21. PAINTING, BANNER

At the East end of the nave wall is a painting and a Mothers’ Union banner. The Mothers’ Union appears to have been very strong in these country churches. The painting is a copy of ‘The Martyrdom of St Stephen’ by Antonio Carracci. Antonio Marziale Carracci was an Italian painter who lived from 1583 to 1618.    INDEX

22. NORTHEAST CORNER OF NAVE

On the Northeast corner of the nave we find a processional Cross and an icon. The Cross is a budded Cross with a Celtic style circle. It was brought out from England in the 1860s for the first Church of St Stephen in Willunga. The icon depicts St Stephen.   

23. SOUTH WALL OF NAVE

The design and layout of the South wall of the nave is similar to that of the North wall. The most noticeable difference is that one of the windows here is of stained glass. At the West (right) end there is a photograph on the wall: we have already looked at this.

24. TWO BANNERS

The two banners on this wall both illustrate quotes from the Bible. At left we have ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, says the Lord’ from Jeremiah 29:13. And at right, ‘Unto us a child is born’ from Isaiah 9:6.   

25. MADONNA AND CHILD

The original of the colourful framed print of Madonna and Child was painted by Francesco Cozza (the label is misspelt). Cozza (1605 – 1682) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He is best known for his expansive ceiling fresco, Apotheosis of Pamphili House (1667-1673) in the library of Palazzo Pamphili in Piazza Navona in Rome.

26. GOOD SHEPHERD WINDOW

The window is entitled ‘For so he giveth his beloved sleep’ – Psalm 127:2. It was given in memory of Richard and Elizabeth Hill and their family.

27. BANNER AND FONT

The baptismal font at right is inscribed with the words from Mark 10:13 about bringing little children to Jesus. Baptism is regarded as the initiation rite for entering the Church community. The banner at left is interesting. I believe it to represent St Stephen although I have been unable to confirm this. The symbolism would be three stones and a victory frond.   

28. SANCTUARY

The sanctuary occupies the apse. It has three windows, although the central window is screened to give protection from the setting sun. We note the altar rail across the front, the exit door to the left, and a Crucifix and blue processional Cross to the right.   

29. ALTAR RAIL

There are attractive altar rails on either side of the approach to the sanctuary. These are used on Sundays by members of the congregation coming forward to receive the Elements of the Eucharist. The interesting blue processional cross at right is something between a truncated celtic cross and a sun cross.

30. NAVE ALTAR

It is not immediately obvious, but there are two altars within the sanctuary. The altar closest to the congregation in a church is called the nave altar, and it is from here that the Eucharist is administered. This altar is in memory of James Stanley Malpas. Malpas was a farmer at Willunga who had studied at Roseworthy College and served in the 27th Infantry Battalion. He died aged 64 years in 1937.

31. HIGH ALTAR

Against the far wall of the apse is the high altar. This bears two candlesticks and has the words ‘Holy Holy Holy’ across the front. A cross behind makes a focus for congregational worship. Below the altar is an emblem with the symbols discussed previously.

32. CRUCIFIX

At the South side of the sanctuary hangs a small crucifix. This is a reminder of the death of Christ on the Cross. This Jesus is Saviour, Redeemer, Lord – the reason this Church is here. This completes our tour of St Stephen’s.