parrot lectern in St Cross Church
St Cross Church is part of the medieval Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, England. It was founded between 1133 and 1136 and is the oldest charitable institution in the UK.
The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, half brother to King Stephen of England.
Its wooden lectern is unusual: it has a parrot's head on an eagle's body, with a heart lying flat on top of the head. The reason for the heart and the parrot's head is (apparently) to remind the vicar that the words of the Bible should be read with conviction, not just repeated like a parrot.
parrot lectern in St Cross Church
St Cross Church is part of the medieval Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, England. It was founded between 1133 and 1136 and is the oldest charitable institution in the UK.
The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, half brother to King Stephen of England.
Its wooden lectern is unusual: it has a parrot's head on an eagle's body, with a heart lying flat on top of the head. The reason for the heart and the parrot's head is (apparently) to remind the vicar that the words of the Bible should be read with conviction, not just repeated like a parrot.