Saint Francis Tau Cross Five-Decade Catholic Rosary: Maple, Bronze and Rope

Handmade in Scotland, this Saint Francis Tau Cross rosary brings together dark maple, knotted rope and richly worked bronze in a substantial traditional five-decade Catholic devotional companion for regular prayer and everyday wear.
 
This is a rosary made to be held.
 
The weight of the bronze, the warmth of the maple and the strength of the rope give it the presence of something already familiar: carried, handled and kept close through years of prayer. It is rustic without being rough, richly detailed without becoming ornate, and deeply Franciscan in its simplicity.
 
The medal and Tau cross are original Paisley Honey designs, created especially for this collection and made here in Scotland. The rosary was developed during 2026, the eighth centenary year of the Transitus of Saint Francis—800 years since his passage from earthly life in 1226.
 
A ROSARY WITH A FRANCISCAN HEART
This remains first and foremost a traditional five-decade Catholic rosary, shaped by the Our Father, the Hail Mary and meditation upon the Mysteries of Christ.
 
Its Franciscan dedication is carried through its materials and imagery: wood, rope, animals, birds, flowers, peace and the plain Tau—a Christ-centred sign used repeatedly by Saint Francis.
 
THE SAINT FRANCIS MEDAL
At the centre is a richly worked bronze medal.
 
On its front, Saint Francis meets the wolf within a woodland alive with creation. Trees encircle the scene, while birds and fish gather around them. The deeply textured metal gives the image shadow, movement and the character of an old relief, although every element has been newly created for this piece.
 
The reverse brings together lilies and bees with words from the prayer traditionally associated with Saint Francis:
 
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”
 
THE TAU CROSS
Below hangs the large bronze Tau cross.
 
Saint Francis stands at its centre with arms outstretched, surrounded by doves. His cloak flows outward and becomes part of the cross itself: Francis and the Tau joined in a single, powerful form.
 
The worked texture continues across the reverse, where a solitary bee provides a quiet Paisley Honey detail and a link between prayer, labour and the created world.
 
MAPLE, BRONZE AND ROPE
The rosary is made from three simple, honest materials: bronze, maple and rope.
 
The dark maple beads have their own natural grain and warmth. Strong knotted rope gives the rosary a grounded, traditional construction, while the bronze centre and cross give it a reassuring weight and solidity.
 
The metalwork is deliberately textured rather than highly polished. Its beauty lies in its worked surfaces, deep relief and tactile detail. At approximately 45g, it feels substantial in the hand without becoming cumbersome—made for regular prayer, carrying and everyday wear.
 
DETAILS
• Traditional five-decade Catholic rosary
• Original Saint Francis medal and Tau cross designed by Paisley Honey
• Bronze, natural maple wood and knotted rope
• Approximately 65cm circumference / 25.6 inches
• Approximately 45g / 1.6oz in weight
• Tau cross approximately 5cm high × 4cm wide at its widest point / 2 × 1.6 inches
• Double-sided Saint Francis centre medal
• Double-sided Tau cross with Saint Francis, doves and bee
• Designed and handmade in Paisley, Scotland
• Created during the 1226–2026 eighth centenary year of the Transitus of Saint Francis
 
WEARING AND SIZE
At approximately 65cm in circumference, this rosary can be worn where the individual fit permits. If wearing it over the head is important to you, please compare a 65cm loop with a rosary or cord you already own before ordering.
 
It is made first and foremost as a devotional companion for prayer.
 
MATCHING BRACELET
A matching Saint Francis maple and bronze bracelet is available separately in the Saint Francis collection. The bracelet is not included with this rosary.
 
NATURAL VARIATION
Each rosary is handmade using natural maple. Small variations in the colour, markings and grain of the wood are part of its individual character.