Church of St Mary, Wylie

The Church of St Mary the Virgin in the Wiltshire village of Wylie is part of the Anglican diocese of Salisbury. It seems to be a very typical village church, with peculiar tombs, an ancient font and beautiful, well cared-for grounds.

It was the pulpit which stood out to me. Very obviously seventeenth-century on account of its dark wood and panels, it has angelic faces carved into it, peering out. For an age in which even moderate Anglicans disapproved of Roman Catholicism and feared a return to its statues and images, it seems odd that carved a head or face on a pulpit was thought acceptable. Dating to 1628 when the Reformation and burning Protestant flesh might still have been a living memory to some, the angels of Wylie were not deemed to be a threat or snare back to popery.

Perhaps its carvers and sermon-hearers were familiar with 1 Peter 1:12, which states:

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Angels, who are hyper-intelligent and well-informed, can surely learn nothing from fallen humans. Yet the Apostle indicates that such beings take an interest in gospel preaching and prophetic fulfilment. As we might have a fascination with them, so they have a curiosity about us, and the peculiar plans our God has for His redeemed. We at Salem Chapel in the internet age sometimes marvel at the numbers of hearers our uploaded sermons attract from the nations of the world, but what if angelic beings were paying attention too, scribbling notes, occasionally nodding, sometimes rolling eyes?

Angels, help us to adore Him;
ye behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!

-H.F. Lyte, 1834