Each of these two windows features the Sacred Heart. At te top there is a symbol: at left ‘M’ for Mary, and right ‘IHS’ for Jesus. At the bottom of each there is a crest. The crest at left has the motto ‘Fiat Voluntas Tua’ (Thy will be done); the right hand crest is indecipherable. PLAN
22. MUSIC CORNER
At the East end of the North nave aisle is a music corner, with an organ console, and some choir seating.
23. ORGAN CONSOLE
A new four-manual digital organ was installed by Makin in 2002. While digital organs are still uncommon in cathedrals, the current instrument has a versatile stop list and is an improvement on its predecessor, with speakers located in the clerestory windows above the nave to help with choir and congregational singing. This replaced a two-manual pipe organ by Jardine, installed in 1951.
24. ACROSS THE NAVE
We next move across the Cathedral past the cathedra to explore the South nave aisle.
25. SOUTH NAVE AISLE
There are in fact four stained glass windows on this side of the nave. There are also three sets of doors to confessionals. A confessional is a stall in most Catholic churches in which the priest sits to hear the confessions of penitents. Some churches use the more modern term ‘reconciliation room’.
26. SOUTH NAVE AISLE WINDOWS
From left, the four windows depict: • Sacred Heart design(?) with text ‘Behold, the Virgin will conceive and bear a son’ and below ‘I have compassion on the crowd’; • BVM symbol and below a Nativity scene; • ‘Glory to God in the Highest’ and below ‘William Turner, Bishop of Salford’; • Lily with illegible text, and below a bishop kneeling before Madonna and Child.
27. SOUTHWEST CORNER
There is one further window, at the West end of the South nave. The window has the text: ‘In the beginning was the Word’, and above and below ‘St Augustine’ and ‘St Qeddus’. Gabra Manfas Qeddus was an Ethiopian Christian saint, and the founder of the monastery of Zuqualla. Below this window is the brass plate with information about the nearby Great West Window.
28. STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Around the walls of the Cathedral are carved Stations of the Cross. These were presented in 1989 by the de la Salle brothers of Hopwood Hall. Pictured are: V Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross, and VI Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. The Stations of the Cross are used as an aid for Christians to follow the last hours of Jesus’ life.
29. CATHEDRA, MADONNA
This view is from the front of the nave looking across towards the South transept. We observe the cathedra at left, and a statue of the Madonna and Child at right.
30. CATHEDRA
This view is from the front of the nave looking across towards the South transept. We observe the cathedra at left, and a statue of the Madonna and Child at right.
31. MADONNA
Statues of the Madonna and Child Jesus are very common. One might have to work through the significance of this crowned St Mary with Jesus holding an orb and cross ...
32. PASCHAL CANDLE AND AMBO
On the North side of the nave altar is this little collection: a baptismal font, a Paschal candle and an ambo. The font and ambo have obviously similar characteristics in their design. The ambo serves as a pulpit and also as a lectern. The Paschal candle has particular significance around Easter time, with the candle illustrating that Jesus is the Light of the world.
33. ALTAR
The traditional high altar has been replaced by this nave altar, in line with the second Vatican Council announced in 1959. The idea is that the altar should be close to the congregation, and that the officiating priest should be facing the people. It is from here that the Mass is regularly celebrated.
34. ALTAR TO SOUTH TRANSEPT
We are going to move back across to the South transept, seen at the right of this view.
35. SOUTH TRANSEPT
The South Transept became the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in 1884, and was designed by Peter Paul Pugin (1851 – 1904) – an English architect who was the son of the famous architect Augustus Welby Pugin. We notice too, a large painting at left, and leadlight windows on all three walls of the transept.
36. PAINTING OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
Hanging on the East side of the South transept is this painting of Pope John Paul II. It was painted by local artist Harold Riley in 1982. Harold Francis Riley DL, DLitt, FRCS (Hon), DFA, ATC was born in 1934 in Salford. He sold his first painting to the Salford Museum and Art Gallery when he was aged 11.
37. EAST WINDOWS OF SOUTH TRANSEPT
There are two windows in the East wall of the South transept, each with two lancets. From left, there are four symbols: • Two palm leaves, a crown and three stars (Messiah and Kingship); • Pelican on nest (legend of mother pelican feeding her chicks with blood drawn from her breast); • Chalice and wafer (communion symbols); • Sacred Heart (love of Christ for mankind).
38. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW
The main South transept window has four lancets. The three picture windows above depict a chalice and wafer, the ‘Chi/Rho’ symbol (for Christ) and the ‘ihs’ symbol (for Jesus). The four lancets show the symbols and names of the Four Evangelists: angel (Matthew), lion (Mark), ox (Luke) and eagle (John).
39. SOUTH TRANSEPT ALTAR
The marble altar sits against the South wall, bearing a golden tabernacle with nesting pelican above, and four candles. Behind is an oak-panelled linen-fold reredos with gilded painted scenes from the life of Christ. Above the scenes is the text in damaged lettering: ‘+ Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Iesus +.’
40. SACRED HEART AND TILED PANEL
At the left end of the altar is a statue of the Sacred Heart – Jesus welcoming the congregation to share in his life. Across the front of the altar is a horizontal step with ornate tiles: the central tile here depicting the mother pelican giving her blood to feed her young.