The Lady Chapel Wall painting - The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
In the southwest corner of the Lady Chapel is a medieval wall painting. It depicts the death, or the falling asleep, of the Blessed Virgin, Mary mother of Jesus. The painting dates from the 14th century and depicts Mary lying on a bier. Behind her are the apostles and our Lord. The little figure, like a baby, represents the soul of the Virgin.
Anecdote
You will notice in the corner of the Lady Chapel below the painting a closed doorway. The Purton Museum displays a wooden model of the Church which was made in Georgian times. This model shows this door still open which suggests it was closed during the 1872 restoration. The model also shows other details of the Georgian Church including the box pews and the three-tiered Pulpit.
Bible Reading
