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THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF
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| A LOOK AROUND THE CHURCH |
| We welcome you to this look inside the Church with its
magnificent stained glass windows and reredos, which we hope you will find
interesting. For a larger view please click on the individual pictures. The Church which seats some 400 people was built during the First World War. It was refurbished in the 1960's after a fire badly damaged the Sacristy and part of the Church. The Sanctuary was re-modelled in 1996 in accordance with the Liturgical Reforms of the Second Vatican Council. THE CALVARY CHAPEL 
Inside the wrought iron gates on the left hand side of
the church is the CALVARY CHAPEL containing the Memorial to those killed in the
First World War. There is the magnificent wooden carving of the Calvary scene
on which the events of the passion have been delicately carved around the
cross. The Memorial bears the inscription "In loving memory of Ronald Douglas
Davidson", and research by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has concluded
that he was a soldier killed in the First World War. Two soldiers of that name
fell in the War. One in the Royal Sussex Regiment who died on 11 November 1917
aged 22 years old; the other was an Australian Infantryman who died on 16
September 1917.Also in the Calvary Chapel is the STATUE OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA A small stained glass window in the Chapel is in honour of OUR LADY OF LOURDES and shows the apparition of Our Lady to St Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858. Next to the Calvary Chapel is the stained glass window in honour of 
3 saints who are: ST TERESA OF LISIEUX ST THOMAS MORE ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST Moving on down the side of the Church there is a picture of ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR taken from the Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy. Looking straight ahead his statue, carved in stone, can be seen over the entrance to the SACRISTY.  THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS 
Unlike most other Catholic Churches, the Stations of the Cross in St Edwards are oil paintings. The artist is unknown. Each station represents a scene from the passion and death of Christ. They are used mainly for devotional purposes during Lent. THE SACRED HEART ALTAR The reredos is carved in wood with the Archangels Michael and Raphael on either side of the Tabernacle. The altar itself is magnificently carved in stone with two angels holding the Sacred Heart. The events of the Passion of Our Lord are carved around the altar. A PAINTING OF THE LAST SUPPER 
has recently been hung on the transept wall opposite the
Sacred Heart Altar. It was painted in 1999 by a Spanish artist Milagros Esteban
King who lives at Twickenham. THE SANCTUARY The Sanctuary was re-ordered in 1996. On the left hand side is the lectern (or Table of the Word) which was one of the four sections of the original High Altar. Carved on the front of the lectern is the symbol of St Mark since his Gospel begins in the desert, the habitat of lions. The other three sections have been remodelled to form the High Altar. They depict from left to right the other Evangelists and their symbols:- St Mathew - the Man, since his Gospel opens with genealogy of Jesus' human descent; St Luke - the bull , since he mentions sacrifice at the beginning of his Gospel and bulls are sacrificial symbols; St John - the Eagle since his Gospel is full of soaring and lofty thoughts. To the right of the High Altar is the Presidential Chair and the Baptisimal Font which was remodled from the original. The wood carvings at each end of the choir stalls depict the banner of St Edward the Confessor carved on each end. Little angel heads are carved between each seat. The original altar rails form the boundary on each side of the Sanctuary On the walls high above the Sanctuary are four angels facing inward with outstretched wings These are carved from wood and represent the angels surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. The REREDOS was originally the back of the original High Altar and contains carved stone statues of 10 well known English saints. They are from left to right: ST GEORGE 
ST JOHN FISHER ST ETHELDREDA (also known as St Audrey) ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY ST WILLIAM OF YORK ST THOMAS BECKET ST EDMUND ST MARGARET CLITHEROW ST THOMAS MORE ST ALBAN In the centre of the reredos is the TABERNACLE where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. Above the tabernacle is a stone carving depicting the Trinity, with the word Sanctus (Holy), and with the Lamb of God carved on the tracery holding the Tabernacle. MEMORIAL WINDOW Taking its proper place as the main feature of interest in the tracery is a symbolic representation of the Crucifixion portrayed by the Lamb of God carrying the banner bearing a red cross and standing upon the Book with seven Seals (Apoc V). Surrounding the centre piece is a scroll held by Angels upon which is written the most significant exhortation concerning Sacrifice. The colour and placing of the Angels and scroll are designed to give firmness to the general lines of the whole composition. 
In the main lights and lower traceries the background is
formed by a light Gothic screen, reflecting the style of the reredos below and
the general character of the church. This ensures that the subject matter which
moves from one light to another (eg the tail of the dragon, etc) does not
detract from the architectural effect of the mullions. On this background the
main figure are placed in such a way as to enhance the main shape of the whole
window, from the swinging of the arch particularly. In the centre light of the window is placed the figure of St Edward the Confessor, the Patron Saint of the church, bearing his sceptre and ring. Below the figure is depicted the church which is illuminated to the front and rear by the flashes of bomb explosions demonstrating its remarkable preservation from destruction. It is to be noted that each explosion is tinged with evil, by the dragon's claw on the one side and the wing of Lucifer on the other. In front of the church is a portrait of Canon Charles Sims in full canonicals, commemorating his devotion to this parish. Crowning the centre light in the lower tracery are the arms of St Edward and of Pope Pius XII. Supporting the centre light on the right is the Archangel Michael casting Lucifer from Heaven, the flaming sword in his right hand and his left pointing to his shield which bears the inscription "Quis et Deus? - Who is like to God?" On the left is St George subduing evil represented by the dragon; shown in the tracery above the figure is a shield bearing the cross of St George. Both these lights are thus concerned with action forming an effective contrast to the dignity of the centre figure of St Edward. It is appropriate that the courage of the individual parishioners of this parish should be symbolised in these two lights by the magnificent example of Captain Michael Allmand, VC. His action is commemorated beneath St George by the badge of his regiment (6th Lancers) and below St Michael by the badge of the Ghurka regiment (showing the crossed kukri) to which he was attached when he won the Victoria Cross, the later being superimposed upon the badge. Above the simple inscription in the outside lights are the solider saints, St Alban on the left and St Martin on the right. Above each of these in the lower traceries are their arms. The figure of St Alban by his bearing alone suggests the glorious example he set and his example is equally well suggested in the action of St Martin dividing his cloak with a beggar. To complete the whole scheme the remaining tracery lights are filled by the flags of the Services. A description by the late Audrey Knighton. CAPTAIN MICHAEL ALLMAND 
Captain Michael Allmand lived in North Square in the
Garden Suburb with his family. He was educated at Ampleforth College and Oxford
where he studied history from 1941 until he end of 1942 when he joined the 6th
Lancers Regiment of the Indian Armoured Corps. Three months later after the
fall of Singapore, he was sent to India where he volunteered for the Chindits
under General Wingate. He was accepted because of his character (described as
gentle, dynamic, full of life with a charisma), and was attached to the 3rd
Battalion of the Ghurka Regiment under "Mad Mike Calvert". Captain Allmand (then 20 years old) was commanding the leading platoon in Burma on 11 June 1944 when he was ordered to attack the Pin Hmi Road Bridge. His men were forced to take cover from fire directed from Japanese positions along the road-bank and in the surrounding jungle. He dashed on alone, killing three of the enemy with grenades and his kukri - opening the way for advance, which resulted in the capture of the bridge. The Captain inspired his men again by similar behaviour two days later, and on 23 June he led them in the final assault on the Mogaung Railway Bridge. Though suffering from the intensely painful affliction of trench-foot, so that walking was difficult, he worked his way forward to deal with a machine-gun post - and fell mortally wounded. The Victoria Cross was presented to his family by King George VI and is now in the Ghurka Museum in Hong Kong. FOUNDATION STONE At the left of the Sanctuary, at the East end of the Church, is the Foundation Stone which was laid by Cardinal Francis Bourne. THE TOWER The tower above the Sanctuary was restored in 1996 and can be seen for miles around. Each side has 12 lantern windows representing the 12 Apostles. Around the base of the Tower are some carvings worthy of mention - North Side A gun, ship and a plane commemorating the First World War. South Side The initials GR representing King George V Monarch at the time the church was built. The initials WAB representing the initials of the then Parish Priest, Fr William Bendon. Two crossed keys and a church representing the Papal Authority. East Side The coat of arms and banner of St Edward the Confessor The coast of arms of the then Pope Benedict VX West Side The coat of arms of Cardinal Francis Bourne, Archbishop of Westminster. A ship and behind it a key representing St Augustine's arrival in England. LADY ALTAR 
On the Lady Altar is the statue of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, with a painted reredos depicting (left) the story of the Annunciation
when the Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, and (right) the Visitation when Mary
visited the Cousin Elizabeth. On either side of the altar are the statues of
St. Anne and St. Joachim the parents of Mary. THE FATIMA WINDOW depicts the apparition of Our Lady to the three children near Fatima, in Portugal in 1917. There is a famous shrine at Fatima. On the transept facing the Lady Altar is an oil painting by an unknown artist depicting the Annunciation. Next to the Lady Altar is the Statue of St. JOSEPH Continuing round the Church we come to ST EDWARD'S SHRINE, which was dedicated in 1996. The magnificent wood carving by Siegfrid Pietsch of Redbourne, Hertfordshire shows St Edward giving his ring to a beggar who asked for alms. The Shrine also contains a board listing all the Parish Priests and a former Deacon. Next to this is a stained glass window in honour of two Irish Saints:- ST BRIGID ST PATRICK On the wall next to this window is a Memorial Plaque in memory of Fr William Bendon the first Parish Priest who died in 1918 and is buried outside the Church. The reredos and the high altar were given in his memory. The last window is dedicated to the memory of Fr Louis Joseph Hemney who was an assistant Priest in the Parish and who died in the great influenza outbreak of 1921. It shows the two Saints Louis and St Joseph. The last shrine before you reach the Repository is devoted to ST JUDE THE INFANT OF PRAGUE THE CHURCH ROOF AND CHOIR LOFT Looking up at the roof, you will see some fine carvings of flowers and other motifs. THE CHOIR LOFT - contains the original Pipe Organ, and the front of the balcony is carved in wood to blend in with that in the rest of the Church. THE PORCH On leaving the Church you will see in the left hand side of the porch, a small chapel dedicated to OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN. This then completes the tour of our magnificent Church, and we give thanks for all those who were involved in its building, the priests who have ministered in the Parish, and the many generous benefactors over almost a 100 years. |
Page last updated June 2008 |