@drowenemmerson: St John the Baptist in Clayton features some of the oldest, most remarkable medieval wall paintings in England. Dating from around the late 11th or early 12th century, they include a striking depiction of Christ in Majesty seated within a mandorla, surrounded by angels and apostles, forming an early and powerful vision of the Last Judgement. The church itself is a wonderful survival of Norman architecture, its simple form providing a truly perfect setting for these extraordinary paintings. The wall paintings were uncovered between 1893 and 1895, when layers of post-Reformation whitewash were carefully removed. Further fragments came to light during additional work carried out between 1917 and 1919. Pevsner judged them to be “unique in England for their extent, preservation and date”, noting that the figures are “extremely long and lean, with heavy garments, exceedingly small heads, and strange headgear.” It’s such an accurate description, and it chimes well with the current consensus that they have a strong Byzantine influence in their style and form. I’ve only had the pleasure of seeing these majestic paintings once, but they’ve stayed with me. They’re part of the celebrated ‘Lewes Group’, a reputedly remarkable series of Romanesque wall paintings found in just four surviving Sussex churches. I’ll soon be visiting all four examples, and I can’t wait to them with you! #Romanesque #MedievalArt #MedievalChurches #church #WallPaintings

@DrOwenEmmerson

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Friday 03 July 2026 17:48:04 GMT