CONSECRATION CROSSES

Consecration Crosses are related to other non-dial church features and marks that are found on many of the churches with dials. These can be found on other pages and cover Apotropaic (Witch) Marks, Graffiti & Dates, Masons’ Marks, and Stone Patterns. At some stage I will add some explanations and comments about each. Some church exteriors contain other interesting features – for example stoups and piscinae (some moved from the interior) – that I may add in due course.

CERNE ABBAS . DORSET . ST MARY THE VIRGIN

The consecration cross in the chancel dates from the early days of the church C14 / C15. The highly recommended website RAKING LIGHT covers all manner of church marks. This cross is described thus: The border of the circle is compass drawn as is the daisy wheel in the centre. This is where the interest lies, as the design is the six-petalled daisy wheel and not the usual compass cross design. The interpretation in the church says that the daisy wheel is probably original, but has been outlined with pencil in the 20th century.

ST MATIN’S CHAPEL . CHISBURY . WILTS

This small ruined chapel is on the edge of an iron-age hill fort. C13 but deconsecrated C16 and subsequently used as a barn. A scheduled monument, open to the elements. The cross is unprotected but somewhat sheltered in a corner. There is good graffiti on and around the stone windows – initials, dates, apotropaic / protection marks.

ST MARTIN DE TOURS . LILLINGTON . DORSET

ST NICHOLAS . NETHER COMPTON . DORSET

ST OSMOND . MELBURY OSMOND . DORSET

YETMINSTER . DORSET . ST ANDREW

ST ANDREW . HOLNEST . DORSET

ST MARY MAGDALENE . BARWICK . SOM

LILLINGTON . DORSET

THORNFORD . DORSET

10 Consecration Crosses (of 14) ranging from badly eroded to clear cut

BHO Consecration Crosses: fourteen formy crosses in circles placed as follows— external, one on the E., N. and S. walls of the chancel, one on the N. and S. walls of the tower and three on the W. wall; internal, one on the N. and S. walls of the chancel, two on the S. wall of the nave, one on the N. wall of the porch and one on the S. wall of the tower

BEER HACKETT . DORSET

Three of a set of thirteen C15 consecration crosses in relief… re-set in various places on the external and internal walls BLB The internal cross in image 2 was behind a small mower, hence the angle

ST MARY . GREAT BEDWYN . WILTS

Ancient and Modern

ST PETER AD VINCULA . BROAD HINTON . WILTS

YETMINSTER . DORSET . ST ANDREW

Two of the ten crosses. They date from C15, and these 2 eroded examples are on either side of the W doorway. They are more weathered than most of the others, and may be the oldest.