Why do church and cathedral lecterns take the shape of an eagle? | Notes and Queries (2024)

Why do church and cathedral lecterns take theshape of an eagle?

WA Widden, Harpenden, Herts

• The Eagle is not the only bird to be employed symbolically by the Church. Interestingly, even the pelican recieves attention. The pelican is a symbol of being at peace with God and the Redeemer. It was thought to wound itself in order to feed its young with its blood and is therefore closely associated with Christ who shed his blood for humanity.

  Jon Gardner, Hammersmith England

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• In "Red Rackhams Tresure" by Hergé, Tintin realises that the treasure is not in the South Seas but in the cellar of Marlinspike Hall after seeing an eagle shaped lectern. He explains then that the lectern is so formed to denote St. John the Evangelist, who was called the "Eagle of Patmos" after the island where he spent his last days writing the Book of Revelation.

  Joe Ovey, Osnabrück, Germany

• I asked this question of my local vicar years ago. It is to represent the Word of God flying forth to the listener. It may even relate to a verse in the Bible but I don't remember. I wasn't listening too well.

  Andy Fielding, Uxbridge

• I remember being told in RE lessons, that the eagle, being a creature capable of travelling great distances, reminded us to spread the word. I have no idea if this is true.

  Dr.C Partridge, Manchester, UK

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• It is only Church of England churches that have this; and my understanding is that it is a symbolic claiming of legitimate - or at least totemic - power by the church as representative of the civilising peace (pax Romana) of the Roman Empire. All Roman civic and military buildings throughout the empire had the symbol of an eagle and SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romani - I may have my case wrong here after 30 years!) During mediaeval times, the ruling classes throughout Europe used Latin forms to legitimise almost everything.

  Lane Blume, Marrickville Australia

• The eagle is the symbol of St John the Evangelist - and the spread wings are a good shape for a lectern.

  Keith Mills, York

• The eagle is the symbol of John the Evangelist whose understanding and mastery of the words of Christ and the will of God is compared with the ability of the eagle to stare straight into the sun.

  Edward Mackay, Portsmouth Europe

• The eagle is a symbol of the fourth evangelist, John, and presumably became associated with his gospel because of the many links between "the Word of God" of which he writes (made flesh in Christ, made real in preaching) and the Bible as being, almost literally, God's word. The eagle soars upwards; it is strong, direct in its flight and inspiring in its over-arching majesty. Just like good public reading of scripture or oratory!There are 32 references to eagles in the Bible, all but four of them in the Old Testament, and most of them positive. According to Isaiah: "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength (and) mount up with wings like eagles"; and Psalm 103 blesses the Lord "who satisfies you with good... so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."Symbols of Church Seasons and Days, by John Bradner, states: "The eagle is depicted on some old fonts. In some cases this may be intended to show that the eagle, like the Spirit, renews the life of the baptised Christian, just as, according to legend, this bird was supposed to renew its youth by flying near the sun and then plunging into water."The eagle is also one of the four "living creatures" around God's throne, according to Revelation 4:7. As early as the second century (CE), these four creatures had been linked to the four gospels (the other three being, respectively, Mark, Luke and Matthew), while also becoming symbols of four events in the life of Christ - the Nativity (man), his sacrificial death (ox), the Resurrection (lion) and the Ascension - represented by a flying eagle. Occasionally, an eagle is used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit, but usually the more gentle dove is employed. For lectern purposes, however, an eagle certainly has bigger wings than a dove on which to rest large books!

  Rev Alec Mitchell, Mossley, Lancs

• Because the eagle is a bird of pray.

  Sean Connor, Beckenham, Kent

• There are exceptions. The most notable being Wednesbury parish church in Staffordshire. The lectern, reputedly older than The Reformation, is in the form of a gilded fighting co*ck. It is perhaps not surprising that Wednesbury, together with Walsall and Bloxwich, was famous in the Black Country for co*ck-fighting.

  Derek Warner, Chorley, Lancs

• Geograpically the Chhristian nations of Europe are shaped like an eagle. Which Denmark for it's head and England the right wing and Russia as the left. Greece and Italy which give us our Greek and Latin base are the two feet.(one foot and one eagle's claw)The shape of Europe geographically was also the inspiration for the German flag. There is so much more to see and realize about these things!

  Daniel b, Grand Forks Canada