A curious one, this. We were looking through some old postcards (from the 1930s) and came across one with a picture of this church interior. Where’s that? Well, it turns out that it is just off the motorway on our journey between Bristol and Liverpool. A remarkable mosaic interior from the 1920s, modelled on originals in Ravenna. I don’t think it is widely known, and Droitwich isn’t known for anything much. I took a bunch of pictures, so scroll on Flickr for the others.
{ 10 comments }
Ingrid Robeyns 01.05.25 at 1:01 pm
Yes, definitely worthwhile to go to Flrickr so as to make these pictures as large as your screen allows for. Stunning! Must be also very interesting to see how the sunlight affects the colours of the mosaics.
Alan White 01.06.25 at 1:25 am
Beautifully complex. This has t0o be Eastern Orthodox, right?
NomadUK 01.06.25 at 1:20 pm
Alan White@2: No.
https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/11/ravenna-in-united-kingdom-mosaics-of.html
Alan White 01.06.25 at 3:57 pm
NomadUK–Thank you!
Benedict 01.07.25 at 1:07 pm
The mosaic in the apse is clearly modelled on the one in the apse of the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, in what used to be the port of Ravenna (Classe is from the Latin classis, i.e. fleet). The overall structure of the nave mosaics is reminiscent of those in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, which have medallions between the columns of the arcade, and scenes of figures along the flat wall above the arcade and below the clerestory. There are no longer mosaics on the rear interior walls of either church, and I don’t know of any other Ravennese parallel of that design, except perhaps the four angels in the dome of one of the chapels of the Basilica of San Vitale.
The mosaics in Ravenna come from late antiquity, including the first half of the 5th century under the Western Empire (the mausoleum of Galla Placidia) and the 6th century. Construction of both Sant’Apollinare in Classe and San Vitale began during the period of Ostrogothic rule, but they were both completed under the Eastern Empire after Justinian’s partial reconquest (he and his empress Theodora are both depicted in the mosaics in San Vitale). Sant’Apollinare Nuovo was Theodoric’s palace chapel, and then reconsecrated under Justinian, with some changes to the mosaics to reflect the new regime and its religious views—Arian elements of the design were excised, as were representations of Theodoric and his court. You can still see a few disembodied hands sticking out in the depiction of Theodoric’s palace.
Theodora30 01.07.25 at 4:43 pm
Because I am fascinated by the development of ancient stories I listened to a podcast about the origins of the story of the wise men. The first known mention of their supposed names was in the mosaic in Ravenna.
Tm 01.07.25 at 7:26 pm
When you say “modelled” on Ravenna, you don’t mean copied I assume? These are not actual copies are they?
NomadUK 01.08.25 at 2:39 pm
Tm@7: No.
https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/11/ravenna-in-united-kingdom-mosaics-of.html
Bryn Davies 01.10.25 at 6:00 pm
Droitwich also has a French chateau (sort of) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Impney
Laban 01.10.25 at 10:19 pm
Sacred Heart in Droitwich, right? Been a few times, just down the A38 from my home town. Harvington Hall near Kidderminster is worth a visit too, old moated manor with concealed priest holes.
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