Replica of the Coombes Crucifix

The damaged 13^th century Coombes Crucifix was found in the churchyard in 1877 during the digging of a grave. It was made at Limoges in France about 1200 and perhaps brought to Coombes by a returning pilgrim. A further guess is that the figure was intended on a new nave altar situated where the pulpit now stands.

In the new religious climate of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, when the Coombes Wall paintings were whitewashed out of sight, religious work of the medieval era was often at risk. At some point the Crucifix was either hidden, or thrown out, into the church yard. It is a rare survival.

Christ’s body was fashioned from copper, enamelled, and embellished with gold; one pierced foot remains marked by a red gemstone. The figure of the crucified, but also crowned, figure of Christ the King presents us, as it did medieval people, with a vision of both suffering and hope.

The original Crucifix is now displayed in the Treasury at Chichester Cathedral.

A post card of the original is for sale by the church door.

The replica crucifix was blessed by Archdeacon Luke Irvine-Capel on Rogation Sunday (5 May 2024).

Pictured with Archdeacon Luke is Robin Reeve, former Churchwarden of Coombes.