Tympanum - St Peter - Parwich, Derbyshire
Posted by: SMacB
N 53° 05.164 W 001° 43.229
30U E 585696 N 5882609
Replica of the tympanum above the west door of St Peter's church, Parwich.
Waymark Code: WM11V0M
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/20/2019
Views: 6
"The tympanum, which is thought to be of Saxon origin, is situated on the outside of the church above the west door, and is supported on two carved pillars of the same period. It was discovered under many layers of whitewash over the south door of the old Norman church before it was demolished. The stone is covered with rudely carved figures unfolding the story of the Redemption. On one side is a lamb bearing a circular-headed cross symbolising Christ as the Lamb of God; above the head of the lamb is a dove, typifying the Holy Ghost. The central figure is a hart, representing the Christian convert or true believer, and under the feet of the hart and lamb are two serpents with protruding tongues symbolic of the Evil One. Above is the swine into which the Unclean Spirit entered, and the remaining figure is a wolf, with tail expanded into a trifolium or shamrock. The latter is the emblem of the Trinity, and the wolf is represented devouring one of the leaves, symbolising the Denial of the Divinity of Christ."
SOURCE - (
visit link)
"sadly deteriorated over the last 130 years, but with the financial assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and local History Society, a replica of the Tympanum was housed inside the tower, leaving
the original in situ."
SOURCE - (
visit link)