If you've ever visited our Chapel you may have seen the fragments of stone in front of the Altar rail. You may have wondered what they are and why we have them. Well, they have an interesting story and one we'd like to share with you, so read on... - ThreadSky

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merchantshallyork.org • 12 days ago

If you've ever visited our Chapel you may have seen the fragments of stone in front of the Altar rail.

You may have wondered what they are and why we have them. Well, they have an interesting story and one we'd like to share with you, so read on...

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merchantshallyork.org•12 days ago

Here is a close up of the stones.

What we actually have are fragments of at least two altar tables (each traditionally having 5 crosses representing the 5 wounds of Christ).

They are likely to date to the 14th Century and were possibly used in the Chapel.

merchantshallyork.org•12 days ago

During the Reformation (which we have King Henry VIII to partly thank) at least one altar was broken - to remove its significance and importance within a Roman Catholic mass.

Statues, screens, wall paintings, and windows were also targeted.

merchantshallyork.org•12 days ago

One story is that one altar table survived intact, set into the Chapel floor and was only subsequently broken in the 19th Century.

The Altar stones were found amongst a pile of rubble in a yard to the Hall (we think this photo shows one of the yards).

merchantshallyork.org•12 days ago

They have suffered over the years - the one at the front here shows signs of fire damage.

However, once discovered they were brought back into the Hall and now take a central position once again in front of our wooden Altar table.

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