Spend enough time around clergy and other churchy folk and someone will inevitably come out with that quotation from St Francis. Indeed, it has become rather clichéd and, like many of these saintly sayings, there is scant evidence to prove that the words were in fact uttered. Yet we continue to repeat them because in some way, they manage to encapsulate a truth that is worth repeating. In this case, St Francis is reputed to have said something along the lines of:
"Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."
For the past fortnight, I set up a miniature studio (a.k.a. a table with a good light!) in the Church of St John the Baptist, located in the market place of Cirencester. This "artist residency" was my first such undertaking and I wasn't quite sure what would happen, save for some vague thought that visitors to the church might be interested in what I was doing and would enjoy seeing a display of icons. I anticipated that I would get a bit of painting done while also being available for anyone who wished to ask a question.
As it turned out, I got far more painting done than I had anticipated, separated as I was from the distractions of home-based working. Even better, I received an abundance of questions and opportunities for genuine engagement with those visiting the church. And one of the questions I was asked most often was about how I came to be an iconographer, what had prompted me to take this particular (and unusual) path.
You see, I didn't have a particularly artistic background. I hadn't attended art school as many supposed. I enjoyed creative hobbies but they were afforded little time once I began my professional career as a City lawyer. Making art didn't get much of my attention at all until I went to theological college to train for the priesthood. You see, studying for a Masters in Theology guarantees that you will spend a lot of time reading - and I mean A LOT. Immediately, I was immersed in centuries of written theology as writers from the Patristic era to the present day sought to explain for us the Christian faith, the way we should understand the Scriptures, and the development of the Church. I could read and understand their words without any difficulty (for the most part!) but they left me feeling empty. I was bored. "Surely," I thought to myself, "there must be other ways of expressing what we believe." And what about all those who don't have the time, ability or desire to delve so deeply into these texts? In an attempt to spice things up a bit, I began to explore the inter-relationship of faith with science, with popular literature, and with music. I looked towards scientific images to explain theological principles and began to explore the many symbols of Christianity in order to develop a visual language with which I could depict in a single image what the theologians were writing tomes to explain. You don't need to be able to understand theological argument or to read at all to look at a picture. A module studying the Biblical book of Acts then gave me the opportunity to push my ideas of this visual theology further, and I decided to paint a painting to illustrate my analysis of the text. (I am still grateful to my tutors who allowed me to follow this unorthodox approach!)
The Birth of the Church (acrylic on canvas)
It wasn't long before my experiments with using gold in my work to represent the Divine led me to explore the tradition of iconography. I discovered that within these ancient icons was a whole visual theology of the Christian faith and spiritual life. I became convinced more than ever that today's Church, existing as it does in a contemporary society dominated by image, needed to rediscover the power of images to communicate the faith. We live in a world of sound-bites and tweets (what does one call posts on X now?), where lectures and thirty-minute sermons speak mostly to older generations. Just as ordained ministers are invited in the liturgy of ordination and each time they are licensed to "proclaim the Gospel afresh in every generation", so my determination to represent the faith in visual form became an essential part of my priesthood and ministry.
Perhaps, therefore, my experience at Cirencester parish church simply proves St Francis' point. Over the two weeks, I had conversations with people of all ages from around the world. We talked about the lives of particular saints and how they inspire us. We talked about people's journey of faith (or lack of it). We talked about the mindfulness and peace that comes from artistic endeavour and the spiritual peace people felt (often beyond their ability to explain it) simply from looking at the icons. I have received messages of thanks from families whose children have gone home and spent the afternoon drawing, inspired by seeing me painting. I was asked to pray for specific challenges people were facing. And time and again, I was asked to share my story of how God has been at work in my life, calling me to ordained ministry and to be an iconographer. How many of those conversations would have happened if I had simply sat in the church wearing my clerical collar and greeted visitors, we cannot be sure. However, that through painting icons in the sight of all who passed by I was given an opportunity to exercise my priesthood and to share the faith by which I live, I have no doubt. Thanks be to God.
I leave you, therefore, with St Francis' challenge once again. How do you preach the faith without words?
News
I am excited to be preparing for the three-day retreat at Launde Abbey in a couple of weeks'time. It has proved to be so popular that they increased the numbers twice from what was originally planned. No pressure!
Otherwise, I am getting on with a number of commissions that should see me through to the end of the year. If you are interested in commissioning an icon for 2025, do get in touch to book your place on my list. Prices start from £170.
If you enjoy reading my blog and wish to support my ministry in a practical way, I have set up a page with "Buy me a coffee". This website, designed with creatives in mind, recognises that a whole load of my time goes into maintaining a website, keeping up with social media and writing blog posts, time that is not then available for income-generating work. Given that my passion for good coffee comes not very far behind my love for God and art (!), if you feel so inclined, you can click here to make a donation towards my ongoing ministry (but without any obligation to do so).
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