Apostles Creed

Stained glass of the Apostles in St Mary the Virgin, Drayton Beauchamp


Stained glass of the Apostles in St Mary the Virgin, Drayton Beauchamp


Detail


Detail

The name of the Apostles Creed comes from the fact that, being composed of twelve articles, it was reputed to be written by the Twelve Apostles. Each of the Apostles was supposed to have contributed an article under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

St Mary the Virgin is the Parish Church of the small village of Drayton Beauchamp, Buckinghamshire. The present church dates from the 15th century.

The east window, with ten of the Apostles in beautiful stained glass of the 15th century, is greatly prized. Each Apostle carries his emblem and over each is a portion of the Apostles' Creed in Latin.

Such depictions of the Apostles were common in fifteenth century English churches: in windows; dados of wood screens; alabaster altar pieces; fronts of cathedrals.

They were an important device in catechesis.