Architectural historian John Vigar’s talk was about how much BMD celebrations (once called ‘Rites of Passage) have changed over many centuries.
He showed us slides inside churches of carvings, wall paintings, stained glass and various objects that were used over the years; many of which have now been forgotten or superseded.
Baptisms we were shown images of Holy Wells, fonts with their covers, canopies and chrismatories.
Weddings often took place in a church porch that was exceptionally decorated.
Funerals were recorded through wall paintings of a sexton’s implements and depictions of the last rites. During the 18th century huts were built in graveyards either as a shelter, for the parson who took the service, if it was raining or for guards to protect recent graves as they were sometimes robbed for medical use.
Sandra Marvin
Next Meeting
Friday 8th September 2017 'The Diaries of George H Rose' by Sharon Morris