"My" Church.

This is my local Catholic Church. It was converted from a slaughter house in 1934 but looked a little different then. It was hit by a bomb in 1941 and remained a ruin for some years until it was rebuilt as you see it today.

Inside there is a screen of stone columns which came from Stinchcombe Park a large country house very near Evelyn Waugh's Piers Court which he always called " Stinkers".

There was originally a flat East end, ( liturgically East, the church faces South), with, of course, the altar against the wall. There was a deep ledge above the altar which held the tabernacle, candles, flowers, etc.


As you can see we are privileged to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved. It is a pity that the tabernacle is off centre but were it to be immediately behind the altar there really would not be enough room for the priest to celebrate versum populum. There is an obvious solution but I'm not holding my breath.

The candles stand on the floor either side of the altar, Sarum style, and they are not usually short and stubby as you see them. These have burned down are are due to be replaced. The sanctuary lamp is alight but the camera did not pick it up. As you can see there is plenty of space for the Extraordinary Form.

I should mention two things; we are aware that the pointing and stone work of the altar is rather crude to put it kindly. This is being attended to. Secondly the whole interior is due to be repainted in October so you are seeing it look at its tattiest.

Oh, and of course it's a miserable overcast wet day here so you don't have the effect of sunlight flooding the interior which is when it looks its best.