41. VIEW FROM THE ALTAR

From behind the altar we can look back down the length of the Chapel to the West wall.    INDEX

42. CANDLESTICKS

Candles are used in many churches. Probably, this is largely tradition, stemming from a time when candles provided light to the sanctuary. On the left there is another candle with the words ‘Sacred Heart College’. To the right is the Paschal candle – a candle associated with the Jewish passover, and one which speaks to us today of Christ being the Light of the world.

43. TABERNACLE

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was a sacred place where God chose to meet His people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they wandered in the desert under Moses’ leadership. Today, a tabernacle is a fixed, locked box in some Christian churches, in which the Elements of the Eucharist are ‘reserved’ (blessed and stored) for use during the week.

44. SANCTUARY WINDOWS

The three sanctuary windows show the Risen Christ – the Sacred Heart – at the centre, with St Joseph and his identifying flowering sprig to the left, and St Mary as Queen of Heaven with the baby Jesus at right. The foreground in the central view is not correct – there was some trickery involved in taking this photograph!

45. VESTRY

This completes our tour of the Sacred Heart Chapel. But I came in here to turn off the lights, and felt a real affinity with this ‘not for public view’ place of prayer and preparation. From the left, the important clock(!), a Bible and references, a place for making notes, and behind, symbols of faith, and a mirror. An important room ... .