THE OLD - Old Wirral.com

OLD WOOD-CARVINGS IN WIRRAL CHURCHES
which remain at Lower Bebington are
reminiscent of monastic days. They date
from the first half of the xvth century,
though they have suffered a certain
amount of reconstruction, the capping
being modern. These three stalls belong
to the class known as '' misericords."
The history of misericords is a very
interesting one. In the primitive
churches the chief posture permissible during
the services was that of standing, and
at prayer they stood with uplifted hands.
Even when the custom of kneeling at
prayer was introduced, sitting was forbidden
in church. But this practice bore
hardly upon the old and enfeebled. A
monk in mediaeval times spent a great part
of each day in worship. Seven offices had
to be recited daily : Matins with Lauds,
Prime, Tierce, Sect, Nones, Vespers, and
Compline ; and, in addition to these, there
was at any monastic cathedral or collegiate
church the celebration of High Mass, at
which the whole community had to be
present. Especially did the Sanguinati
find the task of standing so long beyond
their strength. These were monks who
had recently had their blood let, a routine
monastic discipline. So some relaxation
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