DON’T LET ICONS BE BYGONES!

Image of the Porch at St Andrew's

SAINT LEWINNA MEMORIAL ICON APPEAL UPDATE

Please forgive the cheesy title but we think it does carry a message. Many of us have become so overwhelmed by the modern ‘icons’ of celebrity, film, TV, YouTube, etc., that we barely remember or care what the word ‘icon’ actually means or once meant, particularly in its Christian context, purpose and association. We may not know where the word originally comes from. Some of us would be forgiven for believing a certain Bill Gates invented it when he made those little pictures for our computer screens. It is of course an ancient word. This fact may also explain why its use in our modern, digital age has become so widespread – obscuring its intentionally deeper spiritual purpose and meaning .

Besides telling us that the word ‘icon’ derives from the Greek word eikṓn, Wikipedia explains the word as referring to: “An image, symbol, picture, portrait, or other representation, usually… an object of religious devotion.”

It’s not that it's wrong to use the word to describe a cultural figure of renown such as a film star, popular music artist or an object of cultural importance; just that its Christian religious use and significance in association with Christ and His Saints has been overshadowed, possibly overlooked or even forgotten: its mystical teaching, meaning and message lost to the ‘mists of time’.

So, for those of us in our Benefice involved with the Saint Lewinna Project, it has been an absolute joy and a heartwarming delight to see so many wonderful folk from within our churches and the wider communities of Seaford, Bishopstone and beyond eager to show their enthusiasm, support and generosity for our planned commissioning of an icon of Saint Lewinna by donating to our Icon Appeal. They have recognised the historical and religious importance of restoring her memory in this most fitting and tangible of ways; to be memorialised and commemorated in sacred fine art in a solid linden-wood ‘ark’ (‘ark’ being the special recessed panel face of an icon board onto which the image is painted, or as it is described in the traditional language of iconography: ‘written’.) Their generous support means that Saint Lewinna can be brought home to St Andrew’s Church, Bishopstone – the probable location of her original resting place and shrine before her relics were stolen in 1058 and taken to Flanders.

There’s still time to take part in this amazing project and help us make this icon of Saint Lewinna a reality. Even if you don’t consider yourself a religious person and without any interest in religious art you would be helping to mark and celebrate a fascinating chapter of Seaford’s history for posterity.  Please visit our fundraising page at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/st-lewinna or send or drop a cheque made payable to: PCC BISHOPSTONE (marked on the reverse “SLMIA”) to the Benefice Office, St Peter's Church, 85 Belgrave Rd, East Blatchington Seaford BN25 2HE