In the olden days, monks, et al., were expected to stand in the choir throughout the various services, etc. This was hard on the older guys (ask me...) and so someone came up with the idea of the misericord, literally, mercy seat. It could be folded down, out of sight, but, when extended up, provided a little something to lean onto, while maintaining the appearance of standing. Like other things in the choir, they were carved, that is, decorated. But since the misericord was something on which you placed your bottom, or bum, as the British say, the carvings were not of sacred things. Rather, they were of the other, profane world, mythology, beasts, mere humans, and such, often amusing, sometimes raunchy, even lewd. I don't think we've ever been in a church of any size or sort in which all the misericords were exposed for examination. Until we got to Chester. Below are some of the better choir carvings at Chester, not even all of the misericords. Interpretation is sometimes obvious, more often problematic, especially as a 21st century mind looks at 14th century sculpture. But as with anything else, there is a whole literature to help you find your way, e.g., Church Misericords and Bench Ends, by Richard Hayman.
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| North choir stall, bench ends |
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| Misericords... |
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| Wild men? |
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| Unicorn |
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| The Chester Elephant and Castle, very famous (as choir stall carvings go) |
