St Thomas' Church, Salisbury: Doom

St Thomas' Church at Salisbury in Wiltshire possesses something that would have once been common to any parish church: a doom painting. This is a depiction of the final judgement, invariably with Jesus Christ occupying a throne at the top of the chancel arch while angels welcome the righteous at their resurrection on the one hand and demons escort the wicked to the mouth of hell on the other. The one at St Thomas' was preserved, ironically, by Reformers in the reign of Elizabeth I; their whitewashing was intended to destroy it but actually preserved it until the reign of Victoria.

Particularly remarkable is the number of be-mitred and crowned heads which are being shown to hell’s door. Rather subversively, this church of merchants and townsmen is not afraid of proclaiming God’s judgement on their local bishops and king who rule over them, and not always justly.

The other notable feature is the demon’s foot (bottom left). Somehow, it is outside of the painting, resting on the church’s own masonry. He is ‘stepping out’ of the art and reminding the viewer than he is very much a part of the real world, the place which they inhabit.

I might be a Hot Prot and highly regard the sixteenth century reformation of religion, but lessons can still be learned from the old, popish artworks.

A D