2010
SU0436 : Weather cock, The Church of St. Nicholas of Mira
taken 14 years ago, near to Little Langford, Wiltshire, England
Weather cock, The Church of St. Nicholas of Mira
It was a papal edict in the 9th century that was responsible for the proliferation of weathercocks on churches. This edict required every Church in Christendom to be mounted by a cockerel. This symbol was to recall Peter's betrayal of Christ (LUKE 22:34) "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me". Although only the symbol of the cockerel was required by the edict, the motif, it seems, was quickly wedded with the weathervane. By the 13th century the word for weathercock (gallum) and weathervane (ventrologium) had become interchangeable. Interestingly, early weathercocks did not include cardinal letters, as Christian churches always lay east to west.
For a view of the church
SU0436 : St Nicholas Church, Little Langford
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