You are here: A building history tour > Main Worship Area

The Nave

As you come out of the east end of the chapel into the nave, you will see our memorial table (21). This was bought after Wesley Southbank Rd’s centenary and flower festival and given by Frances Thomas in memory of her parents, and the Memorial book inside is very significant for many in our congregation and many people choose to have the names of relatives inscribed in it following a funeral. The flower pedestal that is often nearby was given in memory of Mary Wilkinson. Between the vestries and the Chancel is an alabaster wall memorial for the years 1914-18. (22) It contains the names of 247 men who served in the forces and 35 who gave their lives. Above it is a full-sized angel figure bearing in one hand the palm of victory. The Easter Candle stand, next to it, was given by Kath Pullen in memory of her parents. There is access to the former choir vestry and the clergy vestry to the right of the war memorial.

Please scroll down the page to learn about the Chancel

The Chancel

The Chancel is accessed via the dwarf alabaster walls, (23) again donated in memory of Roger and Agnes Grundy by their daughter Jane, who also donated other items in the chancel. The chancel is full of beautifully crafted wood, beginning on the right hand side with the Priest’s stall which contains carved figures of two angels. These portray both prayer (24) and praise (25). Opposite on the North side, the oak desk is embellished with four similar figures which depict the four attitudes adopted in prayer: adoration, penitence, supplication and intercession. (26)

The beautifully crafted Choir Stalls were made by the firm of Hemms of Exeter (27/28) At the east end of the stalls, the figures of a trumpeter (29) and a harpist (30) adorn the ends. Some of the carving and stained-glass are described by an expert as of ‘Cathedral quality’ and if you look around the sanctuary area you will see why. The Sanctuary walls are all panelled crafted in oak and were the gifts of Emily Calvert and Jane Allan, and the east wall, the gift of the congregation (31).

The Holy Table is beautifully carved in Austrian oak, and another gift from the Misses Macrae. In the centre are a chalice and paten with the Alpha and Omega, separated by uprights on which wheat and wine are depicted (32).The oak reredos, given by Mr James Bradburn, is carved in relief and is a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s well-known picture of the Last Supper (33). The re-table panel, the gift of Mrs F Brooks, sums up the Gospel with the carved words  ‘God so loved the world’. The 3’ high brass cross that sits in it was presented by Mary Littler in 1920.

Above all the carved woodwork is the towering East window (34). The upper part represents Jesus at home in Bethany in the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, with panels of faith and hope on either side. The lower part comprises five lights of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the figure of St Philip, the patron saint of the original church. Beneath it is the inscription “Erected to the Glory of God and in thankful memory of Divine Mercy and Pastoral Care by Mary Henderson. CH Hatfield MA Vicar 1891”

Stained glass windows on either side of the sanctuary portray on the south side, the ‘Good Shepherd’ and the ‘Light of the World’ (35) and on the north side, ‘The Bread of Life’ and ‘The True Vine’ (36). The South Window was given by Mary Littler in 1927 “for the greater glory of God, an offering of thanksgiving” and the north “in affectionate memory of Emily Calvert, who died January 1927, beloved and honoured by her daughter Annie, who gave this window”. Beneath the window on the north side is the Bishop’s Throne (37) given in memory of Thomas Littler. In the past there was a three manual pipe-organ in the chancel, but this is no longer there, though some of the pipes still remain (38).