This photograph of the main altar as it was from the time the church opened was used to make a calendar which was sold to raise funds for the church.
The altar table is the one we have now with the 3-D coloured Last Supper and carved oak pillars.
The crucifix may well be the one we have hanging above the sacristy now, but seems rather small. (See 2004 below for new information)
The reredos (the intricately carved back of the altar) was removed when the altar was brought forward to allow the priest to face the congregation following Vatican 2. It was riddled with woodworm and had to be destroyed. Whatever happened to the two figures on either side of the cross (Mary and St John?) remains a mystery!
Note the carving on the original wood panelling behind the altar.
A wedding in September 1967 - Patricia Ramsay and Ian McNight Young - (pre-Vatican 2, with the priest with his back to the congregation)
Note the intricate wooden back of the altar (the reredos), the dark wood panelling, the altar rails, the pulpit and the open ceiling in the side passageways. Note also that there is no central aisle separating the pews; the fluorescent lighting suspended from the roof; the open arches and roof trusses of the side aisles. The altar itself has the familiar wooden columns of the present altar - just to the right of the groom. Click on the photo to see a larger image.
A visiting priest conducts a wedding in the late 60s (?) giving a good view of the open rafters above the Lady Altar.
I wonder who is most nervous - bride, groom, best man, bridesmaid or priest?
This picture is poor quality but it has been restored enough to show that the old reredos has been removed (it had woodworm!)
The altar has been brought forward so that the priest now faces the congregation. However the old altar rails are still in place!
The altar itself has a cloth with a picture of Our Lady hanging in front.
(We are not sure if this is the original altar simply covered with a cloth.)
Notice how the roof above the altar is fully open to the rafters.
A happy bride in front of the altar in 1982 - the colourful three-dimensional Last Supper panel and the carved wooden pillars and inlays are plain to see.
This happy scene of a baptism took place in 1987 (Gemma Ford). The altar rails have been removed, the pulpit has gone, the wooden panelling has been painted white and the sanctuary has been carpeted. The open ceiling has been covered over. Note also the new lectern with microphone and the large crucifix above the altar. Just behind the priest we can see the wooden pillars of the old altar now exposed again.
Several changes have taken place
The altar has been moved right up to the front of the Sanctuary. The former white-painted panelling has been replaced by light wood panelling. The carpet has been removed to reveal the original parquet flooring. The back wall has been painted brightly. The colourful 3-D 'Last Supper' is in plain sight for all to see. The new Holy Spirit stained-glass window is installed.
Produced by an Italian Artist this is a near-perfect representation of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. It has been suggested that the beardless figure to the left of Jesus as we look at the picture is Mary Magdalene, and certainly the face is very feminine, but then so are the other two beardless figures - third and fourth from the right of the picture. For a closer look - click on the picture to enlarge it in a new window.
Slight changes have been made - mainly by adding some carpeting to the central area of the sanctuary to reduce slipping dangers and keep down noise! Notice more obviously how the roof has been tiled over - probably to reduce heating costs as well as enhancing the look of the church. The figure on the crucifix above the main altar is the original figure from the original altar but the cross was re-crafted in Japanese pine by Edward Kiernan who still resides in the parish. Our thanks to John Smith for this information.
The altar now sits on the top platform above the steps giving the congregation a clear view of the Mass ceremony.