Advent and Christmas are significant times in Christian churches' liturgical year. Many of our stained glass, books, and other objects at Chester Cathedral speak to this importance. This year I have selected a few different objects to highlight both the breadth of our collections at Chester Cathedral, but also the many ways one can engage with the narrative of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany in a Cathedral context.
Missale ad usum insignis ecclesie Sarisburiensis (1555)
The first and earliest of the books selected is our lovely printed Sarum Missal from the Library collection. Probably my favourite book in the whole collection, the quality of the print, the detail in the small scenes (exemplified in Image 1), and weighty physicality of the book seem to glide above the religious tumult ripping its way through Tudor Europe. Although the Sarum Use had been one of the most popular forms of liturgy in medieval England before the Reformation,1 the commissioning of this book in 1555 is a perfect representation of the attempt of Catholic revival by Queen Mary I. It sets out the type of liturgy that was likely in use at the Abbey of St Werburgh and, at least for some of its early years, Chester Cathedral for the Mass at all times of the year, including Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
This book is on display in the Cathedral until 6 January 2025.
1 Magnus Williamson, ‘Affordable splendour: editing, printing and marketing the Sarum Antiphoner (1519-20’, Renaissance Studies, 26/1 (2012), 60.
John Sharpe, A sermon preached before the King and Queen… Christmas Day 1691 (1692)
The book in which this text appears binds together several different sermons given by John Sharp, Archbishop of York between 1691-1714, including this one given to the King and Queen – at this time King William III and Mary II – at Whitehall on Christmas Day 1691.
In the sermon Sharpe dissects the theology of the Christmas into five sections: the birth of Christ; the relevance of the time of His birth; the end of time how it relates to Christ’s life; how His death and resurrection take place; and the difference between Christ’s (single) sacrifice and the repeated sacrifices of other Abrahamic traditions like Judaism. In the final section Sharpe delves into the Eucharistic tensions between the Church in Rome and Church of England. A fervent protestant, Sharpe was frequently pulled up for his hostility towards Catholics and his unwillingness to conform to greater religious freedom. After the Revolution in 1688, Sharpe quickly became Archbishop of Canterbury and then Archbishop of York before his death in 1714.
This sermon can be read in its entirety on Chester Cathedral’s online catalogue here and view it in the Cathedral until 6 January 2025.
Mozley, ‘The Form and Prayer and Ceremonies to be used on Christmas Day at the Consecration of the Vessels and Books presented to the Cathedral Church of St John Baptist in Newfoundland’ (St John’s Newfoundland: J C Withers, 1851).
This book sits in our Jacobson Collection which has benefitted from the completion by our volunteers of a two-year project to thoroughly clean and assess the condition of the 1,723 books that sit in it. Going through a collection in this way means books you would not ordinarily notice are given time to be consulted. So it was with this volume which, like the Sharp sermons above, is one of many booklets bound into a single volume.
As the rather unimaginative title suggestions, this booklet outlines the very specific instructions (rubrics) for consecrating (blessing) vessels and books at St John the Baptist, Newfoundland (Canada) in 1851. The Basilica-Cathedral was – as it is now – a Roman Catholic church that was still being built when this text was written. When it opened in 1855 the intention will have been that the rubrics guide the way that liturgy is carried out. There are edits in ink throughout the text suggesting that either Bishop Jacobson – Bishop of Chester 1865–1884 – or another user saw the need to contribute some alterations. It gives an insight into the preparations that go into both the building of a church, but also the liturgical provision for very specific parts of worship.
This document can be read on Chester Cathedral’s online catalogue here.
A & M O’Connor, Nativity Window (1857)
One of our most vibrant displays of the traditional nativity scene is in this window situated at the very east end of the north Quire aisle. Designed and executed by A & M O’Connor, it was donated to the Cathedral by a Mrs Hamilton of Hoole and bears the dedication ‘To the honour and glory of God…’.
The space the window sits above is now called St Werburgh’s Chapel, after the patron saint of the Cathedral and city of Chester. There are seats and candle banks beneath the windows where you can sit for some quiet, light a candle, and look at the window. Being situated at the east end of the building it gets its best light in the morning, but can be appreciated at all times of day.
Harold Gosney, Nativity Sculptures (c.1999)
The final object I want to highlight is our nativity sculptures, typically found ‘resting’ for most of the year on our only original medieval tiles in the building in the north Quire aisle. Designed and created by contemporary sculptor Harold Gosney, they were commissioned by the Very Revd Dr Stephen Smalley (Dean of Chester 1987-2001) and the Friends of Chester Cathedral around the millennium. This year we joined the family and friends of Dean Smalley in celebrating his life following his death in May this year. Along with the nativity sculptures he left a significant legacy at the Cathedral including significant missional links in Melanesia, building the Cathedral’s Song School, and launching several fundraising and cultural initiatives to position the Cathedral well in civic and community life.
The set have already begun to make their annual pilgrimage around the building mimicking the journey of the Holy Family, Wise Men, Three Kings, and animals (!). Looking at the figures you can enjoy the craftsmanship of their design, and also consider the sense of movement they convey, echoing the travel of the entire group at different times in the nativity story.
I hope this whistlestop tour around some of our objects linking to Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany has inspired you to connect with the narratives we will be exploring at the Cathedral in this period and provided a glimpse of some of the wonderful objects we are privileged to safeguard for future generations.
Emily Lanigan-Palotai
Collections & Marketing Engagement Officer
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