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St Mary's Church
Felmersham, Bedfordshire
Corbels, Arch Ends and Angels |
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Warding off evil spirits may have been the purpose of the carved stone figure (13) on the springer of the nave arch opposite the pulpit. He eternally pokes his tongue out at the woman opposite (14), in the certain knowledge that she is powerless to respond, however this may be a cover for his true identity – a Green Man.
A green man is a pagan symbol consisting of a man’s head with foliage flowing from his mouth and ears, and normally embracing his hair. Typically he is seen poking out his tongue.
The foliage has been subsequently chipped away, perhaps in an attempt to disguise his pagan purpose. Both figures appear to be in a later architectural style than the 1220 date of the the building.
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External arch ends on the south facing clerestory windows. |
Arch Ends - Number 19 is a replacement and is the carved figure of the head of Victor Farrer the church architect during the restoration of the clerestory windows. Fifteen is of interest, its function could be to frighten off evil spirits or, in medieval iconography, it could have a phallic meaning. Seventeen and twenty-one are grotesque figures. |
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External arch ends on the north facing clerestory windows |
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