Christopher A Strickland Photography
Holy Man of East Saxons (Essex)
In a niche just outside the front door of All Saints Church in Maldon is a statue of Saint Cedd, who served as the Bishop of London from . It was Cedd that was called upon by Oswiu and King Sigeberht to re-convert the East saxons and strengthen Christianity in the East Saxon kingdom.. He did missionary work and made some conversions. His predecessor Mellitus had earlier been driven out by King Sigeberht. When Saint Cedd came to Essex, he founded a monastery beside the abandoned Roman fort of Othona within the old walls of the Anglo-Saxon fort Ithancester in 653, which survives as the restored chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, one of the oldest churches in Britain. From there, he continued the evangelisation of Essex. The old chapel is a popular attraction for pilgrims and tourists, and is the oldest Christain church building in Essex. One can still see the original Romanesque arches in two of the chapel walls.
He is depicted in sculpture here with a Crozier(ornamental shepherd staff symbolising a spiritual shelpherd who keeps their flock) in his left hand, and a bound book of scripture (symbolic of the permanent and binding importance of the Bible as Gods word) in his right hand. He is sitting upon a "Cathedra" (Bishops official seat or chair) with his name on the plinth below. The church where a Bishops Cathedra was placed became known as a cathedral.
Cedd was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop from Northumbria. He was an evangelist of the Middle Angles and East Saxons in England and a significant participant in the Synod of Whitby, a meeting which resolved important differences within the Church in England. He is venerated by Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
What I found interesting about this moment, is that behind the sitting figure of Cedd ( to the right of his staff) is a solid white Dove nesting upon his left shoulder. I found this to be striking and very symbolic. It reminded me of the biblical story of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. He came to the river where John was baptising many, and asked to be baptised by John, who relectantly but humbly obeyed.... at the moment Christ arose from the water the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove which alit upon his shoulder. That is why I took this photo, and posted it here.
Holy Man of East Saxons (Essex)
In a niche just outside the front door of All Saints Church in Maldon is a statue of Saint Cedd, who served as the Bishop of London from . It was Cedd that was called upon by Oswiu and King Sigeberht to re-convert the East saxons and strengthen Christianity in the East Saxon kingdom.. He did missionary work and made some conversions. His predecessor Mellitus had earlier been driven out by King Sigeberht. When Saint Cedd came to Essex, he founded a monastery beside the abandoned Roman fort of Othona within the old walls of the Anglo-Saxon fort Ithancester in 653, which survives as the restored chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, one of the oldest churches in Britain. From there, he continued the evangelisation of Essex. The old chapel is a popular attraction for pilgrims and tourists, and is the oldest Christain church building in Essex. One can still see the original Romanesque arches in two of the chapel walls.
He is depicted in sculpture here with a Crozier(ornamental shepherd staff symbolising a spiritual shelpherd who keeps their flock) in his left hand, and a bound book of scripture (symbolic of the permanent and binding importance of the Bible as Gods word) in his right hand. He is sitting upon a "Cathedra" (Bishops official seat or chair) with his name on the plinth below. The church where a Bishops Cathedra was placed became known as a cathedral.
Cedd was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop from Northumbria. He was an evangelist of the Middle Angles and East Saxons in England and a significant participant in the Synod of Whitby, a meeting which resolved important differences within the Church in England. He is venerated by Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
What I found interesting about this moment, is that behind the sitting figure of Cedd ( to the right of his staff) is a solid white Dove nesting upon his left shoulder. I found this to be striking and very symbolic. It reminded me of the biblical story of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. He came to the river where John was baptising many, and asked to be baptised by John, who relectantly but humbly obeyed.... at the moment Christ arose from the water the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove which alit upon his shoulder. That is why I took this photo, and posted it here.