medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The bit that I found odd was the line of double columns giving way to a
single column at the east end which the programme suggested was due to a
raised area for the nuns around the altar. The reconstruction did seem very
strange. I sent the following uninformed comments to Julia Bolton Holloway
(who maintains the Julian of Norwich websites) :
>The programme was good - but a bit hyped up in places. They showed the
>original stonework relic from the nuns in Devon and had a stonemason carve
a
>replica of a part of it in three days. They established the huge dimensions
>of the church but I thought they struggled trying to understand how there
>were two rows of columns at the west end of the choir (giving three long
>rectangles) but one at the East end. Their reconstruction showed a raised
>platform at the east end where they said the nuns would have stood - but it
>seemed fanciful to me. A high altar supported by the single column with a
>space to the East of it, like Canterbury or Salisbury would make more sense
>to me. I suspect they could have been better informed by someone familiar
>with the rule of the Brigettine order as to what the church should have
>contained (not that I could identify that person !).
>
>They mentioned the library and its renowned collection but didn't give any
>examples.
>
She put me right with the comments :
<<<
Yes, Brigittine archiecture is fascinating, requiring an upper gallery for
the nuns in the altar area, so they are never seen by the monks and laity.
The monks and nuns alternate so there is never a time when the church was
not in use for prayer. A division of labour. Then the nuns would go down a
passage to the side and receive Communion from the monkpriest/deacon
through a window at the monks' level.
The two libraries were marvellous, that for the men filled with Humanist
classics in Latin and Greek, Thomas More doing much reading there, that for
the women of contemplative texts, often in Middle English, which they
copied and edited and prepared for being printed. >>>>
Regards,
Tim
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [M-R] Time Team at Syon Abbey
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I found the Time Team programme on Syon Abbey particularly interesting
precisely because it offered a visualisation of the building (if based on
guess work as well as archaeology). I think Cate is right to observe that
the physical evidence of the sheer size of the building is important for
understanding the significance of the Bridgettines.
The computer mock-up which Laura found strange was based on the chapels of
Henry VI's other "power statements", King's and Eton Colleges.
I would have liked Mr. Robinson and his team to talk more about the
internationally important library at Syon, but I guess it doesn't make for
popular tv!
Johan Bergstrom-Allen
Projects & Publications Worker, British Province of Carmelites
PhD Student, Universite de Fribourg
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