A Community Service Website by Roy Romsey - romseys@yahoo.com
Romsey Abbey
Guide
A Medieval Gem
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A.D. 1120 - A.D.2020
SCULPTURES
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Religious Sculptures, statues and relief tablets are to be found in most churches, Romsey Abbey is no exception, there are many beautiful and distinctive pieces of art waiting for visitors and art-lovers to discover and admire.
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"The presence of art in churches inspires human emotions and touches lives in many ways: with feelings of hope, joy, comfort, solace, humility, awe, wonder, and servitude". quote from 'sculptor Lynn Kircher'.
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Some of the abbey's pieces of art are gifts from benefactors, whilst other have been given in memory of loved ones. The most admired is probably that of the young child seen asleep as you enter the church from the north door.
The following are just a few worthy of being discovered during you visit.
Scroll and click to enlarge
Sculpture location Plan
1 -The Sleeping Child
This touchingly beautiful sculpture is of Alice Taylor who died of scarlet fever aged just 2 years 5 months in 1843.
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Alice was the daughter of Francis Taylor, a local doctor and skilled sculptor who sculpted the effigy in her memory.
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Sculpture plan No 1
Photo P1110687
Grid plan location G-D03-S8
2 - St Lawrence
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Archdeacon St Lawrence is posed holding a gridiron over which, it is said, he was martyred by fire in August 258 AD for failing to surrender 'the riches of the church'.
The statue was carved by Mr Bridgeman of Litchfield to a design by W.H.Blacking.
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Sculpture plan No 2
Photo P1150789
Grid plan location G-B10-E7
3 - St George
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This magnificent statue carved from wood and painted in bright colours is of St George slaying the dragon. It is a dramatic depiction of 'good over evil'.
It was installed in 1938.
in memory of XXXX.
St George is believed to have been born in Cappodocia Turkey and died in Lydda Israel. He was canonised in AD 494 by Pope Gelasiu, and his gallantry has featured throughout history.
The red cross of St George was adopted by Richard the 1st in the twelve century and we have celebrated the feast of St George since 1415. St George is the patron saint of England and several other countries.
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Sculpture plan No 3
Photo P1150175
Grid plan location G-D13-N4
4 - Christus Rex
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This striking statue was carved by Peter Eugene Ball from oak and is wrapped in burnished copper.
It shows stark details of the injuries left by the nails that held him to the cross.
It was installed in 2013 in memory of three of the abbey's volunteers.
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Sculpture plan No 4
Photo P1130627
Grid plan location G-D10-E3
5 -Maud Ashley
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A Memorial to Amalia Mary Maud Ashley ne Cassel (1880-1911) who died aged 30, of tuberculosis, she was the wife of Wilfred Ashley MP of Broadlands. (Lord Mount Temple).
She is seen with protective arms around her two daughters, Edwina and Mary; Edwina later became 'Countess Mountbatten of Burma'.
The Memorial depicting 'Motherhood' was sculpted in white marble by Austrian, Emil Fuchs sc. and designed by Richardson and Gill whose architectural practice ran from 1906 until 1939.
Installed 1913
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Sculpture plan No 5
Photo P1160991
Grid plan location G-E14-E9
6 - Sculpted Cross
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This sculpted iron cross and a pair of candlesticks were a gift from the wife of Gerald Cairncross.
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These pieces are in memory to Gerald (1926-1986) who had for many years been a server in the church.
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Sculpture plan No 6
Photo P1160715
Grid plan location G-F15-E8
7 - St Benedict
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This striking scupture of St Benedict was crafted from chicken wire by Belinda Rush-Jansen.
St Benedict was the founder of the Benedictine monastic order in whose name the nunnery was founded. He is seen as a Pastor with a Abbatial pastoral staff and as aTeacher with the book of The Rule.
It was a gift from Canon Neil Crawford-Jones who was vicar at the abbey for 13 years. It was installed in 2008.
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Sculpture plan No 7
Photo P1160462
Grid plan location G-F14-S6
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8 - Saxon Rood
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On the wall behind the altar in St Anne's Chapel is the 10th century Saxon Rood, it's dated to approximately 970 AD, it therefore would have been in the original stone church on this site.
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The rood shows Christ upon the cross with angels waiting above to guide him to heaven. The Rood is thought to have been a royal gift from King Edgar, there is evidence that it originally had precious stones embedded in it.
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Sculpture plan No 7
Photo P1160964a
Grid plan location G-G15-E8
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9 - Virgin Mary
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This simple but elegant statue created in 1974 by British sculptor Michael Clarke, can be seen facing south in St Annes Chapel.
It was gifted in the will of Stanley Vane in memory of his mother Edith Adelaide Vane. - the dedication is inscribed under the base of the statue, the artist's initials and date is on the lower right.
Edith Adelaide Vane was the mother of Stanley Vane, both of whom were Romsonians.
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Stanley devoted much of his leisure time to theatrical productions, the arts and assisting with the abbey, his home abutted the abbey's south garth gardens.
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Sculpture plan No 9
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Photo P1170051
Grid plan location G-G14-N4
10 - Madona and Child
Martin Travers (1864-1948) designed and made this altar piece in 1935, he also made several similar ones, two of which are in Hampshire churches at Liss and Beaulieu.
This was a gift from S.E.P.W & J.M.W 1935.
Sculpture plan No 10
Photo P1050207
Grid plan location G-EF13-E5
11 - St Nicholas
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This striking statue of St Nicholas holding a boat was carved from a piece of driftwood by Peter Eugene Ball. It has areas of gilding and is burnished with copper.
St Nicholas is associated with the giving of gifts and is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, pawnbrokers and many others.
The sculpture was installed in 2005 in memory of three of the abbey's volunteers.
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Sculpture plan No 11
Photo P1180249
Grid plan location G-H10-E6
12 - Memorial to St Barbe Family
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This 17th century sculpted memorial is dedicated to John St Barbe and his wife Grissell, both of whom died within hours of each other from 'The Sweating Sickness'.
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Their four sons are shown below an inscription tablet, only one of whom survived childhood; he became a banker and philanthropist.
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The St Barbe family home was at Broadlands Romsey, which later became the home of Lord Palmerston and later still of Lord Luis Mountbatten.
Sculpture plan - No 12
Photo P1180901
Grid plan location:- G-HJ10-E8
13 - Saxon Rood
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A human-size Saxon Rood located on the western exterior of the south transept is a visitors highlight: it dates from the early 11th century.
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It shows Christ on the cross, his arms outstretched and being protected by the hand of God.
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Sculpture plan - No 13
Photo P1030682
Grid plan location:- G-H10-E8