The roof of the chancel/sanctuary displays the same fine timber work as the ceiling of the nave. INDEX
22. TOWARDS THE CHANCEL
We stop here to take our bearings, as we proceed to the chancel and the sanctuary. On the very left we notice a coat of arms beside the cathedra with its bishop’s staff. Following around the walls, we see two colourful stained glass windows, and then the great East window. A low wooden screen separates the chancel from the sanctuary.
23. FROM THE CHANCEL
And looking back we see where we have come from. Looking to the left of the cathedra, we notice the crest on the support of the Gothic arch, the dean’s stall, a wooden lectern, the pulpit, and a hanging banner with the crest of the Gippsland Diocese.
24. CREST
The crest on the support of the Gothic arch is the crest of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). The inscription at the bottom translates to: ‘I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding also’. This verse comes from St Paul’s First Letter to the Church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:15). The shield commemorates a long association of the Cathedral with the RSCM.
25. CATHEDRA
This Bishop’s throne would do justice to any English Cathedral. Beautifully carved, it was presented in 1902 to mark the enthronement of the First Bishop of Gippsland, the Right Reverend Arthur Wellesley Pain. It was donated by Mrs Lyon of Somerton Park in memory of her husband James.
26. CATHEDRA DETAIL
The carved canopy of the cathedra is very ornate.
27. BISHOP’S STAFF
There are two bishop’s staffs. This modern one is usually by the throne. It signifies that the bishop’s residence is in the See City of Sale.
28. CHANCEL WINDOWS
The windows on the Northern wall of the chancel contain scenes relating to the life of St Paul. At left we see Paul’s friends Luke and Timothy. The left pane is a thank offering from Arthur Welch. The right pane is in loving memory of Rose France. At right we see the Apostle Paul preaching in Athens. The inscription underneath reads: Paul said, ‘Men of Athens, God is not far from any one of us.’ The windows were given in memory of Alan Ferguson who died 5.8.1977. They were given by his wife Shirley and family.
29. ALTAR RAIL
The sanctuary is separated from the chancel by a finely carved wooden altar rail. The tapestry kneelers are a reminder that the Cathedral is the Mother Church for the many parishes in the Diocese of Gippsland. Each kneeler is inscribed with the name of a parish or church centre in fine needlepoint work. These were made by people from across the Diocese in a project led by parishioner Elizabeth Mackenzie to mark the 75th anniversary of the Diocese, commemorated in 1977.
30. HIGH ALTAR
The high altar is a fine example of good craftsmanship. It is typical of many wooden altars found in Gippsland churches, although this one is executed on a grander scale. On the front it carries the Alpha and Omega symbols and the IHS cryptogram for the name of Jesus.
31. SANCTUARY LAMP
The sanctuary lamp hanging from the roof is always alight, symbolizing God’s presence, and the continual watchfulness of the Church on earth. It was presented in 1957 and commemorates two former parishioners, Richard and Eliza Cherry.
32. PASCHAL CANDLE
Candles play an important part in Cathedral worship illustrating part of the light and darkness dichotomy, and also the claim of Jesus : I am the Light of the world (John 8:12). Votive or prayer candles are often used by those offering prayers. A decorative candle like this one would be used for special ceremonies and seasons of the year.
33. PLATE
33. This ‘gold’ plate is inscribed with the Alpha and Omega symbols, and also the Chi-Rho (for Christ) symbol. This plate would be used to receive the congregational offerings week by week.
34. EAST WINDOW
The East window is one of the older, more traditional windows in the Cathedral. The three lancet windows depict Christ. The central pane shows Christ as Saviour of the World. The inscription ‘Salvator Mundi’ is written below. The right pane shows Christ as the Good Shepherd: ‘I am the good Shepherd’ is inscribed below. The left pane shows Jesus as the Light of the world. The inscription reads: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’. The centre light is the Dr. Floyd Minter Peck memorial window and originally came from the first church built in Raymond Street, Sale. The left light is also by Ferguson & Urie and is a memorial to Edward Crooke, but was created twenty years later in 1887.
35. EAST WINDOW DETAIL
This shows the centre of the Eastern Window in greater detail.
36. GRAVE MARKER
A brass plaque set in the floor of the Sanctuary on the left of the Altar marks the final resting place of the ashes of Bishop George Harvard Cranswick and Mrs olive Carr Cranswick. Bishop Cranswick was the second Bishop of Gippsland in an Episcopate lasting from 1917 to 1942.
38. SEDILIA
On the South side of the chancel there is a Gothic arch. This used to be the location of the organ, but now leads through to a rebuilt Lady Chapel. There are six sedilia, or clergy stalls here. Three commemorate Archdeacon Allen E. Adeney and his wife Francis. The other three are in memory of Archdeacon John H. Blundell, Canon in Residence, 1935 – 43. Traditionally sedilia are stone seats, the word sedile being Latin for ‘seat’.
39. GABLE CROSS
The cross at the top of the Gothic arch commemorates the work of the Deaconesses in the Diocese. Inscribed on the cross are the words: ‘A Servant of the Church’. We shall finish our exploration of the nave before returning here.
40. ORGAN
The pipe organ stands against the South Wall, just West of the arch separating Nave and Chancel. This was restored in 1981, and is one of the oldest pipe organs still in use in Australia. Built by George Fincham in 1882 for music teacher Dr J. S. Summers, it was purchased from him for St Paul’s in 1884 at a cost of £290. In front of the organ stands a beautifully executed brass eagle lectern which reminds us how the Christian Gospel has spread to the furthest corners of the world. The lectern Bible commemorates the life and work of Dora Ellen Beadle, who was involved in the St Anne’s Grammar School, and was the first female Chapter Clerk at St Paul’s, and in fact, in Victoria. It was dedicated by Bishop Arthur Jones in 1999.