About this episode
The episode explores the connection between the angel carvings in St Wendreda's church and the local harrier birds, discussing their historical and contemporary significance.
John Betjeman wrote that it was 'worth cycling forty miles in a head wind to visit St Wendreda's church in March, Cambridgeshire, because of the 118 angels in the roof. The wings of the C16th oak carvings are inspired by hen and marsh harriers. Once common locally - they are returning now. Nature writer Robert Macfarlane looks at the carvings, drawing connections between angels and harriers, what they say about of our feelings for the birds and angels. Robert climbs to the ringing chamber to get close to the harrier angels with Ruth Clay, vicar of St Wendreda's, Edward Wilson-Lee, author of The Grammar of Angels, and Ajay Tegala, ranger at Wicken Fen. They discuss their meaning, in the C16th when they were carved, and today. The persecution and survival of the angel carvings corresponds to that of the birds. At Easter this is a resonant story. During the Reformation iconoclasts destroyed 'idolatrous' church decorations, including carvings. Michael Rimmer, author of The Angel Roofs of East Anglia, tells of their destruction. At the same time the Tudor Vermin Acts led to a frenzy of killing of birds of prey such as harriers. When Henry VIII's agents came to March to destroy the…
People in this episode
Guests: Robert Macfarlane, Ruth Clay, Edward Wilson-Lee, Ajay Tegala
Topics covered
- angels
- harriers
- church history
- nature writing
- iconoclasm
- C16th art
Keywords
- angels
- harriers
- St Wendreda's church
- C16th carvings
- nature writing
- iconoclasm
- bird conservation
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Grammar of Angels
Places: St Wendreda's church, March, Cambridgeshire, Wicken Fen, Wickham Fen
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