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To view the images, click on the
thumbnails below. Use the arrows to navigate through the
image carousel (7 images available). Photographs taken by
and copyright of Daniel Gibbins,
Church Website Design Project.
Reredos - Behind the High Altar Reredos - Tiling Below the Reredos The Reredos - The Evangelists The Reredos - The Evangelists
This Victorian reredos was presented to the church by Reverend Norris in the 19th century and depicts the church's patron saints, Saints Peter and Paul, and the four evangelists.
The reredos was damaged by the earthquake in 2008 and will be restored in the near future.
Below the reredos, and almost out of view, situated directly behind the high altar, is this beautifully coloured tiling.
The crucifix is carved into the centre of the reredos, a counterpoint between the three figures either side.
This section of the reredos depicts St Peter, one of the church's patrons. St Peter is always depicted holding a set of keys: the Keys to Heaven.
The Keys of Heaven were, according to Christian tradition, received by Saint Peter from Jesus, marking Peter's role as head of the Christian faith on earth. Thus, the Keys are seen as a symbol of Christian authority still to this day.
The Four Evangelists refers to the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following ancient titles: Gospels according to Matthew, Mark Luke and John.
The evangelists do not introduce themselves by name within the works and there is no evidence that the ancient titles are the original ones. Most modern scholars therefore consider it safer to assume the authors to have been anonymous, and the names to have been attributed to the accounts by later generation Christians for reasons other than actual authorship. Traditionally, though, the four evangelists have been held to be two of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth, John and Matthew, and two "apostolic men", Mark and Luke.
They are called evangelists, a word meaning people who proclaim good news, because their books claim to tell the good news of Jesus.
This section of the Reredos represents the second of the two patron saints of Fakenham Parish Church. Traditionally, in Christian iconography and art, when shown together, St Peter occupies the left and St Paul the right hand side of the 'scene' - this is the case shown on the reredos at Fakenham church.
St Paul is shown with his traditional sword - a symbol both of his eloquence in preaching the Word of God, and of his death.
Paul was martyred in Rome, probably by beheading, in 68 A.D. Paul spoke of the Word of God as the "Sword of the Spirit."
The Four Evangelists refers to the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following ancient titles: Gospels according to Matthew, Mark Luke and John.
The evangelists do not introduce themselves by name within the works and there is no evidence that the ancient titles are the original ones. Most modern scholars therefore consider it safer to assume the authors to have been anonymous, and the names to have been attributed to the accounts by later generation Christians for reasons other than actual authorship. Traditionally, though, the four evangelists have been held to be two of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth, John and Matthew, and two "apostolic men", Mark and Luke.
They are called evangelists, a word meaning people who proclaim good news, because their books claim to tell the good news of Jesus.
Reredos - Behind the High Altar
This Victorian reredos was presented to the church by Reverend Norris in the 19th century and depicts the church's patron saints, Saints Peter and Paul, and the four evangelists.
The reredos was damaged by the earthquake in 2008 and will be restored in the near future.
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