21. CHILDREN’S AREA

Jesus always encouraged the little children ... !     INDEX

22. WALL PLAQUES

There is a brass plaque on each side wall. These read: ‘In Memoriam Thomas William Higgins who died August 9th 1915 aged 75 years', and ‘To the glory of God and in loving memory of our dear mother Heloise May Higgins of “Burnt Oak” Currency Creek who passed away Dec 9th 1934.’ The Higgins family were obviously valued members of this congregation.

23. SOUTH SIDE OF SANCTUARY

On this side of the sanctuary stands an interesting lectern. Attached to the wall behind is a small retable, and just out of sight in the wall to the left a brass aumbry.

24. RETABLE

A retable is a small shelf placed near the altar. It is commonly used for the placing of the Eucharistic Elements in the early part of a service.

25. AUMBRY

In congregations where the Eucharistic Elements are blessed by the priest and kept for future use, they are locked away in a small container called an aumbry. A small light indicated the presence of the Elements. The door of this aumbry is attractively decorated with a silver cross and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega representing Christ.

26. LECTERN STAND

It is not quite clear what this stand is used for: it could be used as a little table, or as the supporting base for a sloping brass missal stand. The carved woodwork is interesting.

27. ALTAR RAIL

I found the black and gold wrought iron supports for the altar rail particularly attractive. The vine leaves are an allusion to the Eucharistic Wine and the shed blood of Christ.    

28. PULPIT

Like everything else in this Church the pulpit, with its heavy base, is simple in design and functional. Yet on closer inspection we see some attractive inlay woodwork, with the front panel showing two crosses and a Star of David.    

29. ALTAR

The altar with its colonnaded front is also simple in design. The Sunday service is conducted from here, as is the celebration of the Eucharist. At left is a Glastonbury chair – a design which appears to be favoured in this part of the world. At right is the aumbry.

30. ALTAR AND CRUCIFIX

Although the altar is the centre of activity for a worship service, it is Christ who is the central focus of a Christian service. Opinions may differ as to whether that focus should be the crucified Christ, or the Risen Christ as symbolized by the bare Cross: the first option is chosen here.

31. CRUCIFIX

We can reflect on the Crucifix with the words of the Nicene Creed: ‘We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, ... For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.’ This completes our tour of the Holy Evangelists Church.