The Passion Flower and St. Mary's
The passion flower, cross and crown theme in the windows in the chancel are reflected in the altar frontal and lectern fall.
The theme
The Victorian stained glass theme of passion flowers, cross and crown has been used in twenty first century adornments - a new altar frontal and lectern fall in 2007 and a new chasuble and stole in 2008.
The cross and crown are probably obvious to most as symbols to be expected in a church. The reason for the passion flower may not be so obvious.
The passion flower
A clue lies in the name of the passion flower. "Passion" refers not to romantic love, but to Christ's passion. The origin of passion is from the Latin for suffering - being passionate means feeling so strongly about something that you are prepared to suffer for it: hence Christ's suffering for mankind on the cross is referred to as His passion.
The passion flower was discovered by Spanish explorers in Peru in 1569. Whilst the term passion flower refers to about 400 species of the genus Passiflora, the names comes from the Spanish Christian missionaries who adopted the physical structures of the Blue Passion Flower, Passiflora caerulea, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus Christ and especially the Crucifixion; since then the flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe.
The symbolism, as originally perceived, and added to since includes:
- The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the the head of the Centurion's Spear with which Christ's side was pierced.
- The tendrils represent the whips used in the Flagellation of Christ.
- The central flower column represents the pillar of the Scourging
- The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (i.e. excluding St. Peter who denied knowing Christ and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him).
- The flower's radial filaments represent the Crown of Thorns.
- The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail
- The 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).
- The blue and white colors of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity.
- The style represents the sponge used to moisten Christ's lips with vinegar
- The red stains represent Christ's blood drops
- The round fruit represent the World Christ came to save
- The fragrance represents the spices prepared by the Holy Women to anoint Christ's body for the tomb
Read more about the passion flower: on Wikipedia; on "Mary's Garden" website; on this site concentrating on the medical uses (though also giving some history).
Victorian depiction
Stained glass
The stained glass windows on the south side of the chancel contain the passion flower, cross and crown theme which has inspired the other items. They are not easy to see, but on the sill under the windows are plaques commemorating those in whose memory the glass was given. Those under the passion flower windows died 1838 - 1840 so presumably the windows date from soon after this, i.e. not long after the rebuild of St. Mary's.
A page about the windows and those whom they commemorate is being worked on - a link will be added here when it is complete.
21st century adornments
The following have been made by members of the parish in 2007 and 2008. They are listed in order of their addition to the church.
The altar frontal
The altar frontal, designed by Sharon Garrick, was first used and dedicated during the Flower Festival held in July 2007.
What is an altar frontal?
Altars
In general altars are places or structures where sacrifices are offered. At Communion services (aka Eucharists / Masses) we don't just remember the Last Supper that Jesus enjoyed with his disciples but his sacrificial giving of himself on the cross and his coming to us in the bread and wine. Hence the structure where the bread and wine are consecrated is known as an altar.
In the early church before there were church buildings a tables was probably used, then the tombs of martyrs, but very soon as churches were built special stone altars were used.
Frontals
In the early church altars became more and more ornate, the front being either decoratively carved or covered with a cloth frontal - practices which continue to today, though few new altars are now decoratively carved.
The lectern fall
A lectern fall followed, being dedicated on 28th October 2007.
What is a lectern fall?
Lecterns
A lectern is a bookstand to support books used during services. The name comes from the Latin lectus, past participle of legere, "to read".
Medieval lecterns were of stone and on the north of the altar for the Gospel. In time there was sometimes more than one for different purposes.
After the reformation readings desks were introduced as happened in Gillingham.
From the 1840s separate lecterns were re-introduced and that is what happened in Gillingham. It was not part of the 1830s rebuild, but a separate eagle lectern was given along with the pulpit in memory of the Rev. Henry Deane, instigator of the rebuild.
The new lectern
This lectern was in regular use until 2000, when a modern portable lectern was introduced, although the eagle lectern still remains.
It is from the new lectern that lessons from the Bible are read at the Eucharist; it is also from the lectern that the intercessions are read, but it can then be moved out of the way for the distribution of communion at a standing position (to augment the distribution at the altar rails, to help those who would find the chancel steps and / or kneeling difficult, and to prevent this part of the service taking too long). It can also be turned around to be used for readings at smaller services when the congregation sit in the chancel.
Lectern falls
From early days of the church people have praised God by offering Him the best - of skills of artist and craftsman as well as time and for prayer and service. At the same time, much ornamentation has also been instructive - especially valuable when most were illiterate - and / or acted as a reminder of truths already known. Our eagle lectern, with wings open, reminds us of the carrying forth of the Word of God found within the Bible palced on the lectern. But our new lectern, like most modern lecterns, was plain. Adding a fall serves both to beautify it as befits the house of God, and through the passion flower, cross and crown to act as a reminder of God's love shown in his suffering on the cross and his victory over death.
The chasuble
A new chasuble was given as their retirement present to the parish by the Revd. Canon Alan Gill and his wife Margery. It was dedicated on August 2008.
What is a chasuble?
A chasuble is the colourful outer garment worn by the priest who is celebrating the Eucharist (i.e. Communion service). The celebrant is the priest taking the main part, particularly in the Eucharistic prayer whereby Jesus becomes present in the consecrated bread and wine. The garments worn by priests, collectively known as vestments, have evolved from the everyday clothes worn by Romans. The chasuble has evolved from the "casula" or "little house", the common outer travelling garment in the late Roman Empire, which was similar to a poncho.
The wearing of vestments helps to focus attention on the role played by the person in the service rather than the individual who is taking that role.
Chasubles of different colours are worn in different seasons - green being the colour for "ordinary" time, when no special fesivals are being celebrated or seasons observed.
The stole
A new stole followed shortly after the chasuble, also given by the Gills.
What is a stole?
A stole is a narrow scarf although originally a much larger shawl. There are various theories as to its origin - it may derive from the Jewish prayer mantle or from the scarf of office worn by Imperial officials in the Roman Empire.
Whatever its origin, it symbolizes the bonds and fetters with which Jesus was bound during his Passion and is usually ornamented with a cross. It is sometimes said to denote the duty to spread the Word of God.
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