Transepts of Priory Church, St Milburga’s Priory, Much Wenlock

Laver, south transept of Priory Church, St Milburga's Priory, Much Wenlock (image) [+]
This is a laver, where the prior would wash the feet of the monks to remember the washing of the disciples feet by Christ.

The church was built on a cruciform (cross-shaped) plan. The transepts are the “arms” of the cross. The transepts contained chantry chapels where masses were said for the dead. There was a medieval belief in “Purgatory” where the souls of the dead would spend time being prepared for entry into heaven. Rich people would often leave money to monasteries for monks to pray for them after death to reduce their time there. Chantry chapels were banned after the reformation because Protestants didn’t believe in purgatory. Souls went, they believed, either to heaven or to hell.