61. LAMP AND DECLARATION OF UNITY
As the ambulatory reaches the Southern end of the curved apse wall, we come to this Lamp of Unity with a Declaration of Unity below. This commemorates the visit of the Pope to the Archbishop of Canterbury on 29 May 1982. The Declaration is a pleasing recognition of the ongoing work of reconciliation between the Roman Catholic and Anglican communities. INDEX
63. ICON CROSS AND PRAYER BOOK
Behind the altar of the Holy Spirit Chapel is the Icon Cross. This is a Greek cross with four arms equal in length, and containing icons relating to heaven and hell, saints, and Christ in the centre. Between the two chapels is a small desk with a Prayer Book.
64. BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
The (lower) altar in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful piece of carving designed and executed by two of Queensland’s leading artists of the early twentieth century: Godfrey Rivers (an artist) and L J Harvey (a woodcarver). It shows two women of Israel weeping over the dead bodies of their baby boys killed by King Herod when, after he was told of the birth of Jesus, he ordered the death of all baby boys under the age of two. On the altar stand two candlesticks, a tabernacle and cross.
65. TABERNACLE AND CROSS
On the altar of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel stands a locked tabernacle, in which is kept the blessed Elements of the Eucharist. These are then available for ministry during the week. On top of the tabernacle stands an interesting cross with stalks of grain decorating the arms, and a Yorkshire rose at centre. There must be a story here!
66. SOUTHERN CHAPELS WINDOWS
Across the Eastern wall of the Southern chapels are four pairs of lancet windows. The four lancets at left form a set depicting (from left) St Alban, St Augustine, St Oswald and St Hilda. The four lancets at right also have a uniform design and feature (from left): St Aidan, St John of Beverley, St Cuthbert (holding the head of king and martyr St Oswald), and St Chad (holding a model of Lichfield Cathedral). [Right Photo Credit: Wikimedia John Robert McPherson]
67. CHAPEL SOUTH WALL
On the South wall of the chapels is a further window depicting two saints. Alongside is a plaque in memory of Lieut-Colonel and Mrs Kenneth Hutchison. There is also a large crucifix.
68. REGIMENTAL COLOURS
The rear of the Southern Chapels is separated from the choir area by four hanging Regimental Standards. It is a common practice for such standards of disbanded regiments to be given into the care of cathedrals for safe keeping.
69. COIN COLLECTION
A rare collection of more than 150 coins dating from 600 BC to the present was given to the Cathedral anonymously and is housed permanently near the end of the Southern ambulatory. Cathedrals often receive gifts that they feel obliged to keep!
70. CHAPEL SOUTH SIDE WINDOWS
We have seen one window on the South wall of the Southern chapels. There are in fact three more, shown here. From left: •• St Patrick, and early missionary St Ninian; •• St Martin, and St David – Welsh bishop of Mynyw during the sixth century; •• St Etheldreda (died 679) – queen, foundress and abbess of Ely. This last window is one of many Cathedral windows designed by William Bustard and made by R.W. Exton & Co in Brisbane.
71. CHILDREN’S CORNER
Beneath the St Etheldreda window is a children’s corner. A colourful banner on the wall eludes my interpretation!
72. SOUTH TRANSEPT
We have now arrived at the South transept. A framed parchment tells of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel: we saw a similar parchment hanging by the Lady Chapel. The transept has an interesting array of stained glass windows, but first we look at the various items in the Southeast corner.
73. SOUTH TRANSEPT CORNER
A painting on the wall here shows perhaps St John recording his Gospel story? •• Below is a blackened stone capital from the blitzed ruins of All Hallows Church, Barking, London. Rev’d P.B. (Tubby) Clayton was chaplain there. He was the founder of Toc H, a Queenslander, and was instrumental in rebuilding that particular church after WWII.
74. A WIDER VIEW
The Gallipoli Flag hangs nearby on the adjacent wall.
75. GALLIPOLI FLAG AND INFORMATION
The plaques at right give information about the transept windows, and about the Canterbury Cross which we shall come to soon in the Oratory. The main feature on this wall is the Gallipoli Flag. This flag was used throughout the Gallipoli Campaign by an Anzac chaplain, The Rev’d Captain Alexander Maxwell, a Queenslander. The flag is a Union Jack with the words ANZAC, and EGYPT SALONICA displayed. Before the War, Salonika (Thessaloniki) had the largest Jewish community in Greece. This was destroyed by the Germans between 1941 and 1943.
76. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOWS
A basic description of the transept windows can be found on the plaque of #75. The plaque also lists the people that are commemorated by the gift of the windows. The content of the windows is as follows. Top Centre: The Crucifixion. Top Left and Right: Witnesses to the Cross down the ages. Lower Left: Melchizedek offering Abraham bread and wine on his return from battle. Lower Middle: Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac. Lower Right: the fighting forces receiving Holy Communion.
77. TRANSEPT SIDE WINDOWS
The side windows of the transept are a long way away! The East windows shown at left depict: Martha, Mary (with Christ), Ruth and Naomi, Dorcas. The West windows shown at right show: Elizabeth Fry, Florence Nightingale, Edith Cavell, the New Guinea martyrs.
78. TO THE ORATORY
Immediately West of the South transept is The Oratory. As we pass through we note the brown plaque on our right which gives us all the information on the side transept windows.
79. ORATORY
In the oratory we notice immediately the dramatic crucifix, but also the lamp, the Canterbury cross on the right wall, the floor mosaic, and the three stained glass windows. There is a little plaque on the right wall too which gives information about the baptismal font which was once located here.
80. ORATORY CROSS
The crucifix is by Nickolaus Seffrin. The work was given in memory of a midshipman and 81 other sailors who perished in the H.M.A.S. Voyager disaster in 1964. Cathedral notes state that the figure suggests triumph through suffering. Certainly the suffering ... .