Pietà statue. Offered in thanksgiving for the silver wedding of Mr and Mrs Bayley. Sources date it to either 1921 or 1926, and it was initially placed below the organ loft. Mr Harry Bayley was a goalkeeper for Exeter City Football Club.

 

The Pietà is a powerful Christian image that depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of her son, Jesus Christ, after his crucifixion. It represents Mary’s deep sorrow and the immense suffering of Christ, capturing the human and divine aspects of the Passion. This scene is not described directly in the Bible but is rooted in Christian meditation on Jesus’ death and Mary's role in salvation history. The Pietà symbolizes compassion, sacrifice, and maternal love, reminding believers of Christ’s suffering for humanity’s redemption and Mary’s faithful presence in both His life and death. It inspires reflection on sorrow, mercy, and hope.