What was a Letter of Indulgence?
The Letter of Indulgence is a historic document once belonging to Stratford’s Guild of the Holy Cross. Twelve bishops were signatories to the manuscript, which still has 7 of the 12 bishops’ red wax seals attached to it, and these seals would have given the document legal validity.
The document reveals that an indulgence of forty days was granted by the twelve bishops to all who will pray for the safety and healthy estate, during life, of Sir William de Stratford and his parents, and for the souls of all faithful deceased.
The De Stratfords were a powerful and influential local family, and Sir William, a clergyman, was likely a descendent of the Robert de
Stratford who founded the Guild of the Holy Cross in Stratford, and who was appointed first Master of the Guild in 1269. Two De Stratfords can be seen in the 20th century stained-glass windows in the Chapel.
‘Indulgences’ were a key doctrine of the medieval Church, and could be granted for anything from good works and charitable acts, to prayers and pilgrimage. It was believed indulgences could reduce your time in Purgatory, a place between heaven and hell where souls were purged of their sins. Essentially, indulgences were a way of getting time off for good behaviour!
Death and judgement were major concerns in the Middle Ages and we see these fears reflected in the Chapel’s 15th century wall paintings.
The Guild probably displayed the Letter of Indulgence in one of the Guild buildings, or next to the altar they once had in Holy Trinity parish church. This would have encouraged Guild members to pray for Sir William, his parents, and the souls of all faithful deceased. The primary purpose of the Guild was prayers for the souls of the dead, to help them get into heaven more quickly.