I Spy at Saint Martin s Caerphilly Saint Martin s has many Hidden Treasures and features which are frequently not noticed. On this I SPY tour of the Church, see if you can find the following ;- The Font is where people are Christened or Baptised. The stone top of this font is older than the present building and probably came from the former Church of Capel Martin which was on approximately the same site. Some fonts are big, some small, some round and some are square. How many sides are there to the top of the font? The Saint Joseph Window has many things to look at. Saint Joseph was of course a carpenter. Can you see some wood shavings, a box plane and a saw? John the Baptist (cousin of Jesus) is wearing rough clothes and is bare footed. Can you see him? In the background, there are some sheep. How many can you see? (you will have to look hard) The next item to have a look at is the Pulpit. Sermons are preached from the pulpit. It is raised so that the Rector can see everyone. The wooden pulpit is beautifully carved, have a look at it. Amongst the carvings are some Cherubs (or baby Angels) with wings amongst some oak leaves and acorns. How many Cherub faces can you count?
Now we go around the corner into the Chancel and look at the Choir stalls. These were made by Mousey Thompson a furniture maker from Yorkshire. His trademark is a small carved mouse. Look carefully at all of the choir stalls and see how many mice you can find. Above the choir stalls can you find a Dove flying downwards? This represents God s spirit descending on Jesus at his baptism. The next item to look at is the Altar Rail. Here people receive Holy Communion. Look at the shields on the front. Can you see one with a ladder and a crown of thorns? These are images of the Crucifixion. Another shield to look at is the one which has an ear, a sword and two clubs on it. These are images of the arrest of Jesus and how Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Did you see it? Now we are going to look at two of the statues on the Reredos the pink marble screen behind the Altar. Can you see the statue of Saint Martin cutting his cloak in half? Saint Martin was a Roman soldier, later a Bishop, and our church is named after him. Then look at the statue of Saint Thomas. He was thought to have been an architect and he is shown holding an architect s T square.
Now we are going to have a look at the beautiful East Window. There are many things to look at, but we will just focus on three items. Looking at the left panel which shows the Garden of Gethsemane, can you see three sleeping disciples (Peter, James and John)? Looking at the right panel which shows the road to Calvary, can you see a ladder, 2 spears and a club? Looking at the crucifixion scene in the centre panel can you see the walls and buildings of the city of Jerusalem behind the crucifixion of our Lord? Turning to the right we are now going to have a look at the window which shows Saint Luke (in blue) and Saint Mark (in red). Saint Luke was an artist and also a doctor can you see what he is carrying? Did you see the paint brushes and the snake on a pole? The snake on a pole is the symbol of doctors. What is Saint Mark carrying? At their feet are two creatures with wings, can you see what they are? We are going to find some more creatures now when we look at the brass Lectern. The lectern is from where the Bible is read at services. What very strong bird can you see? The very strong book (The Bible) is resting on its wings. The bird is standing on a globe which represents the world. At the base are some more very strong creatures. What are they and how many can you see? You can give them a stroke if you wish.
Now we are going to have a look at the Organ. This is a very fine Father Willis pipe organ, and is one of the best in South Wales. It was rebuilt a number of years ago. How many silver organ pipes can you see? Looking at the modern console of the organ, above the two rows of keyboards you will see a row of cream organ stops. These are used to make different types of sounds. Looking at these stops can you find the one marked Trumpet? Also what number is on this trumpet stop? (This says what length pipe in feet is available for this trumpet sound.) Now we are going to have a look at the Local Welsh Saints window. Saint Catwg came from Gelligaer, Saint Gwynllyw or Woolos founded the Cathedral at Newport and Saint Gwladus was the mother of Saint Catwg and came from near Bargoed. Can you see a deer, a crown, a big sword and a sheep? Now we are going to have a look at the window of Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis is said to have preached to the birds and animals. What animals can you see? How many birds can you see? How many stars can you see in the sky? Did you see the Sun and the Moon? Is Saint Francis wearing any shoes?
Now we are going to have a look at the Nativity Scene window, and there are lots of things for you to find. Can you see the infant baby Jesus in his mother the Virgin Mary s arms? Can you see his father Joseph (on the left)? Can you see an Angel waking up the shepherds? Can you see the Three Wise Men in the distance? Can you see the Star of Bethlehem? Can you see a donkey and a cow? Now we are going to have a look at the War Memorial. This lists all the parishioners from Caerphilly who lost their lives in the two World Wars. Each year, on Remembrance Sunday, two new poppy wreaths are put on it. There are four flags on the top, do you know what they all are? Designed especially for our church, many of the windows have the S M Saint Martin s Logo in them. Looking at the next two windows to the right of the War Memorial how many Saint Martin s Logos can you find in each of them? Now we are going to have a look at the Smaller West Window. In this window can you find some crowns? How many are there?
Now we are going to have a look at the Main West Window. This huge window has many designs in it, but mostly it is meant to give light into the Church. With its many windows, it could never be said that Saint Martin s Church is dark and gloomy. Looking towards the top of the window, how many shields can you see? There are some more crowns, how many this time? Now here is a view of part of Saint Martin s which not many people have seen. The Bells (some of them) shown up and ready to ring. They are very fine bells and are rung every Sunday. We cannot normally take you up to see them as you would have to be escorted up the 76 steps. Count the bells in the photograph and add the two bells not shown. This will give you the number of bells in Saint Martin s. How many is that? Finally, we are going to have look at the Clock. This was rebuilt and upgraded in 2001, and the Westminster Chimes were restored. The Clock faces were re-gilded with gold leaf and now look better than ever. How many faces are there to the clock? We hope you all enjoyed this I SPY tour of Saint Martin, and had fun trying to find and count the various items. Besides having many Hidden Treasures, Saint Martin s is of course a busy Parish Church. Andrew Hurd May 2003
APPENDIX Here are the answers to the various questions, and additional photographs of the items you should have found. Font: 8 sides to the top Saint Joseph's Window: 4 Sheep Pulpit: 6 Cherub faces - see opposite Choir stalls: 4 Church mice - see opposite Dove: - see opposite Altar Rail: - see opposite Crown of Thorns Malchus Ear East Window: Sleeping Disciples Ladder, Spears etc Jerusalem Walls Saint Luke: He is carrying 2 brushes and a snake on a pole. Creature - a Flying Bull. Saint Mark: He is carrying a chalice or cup. Creature - a Flying Eagle. Lectern: Eagle and 3 Lions. Organ: 31 and 23 making 54 organ pipes. Trumpet stop is second from right. No. 8 Saint Francis: A Deer and a dog. 17 Birds. 5 Stars. Saint Francis is bare footed. War Memorial: RAF Flag, White Ensign (Royal Navy), Union Flag or Jack, Welsh Dragon. Saint Martin s Logo: There are 6 on each of the windows. Smaller West Window: 3 Crowns. Main West Window: 3 Shields and 5 Crowns. The Bells: There are 8 bells in the Tower. The Clock: There are 3 faces to the Clock. Andrew Hurd May 2003
I Spy Answer Sheet. Name:.. Please fill in your answers or tick box Page 1 Sides to Font.. Page 4 What animals See wood shavings How many birds. See box plane How many stars. See saw See Sun and Moon See John the Baptist Wearing shoes. How many sheep... How many Cherubs. Page 5 See baby Jesus See Joseph Page 2 How many mice.. See Angel Find the Dove See Wise Men See ladder shield See Star of Bethlehem See ear/sword shield See donkey and cow See Saint Martin Flags.. See Saint Thomas.. Page 3 See sleeping disciples. See ladder/spears How many logos.. See Jerusalem How many crowns. Saint Luke holds.... Saint Mark holds.. Page 6 How many shields. 1 st creature. How many crowns. 2 nd creature.. How many Bells.. Strong Bird. How many Clock faces. Strong Creatures. How many. Page 4 How many pipes.. Find trumpet stop We hope you had fun with this What number I SPY tour and enjoyed finding See deer and counting the various items. See crown See sword Thank you for taking part. See sheep