Draft Features of St Paul’s Church Part 2

THE REREDOS

The oak panelling and the bas-reliefs which were commissioned by Fr Van Wassenhove, around the start of World War II, they are on either side of the reredos contains fourteen carved wood sections highlighted with gilt on a green background which represent the twelve Apostles, St Paul and Our Lord (the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulder and holding a shepherd's crook). Facing the altar from the congregation there are six apostles in two groups of three, with Our Lord in between on the left, and a further two groups of three, with St Paul in between, on the right. They are, in order from left to right:

Apostle

Thaddeus

James (the Less)

Matthaeus

Philip

James (the Greater)

Peter

Andrew

John

Bartholomew

Thomas

Simon (the Zealot)

Matthias

Details

LEFT PANELS

Cross and book

Club

Cross and book

Quill and book

Staff, bag and cross

2 keys and book

RIGHT PANELS

Wooden saltire cross

Chalice with breads

Butcher's knife and book

Book and spear

Cross-cut saw

Axe and book

Significance

Jude. Martyred in Persia

Thrown from pinnacle of the Temple, then stoned and beaten to death.

Matthew - the evangelist.

Philip was a scribe. He was known as The Introducer.

A pilgrim. Clam (shell) also used.

The Keys of the Kingdom.

For his crucifixion.

The beloved disciple.

Flayed alive in Armenia.

Ready to die (like a soldier).

Carpenter. Martyred in Persia.

Replaced Judas.

Around the panels of the Good Shepherd and St Paul are carved wheat-ears and grapes.

THE FOUNDATION STONE

Between the Sanctuary and the Lady Altar stands a tall pillar which has a cross carved into it about eight feet from the ground - one of twelve to be found in every Catholic church. At the bottom of this pillar is a moulded stone base, also marked with a cross, slightly different to the upper cross as it is a cross fleury – one in which the ends spread out to the fleur de lis. As far as it has been possible to find out, this is the foundation stone.

In accordance with tradition, the Foundation Stone was laid with a silver trowel, which is now used in the Presbytery as a cake knife for special occasions. It is a permanent reminder to our Priests of the foundation of the Church.

THE FONT

Many fonts tend to be sited at the entrance to a church - tying in with the concept of "entering" the church, whilst the font was originally in the Baptistery in the entrance narthex, it is now sited in front of the sanctuary. The font is of white marble, with red marble shafts and an octagonal base. Its cover is made of oak with iron strapwork. The Easter Candle, symbolising new life in Jesus, stands beside it.

THE LADY ALTAR

To the right of the Sanctuary is the Lady Altar. Our Lady has, since earliest Christian times, had a special place in the Church's liturgy - and therefore in its buildings. The Lady Altar is appointed with marble and alabaster. The reredos frames a canopied statue of Our Lady and the Child Jesus made of white unpolished marble, the rear wall is a delicate shade of blue. The altar also serves as the site for the Christmas Crib. At the right-hand side of the Lady Altar stands, appropriately, a marble statue of St. Joseph who holds a carpenter's try-square in one hand and a lily in the other.

THE SACRED HEART ALTAR

The statue is also of marble and alabaster. The canopied niche at the centre of the reredos holds a marble statue of the Sacred Heart. Set against a red rear wall. For some unaccountable reason, this statue once stood where the St. Joseph statue now stands (and vice-versa). Fr Bullen noticed the discrepancy and made the necessary re-arrangement for the statues to be placed in the right positions.

THE CONFESSIONALS

The three confessionals are recessed well back from the right hand (east) wall, behind a quadruple arcade, each is fronted by a processional entrance to the Sacristies.

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

At the entrances to Confessionals and Sacristies the white marble stone bears the inscription, “ Do not let your hearts be troubled, I shall return to take you with me”

It is not known when this was placed in position, and by whom, but it relates to the Stations of the Cross - a traditional feature of all Catholic churches. The Stations are of gilt and coloured mosaics and tiling in simple wooden frames and are modern in style, they originally hung in St. Brigid's, Bevington Hill, before that church was demolished during preparatory road works for the new Mersey Tunnel, "Kingsway".

The bell on wall between sacristy and church

THE STONEWORK

Originally, the church walls were coloured cream from windowsill level upwards with brown colouring below window level. Mgr Breen had this scheme replaced by a special process to give the stone effect but over the years this has proven to be ineffective against damp and the entire walls now have the same bright cream colouring.

THE WAR MEMORIAL

Above the exit door to the Tower is the War Memorial tablet. The Fallen are listed under the banner, "Pro Patria": Walter Barrett, Thomas Deane. John Foy. Joseph Foy, John Lough, Joseph McGarry, and John Marsh.

THE CHOIR LOFT

The Choir Loft, built of wood with a pitch-pine pierced rail, accommodates not only the choir but the organ, which was installed in 1982 at a cost of £13,000 by Mr J Corkhill of Hindley Green. Canon Burrowes oversaw the purchase of the organ with advice from the then Choir Director, Miss Therese McCusker.

Notes

The webmaster is very grateful to the Parish Centenary History Group for allowing their work to be edited for this page. It is hoped by the group that they will publish a document with more details in the near future than what is on this page.
Also, grateful thanks to Jack Cooper for his history of the parish, published in 1989-90. Some of the drawings by Ray Crawford in that work were scanned and appear on this page.
Gratitude to people who have allowed us to use photographs especially to those who are called the ‘official’ photographers of the parish!