I went to Ely Cathedral on Wednesday, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I wanted to receive Holy Communion in the Cathedral that day, but also wanted to take a few photographs, some of which you’ll see here in the coming weeks. One particular photo I wanted was the one I’m using for this week’s Friday Foto.
This is a magnificent sculpture called ‘The Way of Life‘ by Jonathan Clarke. Like the journey of faith, its path is irregular and unpredictable; and just as the journey is sometimes hard, sometimes joyful, the surface texture and colour also vary.
It’s a huge sculpture on the wall of the North West Transept. With my little camera, and the need to take the picture while standing on the floor, it was impossible to get a photo that didn’t make it look as though it was falling over (converging verticals): so I have straightened things up a bit in Fireworks. I’m quite pleased with the end result.
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
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Good photo Paul of a very powerful image – the winding way that leads to Christ. It stands of course above the labyrinth in the Cathedral floor that was used of old for devotional practice, walking it slowly, meditating on life’s twists and turns, but with a sure destination.
Thank you Bishop David, and welcome to the blog.
I walked over the labyrinth no end of times before I realized it wasn’t just a patterned floor. But have walked it prayerfully several times since realizing it was there. Labyrinth’s seem to be making a come-back as a devotional practice. I’ve always found it to be a great aid to my prayer life.
Have you discovered the turf maze in Hilton since your arrival in the diocese? It’s called a maze, but is in reality a labyrinth with just the single path to follow.
Wow. What a powerful image. I find myself wishing that I had something like it in miniature, perhaps as a pendant to serve as a reminder of the life of faith.
I’ve been wanting to add a picture of this sculpture for quite a while, but hadn’t been able to get to the cathedral when the light would allow a photo to be taken on my little camera. It’s pretty incredible.
The cathedral gift shop did have some pieces for sale, but it looks as though many of them have sold out now. It appears they may still have some stock of a pendant. The current exchange rate, and postage rates, may well make it far too expensive for you to think about buying one. But here’s a link to the page to have a look at: Ely Cathedral Shop.
Man, oh, man. That is amazingly beautiful, and you took a good photo of it, to boot! Before I read it, I had the opposite impression: of the blood of Christ, a stream of forgiveness, flowing down from the cross… I guess it could be interpreted both ways.
Thanks Tom.
That’s an interesting interpretation of the sculpture. I wonder if the artist had any thoughts along those lines. It certainly works like that, especially if you scroll down from the cross, rather than up from the base.
I wonder if I can create a pendant out of that!?!
*creative juices flow*
It would be good to try something like that Bec.