41. ST PAUL’S CHAPEL AMT WH

The impressive ‘Sea of Faith’ tapestry beneath the East window has roundels representing the variety of local community groups.  The glass roundel with the three fish imagery is inset into the top of the modern round table of the Chapel.  INDEX

42. EAST WINDOW AMT

The East window with glass by Kemp and Towers depicts from left to right, St Peter, Holy Mary, Christ on the Cross, St John, and St Benedict (Leominster was a Benedictine Priory). It was installed in 1922.

43. ORGAN PIPES WH WH

The organ is used regularly as a teaching instrument, used particularly by the Diocese of Herefordshire Organists Training Scheme and for other training opportunities by a variety of organ societies. The Priory welcomes visits from organ societies, and other interested parties, every year. The Priory is also one of the dwindling number of churches that retains its historic and very active choral tradition. It has a Church Choir for the main Sunday Service and for a monthly Choral Evensong, as well as for special festivals within the Church year.

44. SOUTH AISLE AMT

Finally we come to the South aisle. There are four impressive stained glass windows on the South wall at right, and beside the organ pipes is the Lady Chapel. This has its own East window, and we can just see a set of stone sedilia against the South wall in the corner.

45. PRESENTATION WINDOW AMT

This window in the south aisle is by Geoffrey Webb, 1938. It shows the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The baby Jesus is being blessed by Simeon, while Mary and Joseph and Anna look on. Tap / click here for some magnified images.

46. EPIPHANY WINDOW AMT

The next window is the Epiphany Window. It shows the coming of the Wise Men to Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

47. NATIVITY WINDOW AMT

This next window is one of three windows in this Church by the studio of Charles Eamer Kempe. It shows a Nativity scene with the shepherds coming to worship. The presence of a lone bagpiper needs some explanation! Some more detailed images can be found here.

48. ANNUNCIATION WINDOW AMT

This 1898 Annunciation window on the South wall of the Lady Chapel is also by the studio of Charles Eamer Kempe. As well as picturing the angel Gabriel speaking to Mary, the bottom panels show Moses and the burning bush. Tap / click here for some more details.

49. SEDILIA RM

Below the Annunciation window in the Lady Chapel we find a set of old stone seats or sedilia. These are of the Decorated Period. They show the marks of the fire of 1699.To the left is a piscina of the Early English period, probably moved here from the central nave of the same period (1239).

50. PISCINA WH

A piscina was a stone basin near the altar in Catholic and pre-Reformation churches used by priests for washing their hands or ceremonial objects such as chalices and goblets.

51. LADY CHAPEL EAST WINDOW AMT

The East window of the Lady Chapel is by Martin Travers & Lawrence Lee. St John writes down his vision of ‘A woman clothed with the sun’ in this reference to Revelation 12:1. Tap / click here for some closer views.

52. LADY CHAPEL WH

During the 13th and 14th centuries Mary became a focus for veneration and therefore the building of Lady Chapels spread and became the most important site of worship in many churches. To this end, around the end of the 14th century, a chantry of the Blessed Virgin was founded in a new rectangular building added beyond the then East end of this Norman church. The Chapel contains a simple altar, a statue of the Madonna and Child, icons, and kneelers commemorating the Mothers’ Union.

53. LADY CHAPEL ALTAR CROSS WH

At the centre of the Chapel altar is an interesting Cross, reminding us that Christ and his crucifixion is central to the Christian faith. This completes our tour of Leominster Priory.