Church Guide 3

The Requiem Altar

Go back across the Nave behind the Pulpit to the Requiem Altar.  The rather worn Frontal is original to St James the Less, a 17th century church in Ascot Drive now demolished.  The Altar Cross and Candlesticks and the Requiem Candles are modern (1994) and were made by a Churchwarden.

Nearby is our Aluminium Can re-cycling centre.  We collect aluminium cans, crush them and take them to a dealer.  It encourages re-cycling and generates a small income.

The Stations of the Cross

The fourteen Stations of the Cross begin at the Requiem Altar.  These re-pay careful inspection, and are thought to have been designed by a nun.  Mother Maribell of the CSMV at Wantage was a well-known sculptor and image maker 70 or 80 years ago. Included in her oeuvre are a number of sets of Stations, as well as Virgin and Childs, Crib sets, Epiphany sets and numerous one-off images etc.  She may well be the nun who made this set of stations.   They are made of plaster cast, set into the brick.  Note the delicacy of the casting and the detail of the figures.  They have been restored in 2006.

Opposite the third station, as you face down the church, there is a statue of the Sacred Heart.

By the sixth station there is an unusual depiction in art, of the cloth which tradition says bore the face of Our Lord, after Veronica stepped forward to wipe the Saviour’s head.

When you have completed your inspection of the Stations of the Cross, please return to the back of the church.  You will find a literature table with more information about the Christian faith and the activities of this Church.

One thing in our Church you cannot ‘see’ is the brilliant acoustic!  We are a popular venue for local choirs and singing groups.

Thank you for visiting our Church.  Before you leave, please remember us in your prayers and give thanks for this lovely building and the life or prayer and offering of worship which takes place here day by day.  You are welcome to join us and there are details of our services on the literature table.