Misericords

Misericords are perhaps the most neglected of all the treasures to be found in the great Cathedrals and many churches in this country. They are the under-seat carvings in choir stalls.

According to monastic rule, monks were required to observe holy offices several times a day. They were also required to stand while doing so, in individual stalls in the part of the church known as the choir (or quire). As a concession to elderly or otherwise infirm monks, who found standing for long periods difficult, the stalls were modified to include a small shelf on which the monks could lean, thus allowing them to sit while appearing to stand. The shelf was called a misericord or mercy seat, from the Latin word for mercy, misericordia. Misericords are attached to the underside of the stall bench, which could be raised or lowered; the misericord is only visible (and useable) when the bench is raised.