Church of England approves theft of valuable Papal gift by Scots Nats

Phil Woolas Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), and self important MP for Oldham was defending the remarks made today by Ruth Kelly about rubbing along with Muslims, and he said we cannot accept a situation where people accept that religious law replaces civil law.

The Church of England does however have courts and apply ecclesiastical law, these are the Diocesan Consistory Courts of the Church of England - whose ultimate appeal is to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ?

Whilst their arcane proceedings, often achieving front page status in the red tops due to the frolics and unbridled lust of the servants of the Lord, they can and do involve themselves in fascinating crimes.

One such crime involves the handsome and notable medieval brass eagle lectern dating from the 1490s from which has been removed / stolen several times from St Stephen's Church, St Albans.... see picture.

The 150 Kg ( 3 cwt) brass 1.6 metres ( 8 feet) high lectern or reading desk bears the inscription Georgius Creichton Episcopus Dunkeldensis - George Creichton Bishop of Dunkeld. George Creichton was abbot at Holyrood abbey from 1515 to 1522 and it is likely he presented the lectern to the Abbey on being made Bishop of Dunkeld. It apparently originated in Italy in 1498 and was gifted to Scotland by Pope Alexander VI.


It is said that this was seized on the orders of Henry VIII in the 15 th Century from Holyrood by a Richard Lee who was granted land and buildings in St Albans including St Stephen's Church. It is assumed that the lectern was placed in St Stephens at this time. A lectern described as: 'É an eagle of brass to lay the booke of martyres on.' appeared in a church inventory of 1597. A similar lectern is described in an inventory of 1638.

St Albans became a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War and the lectern disappeared after Parliament passed laws authorising the destruction of religious objects. By 1748 the lectern had somehow been returned for use, it had apparently been recovered from the Montagu family tomb in the chancel of St. Stephen's church

Scots with long memories have however been calling for a return of the lectern since 1879 - The Lord Provost of Edinburgh asked for it back and was refused by the Vicar of St. Stephen's who expressed .." utmost repugnance to parting with the Crichton lectern".

In 1972 an attempt to steal it, left the lectern lying in pieces in the church and the loss of three lions from the base - which were subsequently found and are still today, in St Stephens possession.

It did travel to Scotland briefly for an exhibition in 1982 for an exhibition "Angels, Nobles and Unicorns"- an exhibition of mediaeval Scottish art at the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland in Edinburgh which caused a lot of interest and widespread demand , that like the Elgin Marbles it be returned to the land of it's birth. (Although oroginally Italian - but don't expect consistency of thought / ideals / morals in this story)

Some body(ies) perhaps inflamed be these calls in 1984 attempted another theft and the greater part of it was (successfully ?) stolen from St Stephen's.

Lengthy and distant negotiations were held between the new holders of the lectern (said to be not unrelated to Siol nan Gaidheal, a Scottish nationalist organisation), the Church of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Museum . St Margaret's Church, Barnhill, Dundee generously offered St Stephen's church a Victorian reproduction eagle lectern to replace the one removed in 1984.

It was however stated to be the intention that the lectern would only see the light of day when a Scottish Parliament again sat in Edinburgh.

This gesture of a replacement lectern however lubricated the negotiations and in 1999 a courier anonymously delivered the (incomplete - sans Lion feet still in St Albans) lectern to Netherbow Arts Centre on Edinburgh's Royal Mile and since then negotiations have been on going to arrange a long-term loan to the National Museums of Scotland.

A consistory court was held in 2004 to attempt to finalise this long term greivance with a long-term loan - which they agreed to, effectively absolving the thieves - who under Common law were bang to rights. Speaking after the court sat, the Keeper of the National Museums of Scotland, Dr David Caldwell said, "I am very appreciative of the generosity of the Vicar and community of St Stephen's Church, St Albans and the Diocese of St Albans. This loan provides a great opportunity for the lectern to be displayed as an important piece of Scottish medieval history here in Edinburgh. However, the significant role of St Albans in the story of the lectern will not be forgotten."

The Vicar of St Stephens, The Revd David Ridgway now using a splendid replica lectern given by St Margaret's Church Dundee, said, "The lectern has had a long and turbulent history and so I am pleased that its future is now more settled. I am sure that it will make an excellent display with other church treasures in Edinburgh. "

Legally, the Church claims, it still belongs to the Church of England in St Stephen's Parish where the lions feet still reside.

However remember .."It apparently originated in Italy in 1498 and was gifted to Scotland by Pope Alexander VI." .... expect a visit from Pope Benedict any day.

Deoch-slàinte!