41. AUMBRY

Close to the font is a brass plate in the wall – in reality the door to a lockable cupboard which holds the reserved Elements of the Sacrament. Alternatively it may be used to house the Holy Oils, or the altar plate and chalice.    PLAN

42. CENTRAL ALTAR

The altar on its raised platform is the central focus of the Cathedral. Interestingly, it takes the form of a table rather than a slab; sometimes this has theological implications! However, it is central and close to the congregation in line with Vatican II.    

43. PROCESSIONAL CRUCIFIX

By the altar stands the processional cross, which is a copy of a medieval design. The figure on the cross represents a transitional period in the theology of design where Christ still wears the crown of the Risen Lord, but the corpus, or body, is that of the crucified Saviour.

44. AMBO

Many cathedrals have a pulpit (for preaching the Word) and a separate lectern (for the reading of Scripture), but here the two are combined in an ambo. Somewhat atypically, the golden eagle associated with the traditional lectern is still retained.

45. GOLDEN EAGLE

The reason for using the eagle on a lectern is rather lost in history, but it has been suggested that the association may relate to Isaiah 40:31 : ‘They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles.’ An alternative thought is that there is some connection with the Gospel of John, and the eagle being the symbol for John the Evangelist.

46. PASCHAL CANDLE

The Paschal Candle stands near the ambo. This is a large candle blessed and lit on Holy Saturday and placed by the altar until Pentecost. It represents the light of Christ coming into the world, and in particular the risen Christ, as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death).

47. FINAL VIEW

This completes our tour of Brentwood Cathedral – an interesting blend of old and new. Here is a challenging question. If I was asked to design an extension to the old Gothic parish church in this location, what would I do? And would my design work as successfully as this one?