Church Ale – Pub signs with an ecclesiastical theme

by Esmerelda Weatherwax (May 2013)

Some pub names and signs are obvious. Like the many Railway pubs near railway stations they have taken their name from the nearby church, or a nationally famous church.

The separate sign on the Cathedral Bar at the Fountains pub in Gloucester.

There are the obvious ecclesiastic connotations of bells and angels. I have featured a few of these over the years during postings around Christmas as part of either an Advent Calendar or The twelve Days of Christmas. These are a couple of new ones spotted since.

The Cross Keys Dagenham. The former Cross Keys Bolsover. The Cross Keys St Albans. The Silver Cross Whitehall. The Old Cross Tavern Hertford. The Bell Wimbourne Minster (taken on a very wet day)

Bishops are also represented.

The Wykeham Arms Winchester named for William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College and several University colleges. His famous motto was Manners Mayketh Man. This was revolutionary in its day. First because it was in English not Latin. More importantly because it does not refer solely to manners as in polite etiquette but that a man (includes woman) should be defined not by position or wealth but by how he (or she) behaves. Put in another way, judged by the content of their character.

There are pubs named for Bible passages. The most common is the Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve is also Cockney rhyming slang for believe (would you Adam and Eve it?! ) Bermonsey, Lincoln, Norwich (opposite the Law Courts with the Cathedral spire in the background) and Petty France Westminster.

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Photographs (other than Rainbow and Dove) E Weatherwax and family.