Nine guardian angels watch over the congregation of All Saints, Landbeach. Eight, wings folded and baring painted shields, look down from the hammer beams. The ninth sits below the chancel arch, legs jauntily crossed and arms outstretched, its spread wings form a lectern. This joyful figure, carved in oak, probably originated from the Netherlands in the 17th century, where it may have formed part a larger tableau in a church or cathedral. It was bought from a York antiques dealer in 1882 for £13.50 (£1,544 now). Showing its age, and then badly damaged when it was knocked over by a member of the congregation, the angel was restored recently by conservation woodworker Andrew Matthews at a cost of £1,350.
Photo: Angel lectern, All Saints, Landbeach, Cambs, March 2018