{"id":406,"date":"2022-02-04T20:23:49","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T20:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/?page_id=406"},"modified":"2025-01-17T10:40:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T10:40:28","slug":"the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/","title":{"rendered":"The cycle of wall paintings at St Kenelm&#8217;s Church, Clent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-page pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/406?print=print\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_blank\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_interior_of_the_church_today\" >The interior of the church today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#Tracings_of_Richard_Hussey\" >Tracings of Richard Hussey<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_Coronation_of_King_Kenelm_1\" >The Coronation of King Kenelm (1)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_plot_of_Quendryda_and_Ascobert_2\" >The plot of Quendryda and Ascobert (2)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_vigil_of_the_Cow_over_the_Saints_Body_3\" >The vigil of the Cow over the Saint&#8217;s Body (3)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#This_appears_to_be_the_painting_from_the_earlier_wall_painting_cycle_4\" >This appears to be the painting from the earlier wall painting cycle. (4)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#Missing_painting_5\" >Missing painting (5)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_body_of_the_headless_Saint_held_by_angels_6\" >The body of the headless Saint held by angels (6)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_rule_of_Quendryda_the_usurping_Queen_7\" >The rule of Quendryda, the usurping Queen (7)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_procession_of_the_body_of_Kenelm_8\" >The procession of the body of Kenelm (8)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#The_dispute_over_Kenelms_body_9\" >The dispute over Kenelm&#8217;s body (9)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#Decorative_element\" >Decorative element<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/#Reference\" >Reference<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the late fourteenth century (perhaps 1380), a cycle of wall paintings, illustrating the legend of St Kenelm, is known to have been made at St Kenelm\u2019s church, Clent. As with nearly all church wall-painting, these were whitewashed over after the reformation. They were uncovered as part of a restoration of 1845-46, but were apparently \u2018obliterated\u2019 shortly thereafter. There are, however, surviving sources of information about this devotional decorative scheme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, during the restoration of 1845-46, the architect, Richard Hussey uncovered the original paintings behind the whitewash and  made the coloured tracings which are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum and are reproduced below. He did not, however, note the position of the paintings. We also have an account in <em>The Rambler in Worcestershire<\/em> by Mr John Noake, as well as some sketches and notes made on a visit to the church by two unnamed Edgbaston schoolboys, both from around 1845. Miriam Gill has combined information from these sources to reconstruct a plan of how the cycle of paintings would probably have looked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her diagram of the Chancel, or altar area, is shown below. The pointed shapes are the windows, the areas numbered 5 and some of 8 being the side walls of those windows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"542\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan-1024x542.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan-1024x542.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan-768x406.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan-1536x812.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Plan.jpg 1766w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_interior_of_the_church_today\"><\/span>The interior of the church today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is a video of the interior of the church. Traces of the earlier wall painting (item 4 below), can be seen immediately behind the pulpit in the unpainted area extending halfway up the Western window. The Twentieth Century St Kenelm window is also visible at the end of the video, on the Western wall of the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1280 \/ 720;\" width=\"1280\" controls src=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/St-Kenelms-Church-Clent-Hills.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tracings_of_Richard_Hussey\"><\/span>Tracings of Richard Hussey <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Numbers in subtitles below refer to the diagram above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-the-coronation-of-king-kenelm\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Coronation_of_King_Kenelm_1\"><\/span>The Coronation of King Kenelm (1)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"367\" height=\"573\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP1-1.jpg 367w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP1-1-192x300.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-the-plot-of-quendryda-and-ascobert\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_plot_of_Quendryda_and_Ascobert_2\"><\/span>The plot of Quendryda and Ascobert (2)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"441\" height=\"681\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP2-1.jpg 441w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP2-1-194x300.jpg 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-the-vigil-of-the-cow-over-the-saint-s-body\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_vigil_of_the_Cow_over_the_Saints_Body_3\"><\/span>The vigil of the Cow over the Saint&#8217;s Body (3)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"385\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP3.jpg 385w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP3-300x281.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_appears_to_be_the_painting_from_the_earlier_wall_painting_cycle_4\"><\/span>This appears to be the painting from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/images-of-st-kenelm\/#wall-paintings\">earlier wall painting cycle<\/a>. (4)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"759\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-759x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-570\" style=\"width:483px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-759x1024.jpeg 759w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-222x300.jpeg 222w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-768x1036.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-1139x1536.jpeg 1139w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-1518x2048.jpeg 1518w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-scaled.jpeg 1898w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Missing_painting_5\"><\/span>Missing painting (5)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Noake&#8217;s account refers to a man clad in purple dress with a large sword. No reproduction of this painting survives. Gill speculates it may have been St Paul. I would have thought it may more likely be Ascobert. The painting would have been on one of the side walls of the western window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-the-body-of-the-headless-saint-held-by-angels\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_body_of_the_headless_Saint_held_by_angels_6\"><\/span>The body of the headless Saint held by angels (6)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"524\" height=\"507\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP5.jpg 524w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP5-300x290.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-the-rule-of-quendryda-the-usurping-queen\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_rule_of_Quendryda_the_usurping_Queen_7\"><\/span>The rule of Quendryda, the usurping Queen (7)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"348\" height=\"535\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP6.jpg 348w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP6-195x300.jpg 195w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-the-procession-of-the-body-of-kenelm\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_procession_of_the_body_of_Kenelm_8\"><\/span>The procession of the body of Kenelm (8)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"231\" height=\"456\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP4.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP4-152x300.jpg 152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup><strong>Only a fragment, (the left-hand side) was visible. <\/strong><\/sup> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-the-dispute-over-kenelm-s-body\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_dispute_over_Kenelms_body_9\"><\/span>The dispute over Kenelm&#8217;s body (9)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is known from a scene sketched by the schoolboys of a row of archers, very likely representing Worcester Abbey troops, who laid claim to the saint&#8217;s body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"decorative-element\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Decorative_element\"><\/span>Decorative element<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"266\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP7-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP7-1.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/WP7-1-300x153.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reference\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reference\"><\/span>Reference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kenelm Cunebearn&#8230; Haudes Bereafed: A Reconstructed Cycle of Wall Paintings from St Kenelm&#8217;s chapel, Romsley. <strong>Miriam Gill.<\/strong> <em>Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 149, 1996.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction In the late fourteenth century (perhaps 1380), a cycle of wall paintings, illustrating the legend of St Kenelm, is known to have been made at St Kenelm\u2019s church, Clent. As with nearly all church wall-painting, these were whitewashed over after the reformation. They were uncovered as part of a restoration of 1845-46, but were &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/the-cycle-of-wall-paintings-at-s-kenelms-church-clent\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The cycle of wall paintings at St Kenelm&#8217;s Church, Clent<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"","site-content-layout":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-406","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PdF2vD-6y","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=406"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":838,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/406\/revisions\/838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenelmwalks.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}