Parish Council
Works in church as envisaged
. Flooring replace in side chapels as deteriorating - how much to replace? If just under benches would add another floor
covering so replace all with carpet including main aisle!
. Sanctuary would need replacing too - have lifted bottom step to reveal existing floor surface - suggest need contrast
to make sanctuary stand out, and suggest hard surface as covering with a larger area of carpet. Do we leave as is in marble
effect or replace?
. Second step on sanctuary has been extended with wooden construction to enable clearer visual and hearing - does this work?
. To do any floor work on sanctuary would need to lift part to bury cabling for light and sound system to Lectern. I would
suggest moving power socket to side wall near sacristy door so not visual.
. Additional move is the Baptismal Font to its own place off the sanctuary step.
Canon Alan Griffiths' comments
Loved the church and it's general architecture, but a sanctuary of its time. Built and designed about the time of the change in
liturgy during the Second Vatican Council in the mid 1960's.
The Altar is long - reflecting the Tridentine Rite where the priest moved side to side at different points in the Mass,
and was set out from the wall awaiting the Liturgical changes, as still room in front to celebrate a Mass in the Tridentine Rite.
It was felt that it was a pity that the altar was made to stand alone and did not pick up any of the fine decoration or design
of the old one, now making the Lady altar.
Older Churches generally had a high Altar against the wall housing a tabernacle and above a place on which to set a monstrance
for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, hence having three candles either side to light during such times. Candles are really
only to be on the Altar or around the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration - they add nothing to the liturgy on the plinth they
are presently on (this shows clearly the move from one Rite to another and the uncertainty as to what this would be).
Baptismal Font, right place standing on its own - traditional place near the church door (cannot do this as have three)
and generally Baptism to be celebrated within Mass so congregation will have to see to fully participate.
The extension of the step certainly does what we hoped for.
Today what would our church look like for liturgy:
A smaller altar - probably 18 inches could be taken off each end of the present one then would be the
ideal length for today's celebration of Mass.
Behind the altar, on the wall, you would have a tabernacle, no plinth.
And, maybe the step where the altar is would not be so high.
The chair and lectern would remain the same, being in wood and movable, as tradition in this part of the world.
So where do we go from here?
This is much larger a discussion than just to rest with me, Fr Andrew, or with the PPC. It is your church and I will be just
here until the Bishop moves me!
There seems to me a couple of options we can take:
1. Do just the necessary works; carpet the floors in the chapels and main aisle, bury the cables on the sanctuary,
extend the step and have the tiles as are or re-tile. Recognising the church ordering we have been given as a good example
of what was done at its time.
2. Do a reordering, something along the lines of what Canon Alan has suggested.
3. As we consider options get an architect to draw what a reordering might look like.
It strikes me that we are at a moment where things could be done for some what little extra cost - it may, as we move sockets
or do more be worth us re-decorating the church again - it will be due soon, and if you look close the walls are getting marked.
I have not guessed at costs, but have invited an architect, Sue Masser - a parishioner I knew from Winchester and recommended
by Canon Alan Griffiths to visit next week so as to get some clearer ways forward.
Click links below to visit more pages
| Home Page | Parish News | Forthcoming Events | Church Hall |
| C.W.L. | Church-yard | St Patricks Church History | Youngsters Corner |
| Pastoral Area | Service List | Links | |