St Nicholas Church South Door - Barfrestone Kent UK - Doorways of the World on Waymarking.com

The south door is an exquisite masterpiece of Norman sculpture. Probably the work of the Guild of Masons based at Canterbury Cathedral, the tympanum and arches of the south door contain what can easily be described, without fear of contradiction, as some of the finest Norman carvings in Britain. The imported Caen stone has carved major and minor shafts with ornate capitals supporting an exquisite tympanum. The main subject is a Majestas Domini (Christ in Glory) surrounded by three voussoirs. The inner most is a narrow band of foliage. The middle has fantastical representations of mythical birds and beasties. The outermost depicts more typical scenes of medieval life, possibly labours of the months through the year and a few with scriptural associations. In the vesica, Christ raises one hand in blessing while the other holds an open bible. He is surrounded above by angels, two holding scrolls and coroneted heads of noble mortals, whilst at his feet are a sphinx, two mermaids and a griffin.