the church of st john baptist

the Lenten Veil Corbelled heads

of St John's church

 

Built into the chancel walls, above the position of the altar rails, are two carved stone corbel heads. They were intended to support the rod on which the Lenten veil was hung.

The heads are unusual, in that they are characterising secular people - a king and a queen. The heads may represent the monarch and consort at the time the church was built - on the north wall of the chancel is Richard II (1367-1400, reigned 1377-1399) and on the south wall is either Anne of Bohemia (1366-1394, consort 1382-1394) or Isabella of Valois (1389-1409, consort 1396-1399).

In the Middle Ages, it was customary to cover crosses and images during Passiontide at the start of Lent. The veiling was carried out because these periods were concerned with penance and grief. Consequently, decoration in the church was deemed inappropriate.

The veil was ordinarily hung up after compline (evening prayers) of the First Sunday of Lent and remained until after compline of the Wednesday of Holy Week. In parish churches it usually hung between nave and choir.

The chief material used for the veil was primarily white linen. The Lenten veil was hung before the altar during Lent at the customary daily mass, but drawn back on Sundays, the "Easter day in every week."

Following the Reformation, St John’s Lenten veil was sold. According to the Churchwardens’ Accounts, it was sold in 1569 when William Fathew paid two shillings (around £36 at today’s value) for “a olde clothe called the lente clothe”.

 

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This photograph features in my book 'The Church of St John the Baptist, Yeovil - a History and Guide'.

The corbelled heads, probably representing Richard II and his queen - either Anne of Bohemia or Isabella of Valois.