101. CHAIRS

Near the pulpit stand the Precentor’s Stall (right), and another stylish carved chair.    PLAN

102. DEAN’S STALL AND LECTERN

The lectern is in the form of the traditional brass eagle – the bird that flies closest to heaven, and also the symbol of St John the Evangelist. The Cathedral Dean has his own specially carved chair.

103. ORGAN CONSOLE

The organ has three manuals and 37 speaking stops..    

104. CATHEDRA

The cathedra stands on the South side of the chancel. This is the seat (‘kathedra’ in Greek) of the Bishop, and it is from here that this Church gains the title of Cathedral. The Diocesan crest with the pelican is displayed behind.

105. CHANCEL OVERVIEW

We now stand back for an overview of the chancel and sanctuary, noting the clerestory windows and roundels. The nave altar stands at front.

106. NAVE ALTAR

At front is the nave altar, and we see the high altar in the background. In the early 60s the Vatican II Council decreed that the Eucharist should be administered from an altar close to the congregation, and this also became the general rule in Anglican churches..    

107. CHANCEL ROUNDELS

The North roundel in the chancel shows the glorified Christ; the South roundel shows the crucified Christ. .    

108. CHANCEL CLERESTORY WINDOWS

The Northern clerestory windows of the chancel show from left: mothers bringing their children to Jesus, Jesus revealing himself on the Emmaus road, Jesus appearing to the disciples by Lake Galilee, the empty tomb.

109. CHANCEL CLERESTORY WINDOWS

The clerestory windows on the South side of the chancel show from left: St Peter and St Paul, St John and St James, St Andrew and St Nathaniel, St Luke and St Barnabas.

110. SANCTUARY

The chancel is the musical centre of the Cathedral where we find the choir and the organ. Beyond this is the sanctuary with the elaborate high altar, stained glass windows, plaques on either side, and sculpted panels along the back wall. The left corner arch contains the aumbry, the right corner arch the credence table.

111. SANCTUARY SIDE WINDOWS

The Northern window of the sanctuary shows incidents from the healing ministries of Christ and his disciples. The Southern window depicts the raising of Lazarus.

112. SANCTUARY TILING

When visiting cathedrals it is always worth looking closely at the tiling. Here in the sanctuary floor we see a repeated pattern of tiles bearing the Cathedral’s pelican logo.

113. SANCTUARY NORTH PLAQUES

The brass plaques on the North wall of the sanctuary remember (Eighth) Bishop Owen Douglas Dowling, (First) Bishop Mesac Thomas, and (Sixth) Bishop Kenneth John Clements..    

114. SANCTUARY SOUTH PLAQUES

The plaques on the Southern wall of the sanctuary are in memory of: (Fifth) Bishop Ernest Henry Burgmann, (Second) Bishop William Chalmers, and (Fourth) Bishop Lewis Bostock Radford.

115. SANCTUARY DECORATIONS

On the back East wall of the sanctuary are two graphic scenes showing Jesus before the crucifixion. One wonders at there being historical controversy about the crucifix!

116. HIGH ALTAR

The reredos above the altar depicts the Last Supper, after Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco, and was carved by W. P. Macintosh in Oamaru freestone from New Zealand. The tablets on either side carry the text of the Ten Commandments, Creeds and other texts.

117. TOP EAST WINDOW

Around the great East window is a text taken from Hebrews 4:14: ‘ ... we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God ...’ , and at the apex a small stained glass image.

118. CHRIST IMAGE

It is a little difficult to make out the detail here, but perhaps there is no detail!

119. GREAT EAST WINDOW

This inspirational window has the crucifixion at top centre, surrounded by scenes from the life of Christ. This completes our tour of St Saviour’s Cathedral.