Luke 22:19 (KJV)

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?

And he answered saying:
You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings
of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love.

Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other’s shadow.

On Marriage, from The Prophet.
Kahlil Gibran

The photo is best viewed large on Flickr

Hemming Robeson was the Vicar of Tewkesbury 1877-92. During his incumbency the great restoration of the Abbey started in 1875, was completed, and the Abbey House, the Gateway and a number of adjoining buildings were bought back for the Church. He was a founder of the Tewkesbury High School for Girls, the building now occupied by the Abbey School.

He moved to Bristol in 1892 and became Archdeacon of Bristol and North Wilts. Dying in 1912, he was buried in Bristol.*

*From an information board

Saint Edmund (841 – 69) was brought up as a Christian, and became King of the East Angles in about AD 865.

In 869 – 70. The Great Army of Vikings, under Ingwar, invaded East Anglia. Edmund led his army against them, but was defeated and captured. He refused to deny his Christian faith or rule as Ingwar’s vassal. He was killed, being shot with arrows, and beheaded, as a roof boss in this chapel depicts.*

Within the chapel is a  triptych depicting Jesus Christ, Jerusalem and Tewkesbury. The three-part painting features images associated with the town, such as mustard flowers and horseradish plants.

*From an information board next to the chapel

Desiderius Erasmus

This statue, by Anthony Robinson, speaks of Mary in her sorrow and triumph. Mary, who stood at the foot of the cross, knew the depth of sorrow. Mary, whose son Jesus Christ rose from the dead, can today teach us of grief transformed to joy – of light after darkness.

The statue faces the site of the pre-reformation Lady Chapel, destroyed in 1540.

Who is he that stands perceiving
All the Holy Mother’s grieving,
And does not his shame express?
Who could yet, her sadness sharing,
Seeing Mary so despairing
Fail to join in her distress.
(from the Latin Hymn Stabat Mater)

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven, alleluia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia!
As he promised, hath arisen, alleluia!
Pour for us to him they prayer, alleluia!
(from the Latin Hymn Regina Caeli)

*Information and quotes from the information board next to the statue of Mary