Patrick Comerford
The Calendar of the Church of England in Common Worship today (12 October 2022) remembers Wilfrid of Ripon (709), Bishop, Missionary, with a Lesser Festival, and Elizabeth Fry (1845), Prison Reformer, and Edith Cavell (1915), Nurse, with commemorations.
I have a meetings later today in Kidlington, near Oxford, and Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes. But, before today gets busy, I am taking some time this morning for reading, prayer and reflection.
During the last two weeks, I was reflecting each morning on a church, chapel, or place of worship in York, where I stayed last month. This week I am reflecting on the windows in one of those churches: All Saints’ Church, North Street, York.
In my prayer diary this week I am reflecting in these ways:
1, One of the readings for the morning;
2, A reflection on the windows in All Saints’ Church, North Street, York;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary, ‘Pray with the World Church.’
It is interesting to note that Elizabeth Fry and Edith Cavell, who are commemorated today, both relate to the themes in the ‘Corporal Works of Mercy’ window in York, which I am reflecting on this morning.
Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) was born Elizabeth Gurney in Earlham, Norfolk. At the age of 20, she married Joseph Fry, a London merchant and a strict Quaker. She was admitted as a minister in the Society of Friends and became a noted preacher. The appalling state of the prisons came to her notice and she devoted much of her time to the welfare of female prisoners in Newgate. In 1820, she took part in the formation of a night shelter for the homeless in London. She travelled all over Europe in the cause of prison reform. She had a strong Christian and evangelistic impulse and this inspired all her work. She died on this day in 1845.
Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was born into a clerical family at Swardeston. After life as a governess, she trained as a nurse, ending up working with the Red Cross in Belgium in 1907. On the outbreak of World War I, she became involved in caring for the wounded on both sides. She refused repatriation and then began smuggling British soldiers from Belgium into Holland. She was arrested in 1915 and was put on trial. Protecting those who worked with her, she was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on this day in the year 1915. She went to her death calmly, forgiving her executioners, convinced she had been doing her duty as a Christian.
Luke 11: 42-46 (NRSVA):
[Jesus said:] 42 ‘But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practised, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honour in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the market-places. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.’
45 One of the lawyers answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.’ 46 And he said, ‘Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.’
‘The Corporal Works of Mercy’ window, All Saints Church, York:
All Saints’ Church, North Street, York, which I described in this prayer diary recently (28 September 2022), is said to be ‘York’s finest mediaeval church.’ It dates from the 11th century and stands near the River Ouse.
The church has an important collection of mediaeval stained glass, including ‘The Pricke of Conscience’ window, depicting the 15 signs of the End of the World; the window depicting the Corporal Works of Mercy (see Matthew 25: 31ff); the Great East Window, originally in the north wall; the Lady Chapel Window, which I am looking at tomorrow (13 October 2022); the Saint James the Great Window; the Saint Thomas Window; and the Coats-of-Arms window.
All Saints’ Church, on North Street, York, is known particularly for two early 15th century windows: the window depicting ‘The Pricke Of Conscience’ or ‘The Fifteen Signs of Doom’ window, which I was looking at earlier this week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday); and the window depicting the ‘Corporal Works of Mercy’ (see Matthew 25: 35-46), which I am looking at this morning.
The ‘Corporal Acts of Mercy’ window may have been a memorial to Nicholas Blackburn senior, who was a merchant and mayor of York, erected by his son, Nicholas Blackburn, around 1410. Nicholas Blackburn was a merchant trader and the head of his family. His son and grandson also appear in the Great East Window in the church.
The ‘Corporal Acts of Mercy’ window is the western window in the Lady Chapel of the north choir aisle, the choir of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The glass was originally in the two-light window beside the north door. The glass around the main panels dates from the 1800s.
When looking at mediaeval windows, it is worth bearing in mind where they are seen. The nave belonged to the laity and its upkeep was paid for by them. Stained glass windows were often paid for by a wealthy individual or family, a guild or a group of parishioners, and the patron had a significant say in the subject matter of the scenes depicted.
At the time, wealthy parishioners were challenged morally by the Church to examine their consciences in regard to acts of charity. This window shows the way, and the chantry priest can help move the individual’s soul through Purgatory.
The window depicts six of the seven Corporal Acts of Mercy. The man who conducts the acts of mercy is older and bearded and possibly the dead man, Nicholas Blackburn senior.
In the top register amongst the pinnacles a pair angels peer down to witness the acts.
The corporal acts of mercy are then arranged in three panels in the two middle sections:
Row 1: Feeding the hungry: ‘I was hungry and you gave me food’ (Matthew 25: 35). Giving drink to the thirsty: ‘I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink’ (Matthew 25: 35). Offering hospitality to strangers: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ (Matthew 25: 35).
Row 2: clothing the naked: ‘I was naked and you gave me clothing’ (Matthew 25: 36). Visiting the sick: ‘I was sick and you took care of me’ (Matthew 25: 36). Visiting prisoners: ‘I was in prison and you visited me’ (Matthew 25: 36).
In each panel, the bearded man may represent Nicholas Blackburn performing these acts of mercy.
The one traditional act of mercy omitted is that of burying the dead. However, this seventh traditional act of mercy is not listed in Matthew 25; 35-36. Although part of the traditional mediaeval lists, it is not found in the list in Saint Matthew’s Gospel. Instead, it is found in asimilar list in Tobit 1: 16-22. Perhaps this explains its absence in the window in York; or, perhaps, this is because this is a memorial window and therefore it is implied throughout the window that the task has been done. The window itself, donated by his family, might be seen as a complete working out of the seventh act, the burial – or at least the commemoration – of the dead.
On the bottom register of the window to the right there appears to be a chantry priest singing and praying for the soul of the departed. He is mirrored on the right by a praying couple. The clean shaven man may be Nicholas Blackburn and the woman his wife. In between is a representation of the heavenly realms.
Today’s Prayer (Wednesday 12 October 2022):
The Collect:
Almighty God,
who called our forebears to the light of the gospel
by the preaching of your servant Wilfrid:
help us, who keep his life and labour in remembrance,
to glorify your name by following the example
of his zeal and perseverance;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Post Communion Prayer:
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God:
in that new world where you reveal
the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language
to share with Wilfrid and all your saints
in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord.
The theme in the USPG Prayer Diary this week is ‘Day of the Girl Child.’ This theme is introduced this morning by the Revd Benjamin Inbaraj, Director of the CSI-SEVA department, which runs the Church of South India’s social ministries.
The USPG Prayer Diary invites us to pray today in these words:
Let us pray for the Church of South India’s Focus 9/99 programme, as it promotes and protects the rights of children across South India.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
Further reading:
‘Church of All Saints with Anchorage Attached, Historic England List Entry 1257067, <https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257067> [accessed 7 October 2022]
‘The Stained Glass of All Saints’, All Saint Church, <https://www.allsaints-northstreet.org.uk/stainedglass.html> [accessed 7 October 2022]
Dr Laura Varnam, ‘The Seven Works of Mercy: Part I’ (29 February 2016) <https://drlauravarnam.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/the-seven-works-of-mercy/> (accessed 7 October 2022)
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