An intricately carved man with flowing beard supports a ledge for the weary choir of St. Andrews, Middleton, North Yorkshire. Misericords, or ‘mercy seats’, were once common in the churches and cathedrals of medieval Europe, with many surviving examples in England. They are the bottom (so to speak) half of a folding seat: when the seat is folded up during long periods of song or prayer, the user could surreptitiously lean back and relieve some pressure on the feet. Particularly welcome after a Saturday night in the village tavern, no doubt. Interestingly, misericords often display secular or pagan imagery, at odds with the church around them. I suppose this is not uncommon, as stonemasons often also did this, but timber does not generally survive as well. They are also often fine pieces of crafsmanship, despite being hidden from the view of most parishioners.
Much more to come from this church, as it also features a Saxon tower and rare Anglo-Scandinavian cross shafts. 55 images shot on a whim, May 2021.
Comments