The Grail Boat (2010)

The Grail Boat (2010) is displayed at St Nicholas’ Church in Liverpool. It is amongst Greg Tricker's most interesting sculptures and is carved from 500-year-old English oak. An explanation of the piece is given from art expert, Sister Wendy:

‘In 1190, Robert de Baron recorded the tale of Joseph of Arimathea and his journey to Glastonbury. After Christ's death, the legend continues that Joseph of Arimathea received the Holy Grail, which sustained him during a lengthy imprisonment in Jerusalem. Upon his release, angels directed Joseph to travel westward with the Grail until he found a place where his staff, when planted in the ground would flower: this would be the Grail's home. Alongside his sister, his brother-in-law, Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleopas, and Mary the Egyptian, Joseph of Arimathea sailed across the Mediterranean to France, landing in Marseilles, travelling through Vezelay, and to Chartres, which this small band of early Christians dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.’

‘Joseph and his companions then crossed the channel to England, and finally reached Glastonbury in Somerset, which was at the time an island within the Great British Isles. There, Joseph planted his staff, which flowered. Today, a rare thorn bush, otherwise unknown in Great Britain but common in the Middle East, can still be seen at Glastonbury, where it supposedly had grown out of the spot in which Joseph's staff was planted. Many traditions also surround Chalice Well in Glastonbury, in which the Grail cup is said to have been hidden.’ 

I find this hard to believe, though it certainly proved a useful source of revenue for the monks of Glastonbury and assisted with the development of English nationalism. Yet there is a sense in which we Christians are travelling in a boat, one that looks weak and poorly built, bobbing about on a rough ocean, each wave likely to sweep us away and destroy our little vessel. Sometimes the seas seem unnaturally hostile, with other ships in the waters, representing each religion, philosophy and world view, their captains and crew urging us to abandon our vessel and jump ship. 

But with Jesus in the boat, we can smile at the storm.

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:40-41, NKJV

A  D