The Invention of The Cross

The two scenes together in the upper tier of the centre of the north wall of the chancel depict the setting out of St.Helena's expedition to find the Cross (on the left) and then the discovery of the cross in the scene on the right. The scene on the right depicts St.Helena's arrival in Jerusalem and her successful efforts to Judas Cyriacus to reveal the location of the Cross. Judas is shown stepping out from a pit in the lower left of the scene with jailer holding a key above him. The two musicians who stretch across both scenes are to provide musical accompaniment for the discovery of the Cross.

The Testing and Veneration of The Cross

Once found, the crosses are tested to see which was the one used to crucify Christ. The test involved placing crosses on a young "made" [sic] that has died. Although Caxton makes reference to the dead being a young man the painting clearly shows a woman. The true cross brings the person, whose parents are standing behind, miraculously back to life. The second image, on the right, although badly damaged at the time of recording shows St. Helena (identifiable by the portion of her crown that is just visible) holding aloft the true Cross upon her entry into the church in Constantinople. St. Helena is also shown in the right of the image with a Bishop venerating another cross. The musicians in the top left are heralding St. Helena's triumphant entrance.

These scenes conclude the narrative of the Invention of the Cross, which was celebrated on May 3rd. the remaining paintings which depict the Legend of the Cross are based on the story of the Exaltation of the Cross which was celebrated on September 14th. Both these festivals were important in the civic life of Stratford and the Guild of the Holy Cross.