61. TOWARDS THE NORTH AMBULATORY GSV GSV MP

Leaving the Military Chapel we come to an open space alongside the chancel which leads to the North ambulatory. •• There are two windows above, illuminating some more flags/colours, a cabinet to the left and a black plaque facing us. •• The cabinet contains an interesting sculpture by Praeger entitled ‘As the Shadow of a Great Rock’, with Christ shielding a group of people. Text above the figure reads: ‘The Shadow of a Great Rock in a Weary Land’. Below the figure is a list of names. •• The text on the black plaque reads: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of the men of 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (S.R.) who gave their lives in the service of their King and Country in Europe, India and Burma in the War 1939 – 1945. ... We will remember them.’    [Photos1,2 Credit: Robert Bailey]  [Photo3 Credit: Michael Pegum]   INDEX

62. ACROSS THE CHANCEL GSV Gl

This view across the chancel shows the side area with its two windows.  At left (and shown at right) is the RAMC Window. This memorial window was dedicated by HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG.GCVO. Colonel in Chief of the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 1st July 2007. It was installed through the generosity of the Royal Army Medical Corps to mark the service of the past and present members of the Corps.  [Photo Credit: Maged Michael]

63. AMBULATORY WINDOW AND CLOCK Gl GSV

As we enter the curved North ambulatory, we pass beneath this memorial to the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross. Produced by CWS Design in 2008, it shows Christ bearing the marks of the cross, depicts Fruits of the Spirit: Peace, and carries the message ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’. •• Just beyond the window, this carved grandfather clock sits in its own niche.  I assume there is some historical explanation for its presence here, but ... !    [Photo2 Credit: Niesh Giridher]

64. NORTH AMBULATORY GSV GSV Gl

We next come to a painting beneath an old version of the Stars and Stripes flag.   I have no information about the subject of the painting.  [Photo Credit: Daniel Welsch]  [Photo Credit: Angelika]

65. STORAGE(!) AND PAINTING GSV GSV

Walking round to the East end of the ambulatory we are surprised to find the choir’s wardrobe collection – probably only here temporarily! We do get a view of the Northern wall of the ambulatory and the placing of window and paintings. The painting shown at right is of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and is by French painter Jean-Bernard Restout (1732 – 1797). It is on long-term loan to the Cathedral from Samuel Greer.  [Photo Credit: Maged Michael]  [Photo Credit: Angelika]

66. APSE WINDOWS Gl x5

The apse windows make a fine display. Here from left to right we have: •• Patience, Fruits of the Spirit, produced by CWS Design, Lisburn in 1996; •• The next three panels make up ‘The Good Samaritan Window’ which dates from 1886, and illustrates the parable Jesus told. This window is the only remaining feature of the old St Anne’s Church. •• This 1998 window is part of the Fruits of the Spirit series, depicting Charity.

67. SCROLL AND CHALICE Wiki GSV

We continue around to the South ambulatory. •• here we find a scroll relating to the Kegworth Air Accident which occurred in 1989. This air disaster occurred when British Midland Airways Flight 092, a Boeing 737-400, crashed onto the motorway embankment between the M1 motorway and A453 road near Kegworth, Leicestershire, England, while attempting to make an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport on 8 January 1989. Of the 118 passengers on board, 39 were killed outright in the crash and eight died later of their injuries, giving a total of 47 fatalities. All eight crew members survived the accident. •• St Columba (621 – 697) was born in Northern Ireland, founded the Iona monastery, and from there the Gospel spread throughout Europe. The Columba Chalice recalls this great missionary outreach by reproducing relevant scenes from early Irish manuscripts including the Book of Kells on its panels.  [Photo1 Credit: Ardfern]  [Photo Credit: Ludmilla Drel]

68. SOUTH AMBULATORY WINDOWS Gl Gl

The next two ambulatory windows are by CWS Design, and date from 1997. At left we have The Incredulity of Thomas – Faith, in the Fruits of the Spirit series. At right Resurrection – Joy, again in the series.     

69. TREASURY GSV

Coming out of the South ambulatory, we pass the Cathedral treasury. Although not as extensive as some, this treasury contains a number of silver vessels, some very old, the Titanic Pall, a replica of the silver lamp used by Florence Nightingale.  [Photo Credit: Chuck Whitmore]

70. NURSE MEMORIAL WINDOW Wiki

There are two further windows before we arrive at the South transept. One of these is the QARANC Window, dating from 2007. QARANC stands for Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. The window depicts the QARANC badge and below sit the words ‘In Memory of all Military Nurses’ set in grey French glass. There is a border in Corps colours, set with Celtic crosses.  [Photo Credit: Memorialman]

71. CHAPEL OF UNITY GSV (x3)

We proceed to the South transept, where beneath the pipe organ is the Chapel of Unity.   This chapel can accommodate 50 people and is used for services of healing, morning prayers, meetings, presentations and speeches. It has three stained glass windows, and an OIKOUMENE panel. The word is Greek for ‘the whole inhabited world’. Very ecumenical!  [Photo1 Credit: Maged Michael]  [Photo2 Credit: SB Rome]  [Photo3 Credit: Raisa Mehbaba]

72. CHOIR AND APSE Wiki

Time to finish our tour, looking at the choir and the sanctuary.  [Photo Credit: Ardfern]

73. CHOIR GSV

Belfast Cathedral Choir currently consists of voluntarily adult members, who sing at both services each Sunday. They are also joined each Sunday by the Cathedral Choral Scholars. As we have seen, the choir stalls occupy the crossing, beneath the Spire of Hope.   [Photo Credit: WIESLAW PRZYBYL]

74. CATHEDRA GSV

The traditional cathedral has a special seat for the bishop of the diocese it serves. The latin word for seat or throne is ‘cathedra’, and it is from here that a cathedral gets its name. Belfast Cathedral is unusual because it serves two dioceses– Connor, and Down and Dromore. So there are two cathedra in St Anne’s, one on each side.      [Photo Credit: Harry Saalmink]

75. HIGH APSE WINDOWS Wiki

The clerestory windows of the nave are essentially plain, but when we come to the apse at the East end, the row of windows comes into colour. Unfortunately I can find no photographs of these windows – probably due to the fact that they are small and distant.     [Photo Credit: Ardfern]

76. SEDILIA GSV

We are coming to the sanctuary with its high altar. We notice the railing which separates the sanctuary from the chancel. Members of the congregation would stand or kneel here to receive communion. •• On the South side are two chairs, each with a prayer desk. Old cathedrals frequently have two or three seats in this position called sedilia – often made of stone and decidedly uncomfortable!  [Photo Credit: Maged Michael]

77. SANCTUARY GSV

The sanctuary of St Anne’s is spacious and uncluttered. On the North side we see a niche containing an aumbry: a locked box for containing the blessed Elements of the Eucharist. The latar carries a central cross and two candlesticks, and at front bears the IHS logo for Christ. (IHS are the Latinised Greek capitals for the first thee letters in the name ‘JESUS’.)  [Photo Credit: Alan HongKonger]

78. HIGH ALTAR GSV

Closer inspection shows that the woodwork of the alar is finely carved. The altar is the focus of a Cathedral worship service: it is from here that the elements of the Eucharist are administered.  [Photo Credit: Maged Michael]

79. CROSS GSV

When viewed from behind, the gold Cathedral cross picks up all the colours of the lower apse windows: a fine memory of this beautiful Cathedral.    [Photo Credit: Alison Ward]