Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year
Sunday 11th April 2010
Chichester Cathedral
The
Peregrines that live on the cathedral spire have been there now for 10 years
and are said to be the most successful known pair in the whole of the UK.
They've already had 30 offspring and have helped to greatly increase the Sussex
population. One of their chicks has even been found to be living in Belgium. The
female is currently sitting on four eggs and the male is hunting for food for
both himself and the female. When not out hunting the male can be seen perched
on the spire like a medieval gargoyle with his head markings resembling an
executioners mask. Look up at him with your binoculars and he'll look straight
back at you.
The
cathedral itself, apart from being an important place of worship and a place
of pilgrimage, is like a huge museum and today we made a beeline straight for
the exhibition of Sussex church plate. Quite frankly this exhibition filled us
with awe and wonder. There must be a few million pounds worth of silver there,
but apart from the monetary value the pieces themselves are incredible. Many of
the chalices and patens (plates to hold the bread) date from 1568, when royal
decree from Good Queen Bess commanded that all church plate be redesigned in
a less papal style. The plate comes from all of the churches in Sussex and it
was wonderful for us to see these ancient relics from many of the small village
churches that we know so well. If you're a fan of The Antiques Roadshow and
you're from Sussexshire, then you'll really appreciate this amazing little
exhibition.
Are you looking at me?... Are you looking
at me?
Pulborough's Elizabethan chalice.
A law was passed that made it compulsory
for everyone go to church. As a consequence a lot of wine was needed,
so the churches started to get these large flagons to hold it. This one came
from Shoreham.
All of this silver, from many different
Sussex churches, was made by the same man in 1568.
These 13th century chalices
were found in the tombs of medieval bishops.
