Brass Lecturn

Southwell Cathedral - Brass lectern (early 16th C.) recovered at end of 18th C. from lake at Newstead Abbey where monks had thrown it at the Dissolution.

The eagle symbolized several things to early Christians. They believed that it was capable of staring into the sun and that Christians similarly were able to gaze unflinchingly at the revelation of the divine word. Also, the eagle was believed to be the bird that flew highest in the sky and nearest to heaven, symbolizing the carrying of the word of God to the four corners of the world"

The flying eagle in particular is the symbol of John the Evangelist (see Revelation, ch 4, v 7) who proclaimed Christ as 'the Word of God' at the beginning of his Gospel. Therefore, it was considered to be a suitable support for the bible from which God's word is read, hopefully reaching the ends of the earth. (Eng 11015)