Misericord

Today's the day ......................... to look at the wood

There are eight misericords in Blackburn Cathedral dating from the 15th century. In case you don't know - a misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.

Prayers in the early medieval church were said standing with uplifted hands. Those who were old or infirm could use crutches or, as time went on, misericordia (literally "act of mercy"). Like most other medieval woodwork in churches, they were usually carved with skill and often show detailed scenes even though they lie hidden underneath the seats.

These ones are believed to have originated at Whalley Abbey, about 10 miles away. This could mean that they were removed to a builder's yard after the Dissolution and lay unused for some 300 years before being installed in the new cathedral.