The Four Winds

The Burrow Carvings are a group of carved stones, which were probably part of a third-century mausoleum, temple or shrine, and are now displayed at Lancaster's City Museum.

This group of sculptures, which is unique in this country, was found during the building of the canal south of Lancaster, near Burrow Heights, in 1794. The main Roman road into Lancaster passed close by. The heads may represent the four winds or even the four seasons and the standing figure the deceased. They may well have been painted, while the lions are similar to a group of lions and stags from a shrine at Shorden Brae in Northumberland.

'The Four Winds' is a curious expression, used not infrequently in the scriptures, and usually in an eschatological or apocalyptic ('end-times') context. For example, the phrase occurs in Daniel (thrice), Ezekiel, Zechariah and Revelation. Its occurrence in the gospels in found in Mark 13 and Matthew 24, when the Lord is speaking of hectic times to come:

And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. Mark 13:27

God’s people, no matter how remotely located or how few and far between, will not be ignored when the Lord comes for them. Whether northern or southern, eastern or western, earth-bound or heavenward, the Lord knows who are His, and He will not forget His own.

Even so! Come, Lord Jesus!