Plymouth Magazine-Winter24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 22
What’s Hiding on Our Reredos? Part 2
Well, really, nothing is hiding on our reredos. It’s just that we’ve kind of taken our reredos for granted—until now. In each of
the last two weeks, we’ve looked more closely at the intricately carved screen, or reredos, in the back of the chancel. Last week
we focused on the “shields” on the left side of the central cross. This week, here’s a
closer look at the shields to the right of the cross. Remember, you are welcome to visit the
chancel and get better acquainted with our beautifully carved, historic reredos any time the
sanctuary is open and worship or another event is not in progress!
R1—Robe and Dice
PLYMOUTH’S INSPIRATIONAL
ARCHITECTURE
Matthew 27:35
And when they had crucified him, they divided his
clothes among themselves by casting lots.
Many Plymouth members find
comfort in the words “Love Never
Faileth” carved atop the oak panels
in the church chancel. Sometimes
overlooked are the other symbols
that adorn our English Gothicstyle church.
Carved grapes and vines surround
“Love Never Faileth,” and on
either side are stylized palms in
remembrance of Palm Sunday.
These architectural elements are
original to our present Plymouth
Church, which was dedicated on
Nov. 29, 1927. When the chancel
was remodeled in 1988 and the
choir pews were moved to face the
sanctuary rather than each other,
the decorative screen was raised
13 inches to remain visible to the
congregation.
Plymouth’s communion table is also
adorned with religious symbolism.
The front bears the letters IHS,
which is a monogram using the first
three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek:
Iota (I), Eta (H), and Sigma (S). On
either side of the IHS display are the
Greek letters for Alpha and Omega.
The first and last letters of the Greek
alphabet, the Alpha and the Omega
are often followed by the phrase, “the
beginning and the end,” a reminder
of the eternity of God who has no
beginning or end.
R2—Sponge, Spear and Ladder
Matthew 27:48-49
At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it
with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to
drink. (Some versions add: And another took a spear
and pierced his side, and out came water and blood.)
R5—Club and Sword
Matthew 26:47
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the
twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with
swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the
elders of the people.
R3—Hammer and Tongs
Matthew 27:59-60
So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which
he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great
stone to the door of the tomb and went away.
R6—Lantern
John 18:3
So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers
together with police from the chief priests and the
Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and
torches and weapons.
R4—Sword
Matthew 26:51-52
Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on
his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high
priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him,
“Put your sword back into its place; for all who
take the sword will perish by the sword.”
R7—Scourge
Luke 18:33
After they have flogged him, they will kill him,
and on the third day he will rise again.
“My woodworking is primarily flatwork,
such as building furniture, so I located
a wood carver who could reproduce the
entire symbol,” he says.
out on the wood-stained oak cross. The
Chi Rho reproduction was mounted on
the cross in late summer, in time for the
program year kick off in September.
Tapping into his contacts with area
woodworking groups, Eaton found wood
carver Terry Voss to take on the project.
Voss made the new Chi Rho somewhat
thicker to ensure its durability but
otherwise in precisely the same dimensions
as the original Chi Rho. The basswood
reproduction carving was painted the
same gold color as the original, so it stands
The original Chi Rho held too many
memories to be discarded, however.
“With a little more assistance from the
wood carver to reproduce the missing
leg I have restored the original symbol,”
Eaton says. He is now designing a special
mounting and frame so the original Chi
Rho will be preserved and eventually
displayed at Plymouth Church.
Amy Elbert wrote about home design and architecture for much of
her 30 years at Meredith, retiring in 2016 as building and architecture
editor for Traditional Home magazine.
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