HEXAB2099

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The Hexham Chalice

chalice | metalwork

metal

The Saxon chalice
This ancient and beautiful chalice is a symbol
of the faith that has inspired people to worship
here for over 1300 years. In the bread and wine
of Holy Communion, God's love for the world,
shown in the life of Jesus, is remembered
and celebrated.
The copper-gilt chalice was discovered in 1860
during excavations inside the Abbey and is about
a thousand years old. It was designed to be
portable so that the priests could travel away
from the church to lead services.

Small chalice with hemispherical bowl, part hemispherical base and bulging stem with bead ring at upper end.

pre-conquest

“In 1860 a Small copper-gilt burial chalice was found beneath the floor of the transept. It was preserved by the late Dr Charlton of Newcastle, but is now in the possession of the Rev. Walker Featherstonhaugh, Rector of Edmundbyers. It is noticed in ‘Archæologia Æliana,’ vol.v, pp170–1.” [C C Hodges 1888 Monograph p.62; see 1^st URL link below]
1890: “Exhibited: By the Revd W Featherstonhaugh a small copper gilt grave-chalice, discovered in 1860 in the north transept of Hexham priory church, on the breast of a skeleton. Mr Featherstonhaugh thus wrote to the Antiquary some time ago concerning it (vol.iv, p.37):—‘I have in my possession a miniature chalice found on the breast of, no doubt, a priest, buried in a stone coffin in the north transept of the abbey church of Hexham in Northumberland. It is of copper about ¹⁄₁₆ of an inch thick, and has been strongly gilt, a great part of the gilding still remaining. Total height 2½ in., diameter of bowl the same. The bowl is hemispherical, 1¼ in. high, including beaded ring round its base; the stem spherical, ⅝ of an inch; the foot a segment of a sphere also, ¾ of an inch, flattened out ⅛ of an inch at the bottom. This very interesting relic came to light during a ‘restoration’ of the abbey in 1860, when, alas! much that was ‘old’ was swept away, and much that is new was badly done.’ Mr Featherstonhaugh bought the object (which he agreed to deposit for the present in the Black Gate museum) at the sale of the late Dr Charlton's effects.” [Proc.Soc.Ant.Ncle 1890 Vol.IV No.28 p.278]
1891–2: “A Bronze Grave-Chalice from Hexham Priory Church by Wilfred Cripps CB [read on 29Apr1891] 3 photographs & Description of the Chalice by C C Hodges: The chalice measures 2 ⁹⁄₁₆ inches in height: the diameter of the bowl is 2 ⁵⁄₁₆ inches, and that of the foot 2 ⅛ inches. It weighs 3·235 ounces troy. It is made of bronze, and is composed of four pieces. The bowl, the foot, the stem, and a band of bead ornament where the bowl joins the stem. …” [Archæologia Æliana Series 2 Vol 15 pp192–3; see 2^nd URL link below]
1957: The British Museum has recently had for examination and cleaning the gilt-bronze portable chalice (about 3 in. high) found at Hexham, Northumberland, in the second half of the last century. It was given to Hexham Abbey some 50 years ago. and until lately was kept in a safe there. It was formerly thought to be Romanesque, but is now seen to be Anglo-Saxon, of any date between the seventh and tenth centuries. It has been returned to Hexham. where it is now to be on view. [The Times 07/03/1957]
1957: Note by A G Hardie (Rector of Hexham 1944–1962) published in Archæologia Æliana Series 4 Vol 35 pp284–285 [see last URL link below]
1967: Exhibited as No.35 in The Monastic arts of Northumbria [HEXAB5166.1]
1996: “The Saxon Chalice, Spital cross-shaft, and two imposts were lent for an exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery.” [Churchwardens Record HEXAB9535 p75]
2008: The following printed notice was displayed in the Abbey: ‘The Saxon Chalice has been removed for conservation work and following that will be on loan to The Goldsmiths’ Company in London for an exhibition entitled “Sacred Silver from the English Church” running from 30^th May – 12^th July. What you see before you is a full sized replica of the Chalice.
2012: “Currently located in a South choir aisle special display case, it will be moved to a central aisle location in the exhibition housed in a secure purpose-designed case. This 10^thC communion chalice is spiritually and
archæologically important and will have special display attention being at the centre of an exhibition about Hexham people, who form a continuous Eucharistic community down the centuries gathered around the chalice. [Hexham Abbey collection faculty document.pdf, §1]
2014, October: moved from small display case in niche in S wall of chancel S aisle to new large case in Monastic Workshop; substituted in niche by replica HEXAB2059; another replica is HEXAB2030.5.

approx. H 65 | dia. 60

on display | in new central display case

Visitor Centre/Monastic Workshop

Kirby 1974 Pl.XXIXa
EP 184/162 (16 Feb. 1957) Letter from British Museum re Saxon Chalice. With subsequent letter, 13 December 1965 and typescript note re Chalice, n.d.
1967. Loan of Saxon chalice and other items to the Arts Council for exhibition in Middlesbrough and Cardiff. Faculty reg. no.3. Faculty no.2510, 6.9.1967. NRO EP.184/80.
Faculty no.5930: 2008, 17 April. 1. To loan the Anglo-Saxon chalice for the exhibition “Sacred Silver from the English Church” summer 2008; to undertake work on the green deposit on the chalice; all in accordance with the letter of Mr Colin Dallison of 23^rd November 2007, the associated Statement of Needs, the letter and attachment of The Goldsmiths' Company of 3^rd September 2007 describing the exhibition, and the letter of The Institute of Conservation of 8^th November 2007, photo of chalice also supplied. PROVIDED THAT:— (a) the display case in Hexham Abbey is improved to museum-standard for the return of the chalice. (b) the use of Incralac should be replaced with micro-crystalline as referred to in a letter of 31^st March 2008 from the Council of the Care of Churches to Mr C Dallison. … Completion due by 16 Apr 2009. Completed August 2008.