Frank Henderson's Page on Liturgy and Medieval Women

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Space and Art

The following outline suggests a plan for studying the visibility and participation of women in the medieval liturgy. The documents that I actually prepare may or may not correspond exactly to this outline, however.

Church Buildings

	Patronage / Ownership (women alone or with husband or sons)
		Women as founders and initial patrons or later owners / patrons
		Parish churches
			Churches of communities of women
			Churches shared by communities of women and men
			Churches shared by parishes and religious communities (women, men)
		Women as founders of chapels or chantries within churches, or other chantries
		Women who had private oratories (household chapels)
		Women who owned portable altars
	Design and Construction
		Women as designers of churches and their decoration
		Women who participated in the construction of churches
		Women who contributed small amounts to construction costs
	Repair and Refurbishing
		Women contributors
	Naming
		Dedications to women saints
			Churches, chapels, altar, aisles, bells
	Consecration of Churches, Altars, Bells
		Female images of church
		Biblical women in prayers
			Miriam; Sarah-T
		Women as consecrators (in art)
		Godmothers of bells
		Relics in altarstones

Liturgical Furnishings

	Liturgical Furnishings Owned by Women
		Vessels, vestments, linens, books, other
	Bequests and Donations by Women of Money Toward the Purchase of Lliturgical Furnishings
		Vessels, vestments, linens, books, other
	Bequests by Women of Domestic Objects to be Used in the Liturgy
		Wax and candles, tablecloths, bedsheets, towels, kerchieves, gowns, pillows, other
	Depiction and Naming of Women on Liturgical Furnishings
		Biblical women and other women saints
			Hebrew Scriptures
			Christian Scriptures
			Saints
		Other women
			Donors
			Liturgical participants
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Occupation and Use

	Separation of Women and Men, Laity and Clergy
	Space Occupied by Women in Parish Churches
		One side; both sides; seating; place for churching; the church doorway
	Space Occupied by Women in Churches of Women’s Communities
	Space Occupied by Women in Churches of Men’s Communities
		Separate chapels for women
		Visitors, guests, pensioners
	Space Occupied by Women in Churches Shared by Parishes and Religious Communities
		(Of men, of women)
	Burial of Women
		Bronzes, effigies, monuments
		Location: nave, chancel, churchyard, other

Ongoing Management and Care of Churches

	Women as Churchwardens
	Tithes
	Collections
		Hoch-day collection
	Bequests
	Women Who Did Not Contribute
	Women Members of Parish Guilds
	Women as Laundress, Sacristan, Bell Ringers, Cleaners

Art and Decoration

	[Sculpture, Corbels, Windows, Wall Painting, Screens, Wood Carving, Wall Hangings]
		[For baptistries and fonts, see chapter on baptism]
	Patronage
		Women as patrons and donors of art and decoration
			[motivation, meaning]

Women as Artists and Artisans in the Decoration of Churches

	Depiction or Naming of Biblical Women and (other) Saints in Art and Decoration
		Persons
			Biblical women
				Hebrew Scriptures
				Christian Scriptures
					Mary, Magdalene, other
			Women Saints
				Patron of church, chapel, etc.
				Other
		Potential Influences
			Liturgical readings
				Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, other
			Liturgical prayers
				Libera Domine
					Sarcophagi and catacombs
					Merovingian period
					French cathedral art: C12, C13
				Litanies
					Procession of women in Ravenna
			Liturgical rites
				Dedication of church
				Consecration of bishop
		Location: to whom was the art/decoration visible?
			Exterior
			Interior
				Nave: north, south side; low, high
				Chancel, Chapels
	Depiction or Naming of Other Women
		Donors
		Participants in the liturgy
		Other
		Meaning

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J. Frank Henderson