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4. St Peter and St Paul Church part 2 - interior
Looking down the nave to the altar through the Norman arch into the chancel. The Norman arches of the aisles, with help from restoration, still proudly stand (somewhat 'Romanesque style?). An excellent guidebook is available which fully describes and explains the medieval wall paintings you can see high up on the right.
The medieval wall paintings were probably commissioned around 1450 but covered over after 100 years due to the Protestant Reformation. They were accidentally discovered in 1852 and then covered over again with whitewash. Happily, from 1876, the enlightened Rev. G.H. Lightfoot allowed these wonderful 'frescoes' to be seen by all concerned, despite the potential distraction from the sermon!
The purpose of wall paintings, like many others in medieval churches, were to help convey the messages in biblical and other religious stories to the then, largely illiterate population, and very explicitly are the stories told!
Wall painting detail - the martyrdom of Saint Edmund in AD870, 'graphic in the extreme' to the God-fearing congregation of the Middle Ages.
Wall painting detail - St George slaying the dragon. North Yorkshire |
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