Parishioners in Corsley and Chapmanslade are delighted that Salisbury Museum has chosen to put St Margaret church’s 16th Century chalice on public display alongside the Lacock cup in the coming weeks.
The Lacock cup will be on show at a number of locations in the country over the coming months, starting in Salisbury from 31st January until 4th May.
The Corsley chalice, with its accompanying paten, or plate, is normally kept under lock and key in Salisbury Cathedral and rarely sees the light of day. On special occasions, however, for example the licensing of a new incumbent, it is sometimes brought back to Corsley and used in services. Rev Pauline Reid’s licensing as priest in charge of the Cley Hill Villages benefice in October 2014 was the last time the chalice was used in the village.
Not a great deal is known about the chalice and paten. In 1553 the Crown Commissioners took 20 oz of silver for the king from Corsley (this was a common practice when the monarch was short of money!) and left only 7 1/2 ozs. Of the plate they left, a silver-gilt paten of c 1510 still remains. The chalice which they left was remodelled in the 1570s.
As far as is known, the chalice and plate have never been valued; certainly the parish has no intention of selling them!
Phil Jefferson, a Corsley and Chapmanslade church member, commented that villagers were delighted that the decision had been chosen to display the chalice alongside its Lacock cousin. He said, “We appreciate that our chalice is not as well known or indeed as valuable as the Lacock cup, but we are very proud of this part of our heritage and we thank Salisbury Museum for making it available to be seen by the public throughout the Spring.”
Rev Pauline Reid, Priest-in Charge added, “I feel very privileged to have used the cup for the purpose it was intended on the Sunday after the service. It was an extraordinary feeling to administer communion with something that held such meaning for the parish and connected us to past communicants in such a profound way. A real joy.”
