Moses and Apostles

Limestone statues from St. Mary’s Abbey, York; Moses, Unknow Apostle, St. James and St. John the Evangelist.

These larger than life statues were placed above the west entrance to the abbey church at St. Mary’s to awe and inspire visitors. Beautifully crafted and painted they are the finest surviving example of eleventh century sculpture in the country. The statues were discovered by Reverend Charles Wellbeloved in 1827. They had been unceremoniously laid face down in the ground as foundations stones when the church was later rebuilt.*

*From and information board next to the statues

14 Comments CherryPie on May 7th 2018

14 Responses to “Medieval Statues – York Museum”

  1. Hels says:

    Oh you hit pay dirt with this post :) I love medieval history and I love York, so I am well impressed that the good reverend accidentally discovered these treasures in 1827.

  2. Astrid says:

    What a story and I am glad that the reverend dug them up and cleaned them well. Amazing that they are all in “one piece”.

  3. Those limestone statues are superb – it is great news that they were found.

  4. The Yum List says:

    I bet they acted as great guards.

  5. Amfortas says:

    One has to wonder at the minds of those who would use such art as stones in a foundation trench. But rather than speculate about those folk way back when, perhaps we could ask today’s wreckers who are busy tearing the social, legal, religious, educational et al fabric apart and burying it under manure to grow drug crops.

    • CherryPie says:

      History repeats itself, we never learn from our past mistakes, it is a continuous cycle fo dark ages followed by enlightenment.

  6. James Higham says:

    Imagine meeting that lot on a dark night.

  7. Wonderful, CP. St Mary’s was once so wealthy – wasn’t it the richest abbey in England at one time? Those statues are exquisite.