Thursday 17 September 2009

Eardisley near Hereford

The font at Eardisley church is one of the most ornate 'Romanesque' fonts in the U.K. The local legend is that the Lord of the manor went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. He was so impressed with the carvings there (The famous "Portico de Gloria") that he suborned one of the masons and brought him back to the Welsh Marches. The result is the combining of Celtic, Saxon and Romanesque sybolism found in churches in the area.
The theme of the carving is the saving of a sinner from hell by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Norman soldiers as 'devils'?? Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove resting on His shoulder, appears to be dragging the reluctant sinner to safety.
This font is well worth a visit if you are in or around Hereford.



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