Holy Trinity Church, Casterton

Holy Trinity in the Cumbrian village of Casterton is a typically English parish church from the 1830s constructed in an Early English style, something shy of full-blown gothic. Its internals are characterised by large, colourful wall paintings, in that typically late Victorian style, and not unlike Burne-Jones’ manner, but by Clarke and the socialist Holiday.

I am not an avid fan of artwork in sanctuaries designed for the worship of God. We behold His beauty by the eye of faith as described by the reading and hearing of scripture. Nevertheless, Casterton’s pictures are pleasant to behold and offer an interpretation of various Biblical scenes, even if the subjects seem rather overdressed and somewhat theatrical.

Images, impressions, pictures and representations, even ones we hold in our mind, may not be accurate. Artistic images are unlikely to become actual idols to someone of reasonable intelligence and spiritual awareness, but we must mind the artists’ fixations and biases. Reading about God and the faith’s heroes in the Good Book is a far better occupation than feeding off other men’s plates, even if it does make for plainer churches and whitewashed walls.