The Holy Crosses of the Archbishop of Canterbury to be Sold in Plymouth
Ecclesiastical collectors with a taste for history will have an opportunity to bid artifacts from highest realm of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The collection of two crosses and a crucifix cross rosary belonged to and was worn by Arthur Michael Ramsey (1904-1988) who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury between 1961-1974. He was born in Cambridge and had been previously appointed as both the bishop of Durham and the archbishop of York. He received numerous honours throughout his career including being made honorary master of the bench, Inner Temple in 1962 and multiple other honorary degrees across the UK and overseas universities.
The crosses were inherited by family friend of the archbishop who later bequeathed them to their current owner.
One cross, being a flat pendant style, inlayed with mother of pearl is engraved across the top on the reverse “Mons In Quo Beneplacitum Est Deo Habitare” which translated from Latin to “The mountain in which God is pleased to dwell,” from the biblical psalm 67:17, and below the engraving continues “To Michael, Archbishop of Canterbury from the Diocese of Wellington. 1965.”
The other being a pendant style with four purple (amethyst) inlaid stones and purple rope necklace (approx. 9cm x 6cm), has a silver maker’s mark is engraved “Arthur Michael Ramsey, from the Members of the Bishop’s Hostel Lincoln. 1930-1936, Michaelmas, 1952.”
They will be auctioned on 20th February at Plymouth Auction Rooms.
Auctioneer Paul Keen “this is a real first for Plymouth Auctions, we are delighted to handle the sale of these rare Holy crosses with the ultimate provenance. To value them is near on impossible but we are inviting opening bids in the region of £500”
For further details please contact the auctioneers on 01752 254740 or visit plymouthauctions.co.uk
