Heathens Collection

Missionary Society Seal
Seal of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; the banner above the ship is a plea for a safe passage

Blackheath v Rosslyn Park rugby match
A throw in at the first match of the Blackheath teams Jubilee year, against Rosslyn Park (in light and dark stripes), a north London team

Maipuri Indians, inhabitants of the Upper Orinoco, roasting members of a dead enemy, 1781 (engraving)
IND388218 Maipuri Indians, inhabitants of the Upper Orinoco, roasting members of a dead enemy, 1781 (engraving) by Italian School, (18th century); Private Collection; Mithra-Index

A Figure the Heathens might have Worshipped
LLM461418 A Figure the Heathens might have Worshipped by Browne, Gordon Frederick (1858-1932); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Figure the Heathens might have Worshipped)

Elijah and the Priests of Baal, detail, 1863 (stained glass)
3474765 Elijah and the Priests of Baal, detail, 1863 (stained glass) by Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (1833-98); St Michael, Lyndhurst, UK; (add.info.: Manufactured by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co)

Burning witches at the stake, artwork C018 / 7095
Burning witches at the stake. 1883 engraving of witches being burnt at the stake during the Middle Ages

Fran Javier / Chasseriau
FRANCISCO JAVIER (XAVIER) Spanish missionary to India and Japan, baptising the natives Date: 1506 - 1552

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Amidst the clash of rugby balls at Blackheath vs. Rosslyn Park, the modern-day heathenry of sportsmanship and camaraderie unfolds. Yet, a glimpse into the past reveals a stark contrast - the heathen practices of old, as depicted in engravings of Maipuri Indians roasting their enemies (1781) or witches being burned at the stake. The Missionary Society Seal serves as a reminder of the efforts to spread the word of the new faith, while figures like Elijah and the Priests of Baal (1863) or St. Boniface/Bishop (Fran Javier/Chasseriau) represent the struggle between old and new beliefs. The line between the sacred and the profane, the civilized and the savage, continues to blur and shift, reflecting the enduring complexity of human nature.