61. ALTAR

The altar is the centre of Sunday worship. It is from here that Sunday services are conducted and the Eucharist administered. A Vatican decision of the 1960s determined that priest and altar should be close to the congregation, with the celebrant facing the people.   PLAN

62. CATHEDRA

The churches of a diocese are overseen by a bishop who is based at one of those churches. This is that church for the Portsmouth Catholic Diocese, and is signified by the presence of the bishop’s chair or (in Latin) ‘cathedra’. Hence this Church becomes a ‘Cathedral’. The coat of arms belongs to Bishop Philip Anthony Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth. The motto translates to ‘In the heart of Jesus’.

63. CHRIST IMAGES

On either side of the cathedra, archways lead through to the side chapels. At the apex of each arch is an image of the risen Christ – perhaps with the underlying thoughts of ‘ascended’ and ‘Christ the Rock’. In Italian, the name of the surrounding curve is mandorla ("almond").

64. APSE ITEMS

Behind the cathedra screen are a number of small items. At centre is a lectern with the liturgical readings for the day. Against the wall in the centre is a sculpted image of St John, patron of this Cathedral. And to the left, set in the wall, is an aumbry for holding the reserved Elements of the Eucharist.

65. APSE WINDOWS

The Great East window was designed by Arthur Buss in the 1950s. It shows the Trinity with Christ and God the Father seated side by side, and the dove of the Holy Spirit above. The side windows show a throng gathered around – a crowd of great and small, ‘important’ and ‘ordinary’. Here there are saints, disciples, bishops, along with families with small children.

66. ROOD CROSS

We conclude our tour of St John’s Cathedral by focusing on the powerful portrayal of Christ on the rood cross. The ornate Cross carries the images of the Four Evangelists at its tips, and is set off by the brown vaulted timber ceiling. The sacrifice of Christ is at the centre of Christian belief.