ST8437 : St Mary the Virgin, Kingston Deverill: banner
taken 9 years ago, near to Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire, England


Taken from the French word “banniere” and late Latin bandum, banners are defined as a cloth out of which a flag is made. Church banners have a history literally rooted in scripture.
“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples: he will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel" Isaiah 11:10-12
Ancient church banners served as a visible reminder of a community's identify. It was at the head of the "Beating the Bounds", an annual procession around the whole parish boundary. Today church banners often combine the Word of God with picturesque landscapes and creative designs to encourage and inspire.