Molesworth, Cambridgeshire († Ely) Later C.15
St Christopher Detail, the Hermit
This detail shows the Hermit with, held on a pole, his huge lantern (the lantern, representing the light of true religion, is always large, but this example is enormous). Behind the Hermit, his hermitage, shaped like a sentry-box, is very typical of buildings painted on church walls in the 15th century, but the carefully reproduced half-timbering is very rare indeed. There are faint traces of two shields-of-arms at the top corners of this painting; one is thought to be that of a local man called Forster, who became Lord Mayor of London in 1454 – he may have paid for this St Christopher to be made, perhaps to celebrate his Mayorship.
Website for St Peter’s church Molesworthi
† in page heading = Diocese