There are two lovely examples of Medieval ship graffiti on Hayling Island
In the church of St Mary’s Hayling Island are two fine examples of Medieval ship graffiti. For those of us (myself included) who know little to nothing about ‘ship graffiti’ it might seem surprising to see images of ships carved into the ancient stone of our churches.
The fact that there are hundreds of these ship images up and down the country may be even more surprising and then to find out that such graffiti is not found just in churches close to the sea but many miles inland may seem stranger still. Turning to Matthew Champion’s book ‘Medieval Graffiti’ to guide what the observer is seeing, the images found at Hayling begin to reveal themselves.
To be able to see the images more clearly a technique of raking light is used. The light is held at an oblique angle to the surface and reveals the textures of the surface and the image appears in relief so what you see here is not how the image appears to the naked eye. The images can be found on the large column in the south aisle. They are approximately 11cm tall.
Ship Graffiti Hayling Island
Ship Graffiti Hayling Island 2nd example.
Why are there images of ships in our churches?
It would seem quite logical to assume that the ships were drawn by sailors or their families to act as some kind of protection for them whilst they are at sea but as Matthew Champion tells us the evidence collected from hundreds of examples might suggest that such an interpretation is too simplistic and that the data shows us that the images all seem to be quite similar and so I thought I’d look in detail at the Hayling examples to see if they fitted what others report. Obviously Hayling is by the sea so if we go looking for ship graffiti it’s a good place to start.
There is a relationship between the idea of the church as a ship, the ‘nave’ from the Latin term ‘navis’ meaning ship or vessel. Many illusions to the church steering a path whilst those who oversee the church as being commanders. Maybe we have forgotten the importance of ships to this island nation, to trade and good fortune? Model ships were also often presented to the church and can be seen hanging in the aisles and I was reminded of several seen in Hampshire, one at Warsash the other more obviously displayed in Portsmouth Cathedral. These are more modern ships but Matthew Champion relates that church ships were a common thing in the Medieval church but the majority were of course lost during the reformation. There is much, much more to be considered regarding ship graffiti so here are some articles from far more learned people on the subject.
Ship Graffiti – the Norfolk Medieval Graffiti Survey
Past Horizons. Ship Graffiti in Medieval Churches – an article by Matthew Champion
The ship that hangs in Warash church
Looking for common features.
- The images are quite crudely drawn, the ship drawn as an outline.
Both of the Hayling images are crudely drawn one more so than the other.
- The ship is drawn in profile showing the complete hull i.e the ship is not set in the water as most observers would view it. Obvious when you are told!
The two examples we have are both in profile and ‘out of the water’.
- Medieval ship graffiti shows the ship to have a single mast with a crows nest or mast head.
Both have a single mast and a crows nest is obvious on one of the images but less so on the second however a closer look reveals what appears to be a U shape at the top of the mast.
- The sails are furled with simple lines to indicate this.
Obvious on one of the images, the other less easy to make out but the rectangle running from the bow back has the short vertical lines described so with a bit of persuasion this could be a furled sail?
Detail of furled sails
- The hull is simply outlined.
Both images show the hull in simple outline but both also show the planking on the hull.
- Simple lines or cross hatching for rigging.
Both images show simple rigging lines.
- The anchors are often shown attached to the bow by a line.
No obvious sign of an anchor attached to the bow on either image from the photos taken thus far.
- Whilst many of the ships seen are simple and crudely drawn others are more elaborate.
The Hayling ships quite clearly show the planking on the ships side.
Detail of plank work
No one knows why so many churches contain ship graffiti
And it is possible there are many reasons why images of ships were carved into the stonework of our churches. It may have to do with asking for the safe passage of loved ones or the safe return of a particular ship, we maybe no longer understand the importance of ships and trade to the nation or the explanation may lie in a more ethereal idea of the ship and the mother church.
In Medieval times, St Nicholas was patron saint of those in trouble whilst upon the high seas and so maybe once upon a time the south aisle was dedicated to the saint and the images associated with the cult that grew up around the saint. Whatever the reason, we continue to record the faint remnants of something we no longer understand and give time to think about another time when such images were a very real and important part of peoples everyday lives.
