Images of the Blessed Virgin and Child (Seat of Wisdom iconography) enthroned are typically paired with images of our Lord enthroned and the two often sit opposite each other. The former representing the frailty of the humanity Christ assumed from His blessed mother, with the latter depicting Him in kingly glory representing His divine majesty. The question as to what Marian imagery an Anglican parish would commission is quite obvious: Our Lady of Walsingham. There is perhaps no other distinctly Anglican rendering of our Lady other than the Laudian depiction found above the South Porch of the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin – which is by no means as famous. There is a less obvious question for Anglican parishes, however: what is a suitable companion to Our Lady of Walsingham? Surely, an image of Christ enthroned is the ancient precedent, but is there a distinctly Anglican rendering?

Although sacred images have a long and lasting legacy within the Anglican Tradition, “icons” (in the Byzantine style) are rather new. Yet, they are everywhere. For small parishes, these icons are simply more accessible than traditional Western statuary. Byzantine iconographers are ubiquitous and this places “icons” well within the reach of any parish’s beautifying efforts. There is nothing wrong with this, but it does require caution and attention to detail. The real difficulty with purchasing Anglican icons is acquiring ones that remain faithful to the tradition without feeling overly “Eastern.”