Inside St Saviour's

Whilst writing this article I have spent some time in the Lady Chapel and have been reminded of the history and dedication of our ancestors as well as marvelling at the beauty of the new peaceful chapel.

Those of us who have worshipped at St Saviour’s for many years will remember the old, much smaller Lady Chapel. Prior to 1985 it consisted of the current pews and an altar behind which was a curtain and picture.

Behind that curtain there used to be the windchamber and organ loft housing about 1494 pipes belonging to the organ which was located in the chancel ever since it was built in1900 by Hope Jones

In 1941

the landmine which fell on the Carnarvon Castle removed the church roof and also damaged the organ chamber and pipes were scattered all over the chancel! The organ was rebuilt in 1948 by Rushworth and Dreaper but by the 1980’s it became clear that it was becoming unreliable and that St Saviour’s needed a new organ. Eventually, after much searching, organs were purchased which could be amalgamated and rebuilt in Oxton to give the wonderful instrument that we have today. The organ has moved to a platform built high up across the north transept

The positioning of this is much better as the pipes are able to project their sound more easily into the body of the church as opposed to being further away in the chancel and it also freed up space behind the curtain on picture 2 for the development of the Lady Chapel. The new four manual organ console moved to its current position in the south transept and from here the organist is in an excellent position to hear the organ, the choir and the congregation.

The disadvantage of all this refurbishment of the organ was that the new construction blocked much of the view of the beautiful windows situated in the north transept within the Lady Chapel (pic 4) and which had been given in 1902 by the Beausire family of Noctorum, and so in 1987 these were moved and replaced with plain glass. The windows which were moved show Isaiah and David on the left and James and John on th

e right

and these can now be seen and admired perfectly from the Lady Chapel. The rose window above these was stored when moved from the north transept but then in 1993 the PCC agreed that it could be positioned in St Andrew’s which is where it can be seen today. All these windows were designed by Sir Edward Burne–Jones and executed by William Morris.

The Lady Chapel as we know it today is more spacious. The late Mr David Perrin designed the extension utilising the area previously taken up by the organ chamber. The beautiful domed effect yet simple wooden roofing was designed to represent the hull of a boat and the concealed lighting gives a pleasing ambience. The plain cross behind the altar was crafted and donated by one of our parishioners Mrs Margaret Sutton and it gives a beautiful spiritual focal point. The new and movable altar was given in memory of Connie Glyn Jones who had died in 1984 and this was consecrated by the Bishop of Stockport, the Rt Revd Frank Sargeant in 1989.

Beside

the north wall there is an encased Book of Remembrance given by Doreen Lloyd - the page of which is turned daily.

As well as the new additions, the Lady Chapel has some early features. The memorial tablet to the first vicar of Oxton the Rev William Cockcroft who was vicar from 1848 – 1858 is to be found on the west wall. This marble tablet had been erected originally on the north wall in the first St Saviour’s Church (which was replaced in 1891 by the present building) and it can be seen on a picture of the interior of the first church. This picture was given in 1866 by Catherine King, one of a great family of patrons and benefactors, and it is now hanging in the Lady Chapel. It has recently been beautifully restored and is a fitting memorial to the late Roger Spencer who loved the treasures of this church

The old aumbry is still retained in its original place (pic 2). This is a cupboard in which the Reserved Sacrament is kept and is useful when the sacrament is needed to be taken to the sick or housebound. The aumbry was placed here in the time of Revd Charles Whereat – vicar from 1955 59.

A Lady Chapel in any church or cathedral is, by definition, a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary and because of this the Mothers’ Union makes it a special worship area. All the hassocks in the current chapel have been worked by members of the Mothers’ Union as a recognition of their Golden Jubilee in 1976. The M.U. banner designed, worked and given by Mabel Lane in 1987 is to be found there

Today, as I write, I have just heard of the death of a dear friend the Rt Revd Hugo de Waal former vicar of St Johns, Blackpool, former Principal of Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge and former Bishop of Thetford. I needed somewhere to go - to be alone, to show gratitude for all I learned from him and to reflect. The Lady Chapel was perfect and I am grateful to all the benefactors, artists, designers and craftsmen who have given us this special corner of St Saviour’s.

(Acknowledgements to former editions of the Oxton Oulook, Oxton St Saviour by Rev J Mullett 1970s, Built to Serve a Growing Community 1991 and The Parish Church of St Saviour, Oxton by F Beazley 1930)