famous chasuble decorated with dragons. It is related that it was miraculously suspended in a beam of sunlight, which prevented it from falling to the floor when the attendant meant to take it from the Saint was absent. Above, the ship carrying Holy books for sale is nearly wrecked when the price asked is too high. However the Saint quelled the storm, and bought the books at a bargain price!
Window #4 depicts St Aldhelm planting his ash staff in the ground, which after a lengthy sermon, burst into life. Above, the crosses of the Roman Church and the Celtic Church are united by a sundial. This refers to the agreement initiated by St Aldhelm on various theological differences between the two Churches, and chiefly that of the time of the Easter celebration.
In window #2 he is honoured as a builder of churches and the Abbey at Malmesbury, and the founder of English Romanesque style of architecture. The Green Man boss symbolises the way in which the early Church 'Christianised' images and deities of much older religions and brought them into the carvings and decoration of buildings of the new religion, often as protectors and guardians.
Window #3 recalls St Aldhelm's famous chasuble decorated with dragons. It is related that it was miraculously suspended in a beam of sunlight, which prevented it from falling to the floor when the attendant meant to take it from the Saint was absent. Above, the ship carrying Holy books for sale is nearly wrecked when the price asked is too high. However the Saint quelled the storm, and bought the books at a bargain price!
Window #4 depicts St Aldhelm planting his ash staff in the ground, which after a lengthy sermon, burst into life. Above, the crosses of the Roman Church and the Celtic Church are united by a sundial. This refers to the agreement initiated by St Aldhelm on various theological differences between the two Churches, and chiefly that of the time of the Easter celebration.
Window #5 remembers St Aldhelm as scholar and advisor to King Ine of Wessex, and his treatise to the nuns of Barking. Also is one verse from the 'Aenigmata Tetrasticha', a collection of riddles, which brought him much fame.
