Prologue

The illustrations of the of The Legend of the Cross in the chancel of the Guild Chapel do not begin with the earliest events included in the story i.e the Fall of Adam.

When Adam was about to die he sent his son, Seth, to the gates of Paradise. Whilst there Seth received a vision of the new born Child in a tree and is instructed by an angel to take up the seeds from the apple eaten by his father and that the seeds should be placed in his Adam's mouth before he is buried. The shoots that grew were taken up by Moses and planted on Mount Tabor where they remained until they were taken up and replanted by King David who moved them to Jerusalem where they grew rapidly and became a single tree. This tree was cut down to be made into a beam for the temple, but because it would not fit properly it was rejected although it remained on the building site where it was venerated. It is from this point that the wall paintings take up the story.

The Queen of Sheba

Solomon is shown on the right, his name inscribed on the hem of his garment, with the Queen of Sheba on the left, her hands joined in veneration. The beam which has been moved from the temple has been placed over a brook lies between the Queen and Solomon. The beam has been cast out of the temple into Piscina Probatca, a pond which because of the presence of the beam is discovered to have healing powers. The beam was then taken out of the pond and placed over the brook of Siloah. It is here that the queen encounters and venerates the beam which will later become the cross on which Christ is crucified.

Constantine's Vision of the Cross and Victory

Below Sheba and Solomon is a painting showing Constantine's victory over Maxentius. In the top corner of the painting is an insert which references Constantine's vision of the cross and his premonition of victory.