Christian symbol

[geogphotos]

This was on an altar in a Suffolk church. It caught my eye but apart from 'Christian' 'brass' 'design' 'religious' 'symbols'  etc I don't know what it is.

 

Any suggestions please?

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by geogphotos

[Radim]

I see a fish there and the fish was the first symbol of Christians, that is my layman's opinion

[geogphotos]

1 minute ago, Radim said:

I see a fish there and the fish was the first symbol of Christians, that is my layman's opinion

 

I see it too! Thanks

 

Fish and chips?

[Hanna_Fate]

What kind of church was it, and what part of the altar was it on?  It doesn't look like any Anglican symbol I know, but does look Buddhist.

 

If that's glass behind the brass, it may be a reliquary.

 

Suggested keywords:  decorative, lattice

Edited May 19, 2021 by Hanna_Fate

[geogphotos]

Thanks Hannah - excellent keyword suggestions.

 

It'a church of England village parish church in north Suffolk.

 

I think it's a solid cube with the brass face attached to this one side

 

 

[geogphotos]

Thelnetham, Suffolk

[Mr Standfast]

I'll bring the Salt and Vinegar...

 

[Vincent Lowe]

There are two pictures here showing two altars.  They both have similar objects - one appears to be a 'triple'.  A bit difficult to see but if you take screenshots and enlarge the image you get a clearer picture.

 

They both have large crosses stood on top of them so I think they are bases or stands for the crosses.

 

 

Edited May 20, 2021 by Vincent Lowe

[miscellany]

Since the box is on an altar, it could be a tabernacle (where the consecrated bread or eucharistic bread  - believed to be a form of Jesus Christ - is kept), in which case the front is a door to the box; but there should be a keyhole in it so the box can be locked and unlocked.

 

The bronze square borders an equilateral cross, a symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

 

The horizontal line of the cross, as Radim has pointed out, is a fish symbol. The greek word for fish is ixthus ( five letters: i x th u s), which in early christianity was a symbol for Jesus (i) Christ x) son(u) god(th) saviour(s)

 

The sort of x shape, intertwined with the cross, might be a stylised form of the greek letter chi (spelled x), which is the first letter of the greek word for Christ.

[Mr Standfast]

So Christogram would be an appropriate keyword?