The gift by The King, initiated when he was still Prince of Wales, of a processional cross that is to be the joint property of the Catholic Church in Wales and of the Anglican Church in Wales, is a witness to His Majesty’s commitment to Christianity, to ecumenical dialogue, and also to his profound sense of history.
The new Cross is made of silver provided by the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, and which was personally hallmarked by His Majesty last November, and utilises slate and wood from Wales to enclose within it two relics of the True Cross given by Pope Francis to the King to mark his accession. The Tablet website has a piece about that at Pope gives King 'relic of True Cross' to mark Coronation
Despite the often snide remarks about the veracity of relics of the True Cross I was reliably informed that there had been an academic study which showed that such relics usually consist - like these - of two hairs breadth slivers, and are quite credible as being what they are claimed to be, amounting to only a small portion in total of what would have comprised a crucifixion instrument in the Roman period.
The gift by the then Prince was intended to mark the centenary of the Church in Wales, but it looks to be taking on wider significance.
Incorporating as it does the Papal gift of relics of the True Cross it will lead the procession into Westminster Abbey for the Coronation on May 6th, when, as we know, the Chrism has been consecrated by the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem it does draw further attention to the essential and sacred nature of the ceremonies that will be enacted. Alongside the historic relics of the monarchy with Papal gifts of relics and Patriarchally consecrated Chrism this has the potential to be the most sacrosanct coronation since the sixteenth century.
The website of the Church in Wales has a description of the new Cross, with pictures of today’s service in Llandudno at which it was blessed by the Archbishop of Wales. The report also has statements about the gift from the Archbishop of Wales and the Archbishop of Cardiff - Bishop of Menevia and can be accessed at The Cross of Wales will lead Coronation procession
There are other reports about the Cross from the BBC News website at Coronation cross will include 'crucifixion relics' and from STV at King’s coronation procession to be led by cross containing relics gifted by Pope
What they do not mention is that whilst not a direct replacement the new Cross does rather more than suggest a spiritual and symbolic link with the famed Cross Neith, Y Groes Naid, which was the greatest treasure of the later Princes of Gwynedd of the House of Aberffaw.
It was kept at the Cistercian abbey of Aberconwy which was removed to a new site at Maenon by King Edward I and the original site taken over by his new castle and town of Conwy. Part of the old abbey church appears to be incorporated in the present parish church of Conwy. Llandudno where the new Cross was blessed today at the beginning of the meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales is very close indeed to the old, last Welsh, home of the Cross Neith.
Taken by King Edward I in 1283 to London and moved to St George’s Windsor in 1352 by King Edward III, it disappeared under King Edward VI. However the niche in which it was exhibited in the south choir aisle at St George’s and a panel showing King Edward IV and Bishop Beauchamp of Salisbury kneeling before it is nearby. In those years of the rebuilding of the Garter Chapel the King appears to have been conciously augmenting the relic collection gathered around it at Windsor.
The hope of some in Wales that the Cross had survived is, I am sure, regrettably unlikely, but the new piece is resonant of what once existed. Whilst not a named replacement, as the English regalia were in 1661, it is at least an implied acknowledgment of an object that once existed, one whose essence was a statement about the place of Christianity in the life of the Principality, and that statement can be made afresh, with echoes of the past.
I have posted before, in 2013, about the history of the medieval relic in Cross Neith - Y Groes Naid
The account from the St George’s Chapel website can be seen at The Cross Gneth - College of St George
Wikipedia has relevant articles at Cross of Neith, at Welsh crown jewels and also at Llywelyn's coronet
Wales online has a 2013 article about the Cross at Missing golden cross melted away from the public view
 |
The depictions of the Cross at Windsor are the only ones to survive as an indivcation of its appearance. King Edward IV is the 16x great grandfather of King Charles III.
Image: The Review
No comments:
Post a Comment