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Eagle lectern
lectern | metalwork
brass
Presented by J Oswald Head 1881
A brass eagle with spread wings forms the lectern which has a perforated book rest. The eagle clasps a great orb with a moulded ‘equator’ set on a round shaft with deeply moulded shaft ring and even more heavily moulded and spreading base supported on four spherical feet. The plate with the inscription is screwed on below the book-rest.
The brass lectern is a stock pattern, an eagle with outstretched wings, an attribute of St John the Evangelist, standing on a sphere. According to legend the eagle was the only bird which could look at the sun and therefore look towards God; it was symbolical for spreading the Gospel throughout the world.
PRESENTED·TO·HEXHAM·ABBEY·CHURCH
BY⁘J⁘OSWALD⁘HEAD⁘1881.
1st letters larger
Messrs Jones and Willis, of London and Birmingham
1881
This is probably an item from a church furnishings catalogue for a trade which flourished in late 19th century and until the Great War. The date is interesting in pre-dating the main re-ordering of the church about 1907–08.
Appears in late Victorian photos at old aisle crossing just to the west of present chancel steps. Ref: e.g. Gibson photo NRO 01876/C/6/66
Pre-1907 in front of altar when altar was against east wall of Chancel.
1960s & 1970s postcards show this lectern in north-east corner of crossing.
‘The fine old Abbey Church of Hexham, which dates from the early part of the 13th century, and is one of the finest specimens of Early English architecture to be found in this country, has been presented with a very fine polished brass eagle lectern, the work of Messrs Jones and Willis, of London and Birmingham.’ [Building News Vol.42 1882 Mar 10 p.317]
max H 1785 | W across lectern 620 | base dia 490
Chancel/Presbytery



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