Hope Theme Pages

Hope, along with Faith and Charity, is one of the three qualities that St. Paul, in his letters, associated with salvation. It is mainly symbolized as a woman holding an anchor. Other symbols include a dove and swallow.

The carved wooden panel representing Hope, with anchor, can be found as part of the reredos in the church of St Lawrence Shotteswell, Warwickshire. The reredos is constructed of a number of such Flemish panels that date from a number of periods in the 17th century.

The central figure is a robed woman standing upright, holding an anchor in her right hand, which is a traditional symbol of hope, signifying stability and faith in the future. Her left hand is raised, possibly in a gesture of prayer or aspiration. She stands on a rocky base, symbolizing steadfastness amidst challenges.

This stained glass window (c1898)  by Heaton, Butler, & Bayne reprents Faith, Hope, Charity is in  St. Mary the Virgin, Staverton, Northamptonshire.