The New Nave Altar
In April 2003, the new Rector, the Rev Brian Prothero, asked Brian Prideaux (BP) Chartered Architect and choir member, to design a new nave altar.
During the week after Trinity Sunday inspiration arrived and the concept developed for a three cornered altar. It would represent the tree of life supporting the Holy Trinity. This would answer the Rector's basic brief for an altar, 'that you could see through to the high altar', but re-attract the eye to the table in the nave crossing.
The Christian symbolism is quite simple but designing the shapes to confirm with these principles was to take BP a long time. The interaction of one God, the Holy Trinity, the (five) Stigmata, seven days in the week or seven miracles, eleven true disciples, the original twelve and the total thirteen disciples, then required some considerable thinkning time in relating these to a rational design and constructable form.
Oak was selected as the preferred material for a variety of reasons, esentially practicality. BP finalised the design as far as possible and prepared a full set of drawings to explain the altar design and the associated pieces of furniture.
| Design |
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The project had grown to include the Paschal candle holder, processional candles, Credence table, Presidential chair and four clergy and accolyte stools. Also a small tri-corn canle holder for the altar. Eleven pieces in all.
A full scale mock-up of the altar was built to explain the form and design details to the congregation.
| Mock up |
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Over a period of about nine months, a number of woodworking companies were interviewed, but none inspired with their ability to produce the finished articles with excellence and understanding.
Matthew Burt, The Splinter Group and his enthusiastic workforce, understood the complexities of the design and integrity of the pieces and prepared an acceptable proposal to BP designs. This was accepted by the PCC, A Faculty prepared and granted, the funds raised.
| Matthew Burt |
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| The design team |
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The 'construction' could now proceed.
During this process a pastoral visit to the workshops was made by the Rector, Churchwardens, BP and others closley associated with the project, and a small service took place. The Rector placed a relic of Father Pio in the centre of the altar. It is buried right at the centre under a special oak plug and the top veneer surface, that you now see, was then applied.
| Inserting relic |
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The project was then completed and eventually delivered into the Church for the Consecration on November 26th 2007, by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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The attached sequence of photographs shows in brief the entire process from drawings through to the Consecration.
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