The Cross-Legged Effigy in Context: Myth and Legend

The Church Monuments Society is for everyone who is fascinated by tomb carvings, from medieval effigies to modern gravestones. We organise excursions and study days, publish a journal and a newsletter, and advise on conservation and interpretation of monuments.

Church Monuments Society

A talk about cross-legged effigies of medieval knights, by Mr Mark Downing, President of the Church Monuments Society.

Part of the April-May 2021 mini-series of lectures providing an introduction to the Church Monuments Society.<h2>Description</h2>Many churches across England and Wales contain knights&#x27; effigies which have their legs crossed. This talk explores the iconography of the so-called “Crusader Knight” from their first appearance in Medieval church art up to when fashions reformed a new image for the knight.Mr Mark Downing has studied Medieval effigies for the past 30 years and has published a nine-volume catalogue of all the military effigies in England and Wales dating up to 1500. He has also published books on Lincolnshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. He has sat on the Church Monuments Society council since 1997 and is its current President.<h2>Event Information</h2>This online talk is FREE to all and will take place on Zoom. Places must be booked via Eventbrite. This is the third in a series of online talks April-May 2021 that aims to provide an introduction to the Church Monuments Society.<h2>Guidelines and handy Zoom hints</h2>Before the event:•	Please ensure you have already downloaded and installed Zoom to the device you wish to use. Read their guide if you are unsure about how to do this ( https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115004954946-Joining-and-participating-in-a-webinar-attendee- )•	Make sure you have registered via Eventbrite using your correct email address (or you will not receive the joining instructions).•	We will email the access link to you via Eventbrite shortly before the event begins.•	Please ensure that Eventbrite is on your safe-senders list and check your Spam/Junk inbox for our communications if you cannot see them.During the webinar:•	Please remain muted throughout.•	The talk will last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by questions.•	You are welcome to use the Chat box to contact panellists.•	Send formal questions for the speaker using the Q&amp;A function so that they are easily identifiable. These can then be put to the speaker by one of our event coordinators.•	The session may be recorded by the Church Monuments Society. Screenshots and/or recording by participants is not permitted for copyright reasons.•	The host can remove attendees from the webinar.•	If you experience technical difficulties, contact panellists using the chat function. We will do our best to help.•	Enjoy the talk!Image Credits: Mark Downing FSA

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The Cross-Legged Effigy in Context: Myth and Legend

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The Cross-Legged Effigy in Context: Myth and Legend

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Annual All Hallows Lecture 2026 - Dr Elizabeth Blood on Frederick B Burgess

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