Purbeck marble shrine base c. 1320 of St Edburg(a) of Bicester (d. c. 650) standing on an altar tomb in Stanton Harcourt church, Oxfordshire.
Remnant of the Purbeck marble shrine base of St Edburg(a) of Bicester (d. c. 650) carved c 1320 by Alexander of Abingdon, standing on an altar tomb of local freestone in the N side of the sanctuary of St Michael's Church, Stanton Harcourt, Oxon. Probably removed from Bicester Priory during the Dissolution (1537/8) by High Sheriff Sir Simon Harcourt who was ordered to destroy all 'Popish' monuments in the county. He didn't, as many people in the parish remained Catholic until well after the Reformation. The shrine base, decorated with figures, mouldings, leaves, bosses & shields whose arms link the shrine to the Bassett & Longspee families, and altar tomb may have been used as an Easter sepulchre (used to contain the Sacrament or effigy of Christ between Good Friday and Easter Monday) &/or an Altar of Repose where Hosts consecrated at Maundy Thursday Mass are reserved for Holy Communion on Good Friday.
Size: 4120px × 5559px
Location: St Edburg's Shrine, St Michael's Church, Stanton Harcourt; Oxfordshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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