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'St. John the Evangelist'
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The chancel is the eastern part of the
church where the choir, when they are singing, and clergy sit. The
word chancel comes from the Latin cancellus
meaning lattice. It is the front part of the church where the service
is conducted, as distinct from the nave, where the congregation sits.
The chancel is an elevated section, three steps up from the nave.
The organ is situated in the chancel and information about it can
be found on the page The Organ.
The chancel is separated from the nave by steps, a rail and the arch
which has written on it:
"O COME, LET US WORSHIP AND FALL
DOWN AND KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD OUR MAKER."
The chancel roof beams, in the shape
of an A and O, remind us that God is beginning and the end, Alpha
and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. See the
picture on the left.
There is only one stained glass window in the chancel on the north
side which was erected in 1921 and commemorates the Revd. C. R. Job.
It represents 'St. John the Evangelist'.
See the picture on the right.
Sanctuary or Bishop's Chairs
and Litany Desks
The sanctuary or bishop's chairs are special chairs two of
which stand near the entrance to the chancel and two stand in the
sanctuary. They are made of wood and there are "IHS"
carvings on the backs of three of the bishop’s chairs
with another chair having "Do It
With All" carved on it. "IHS"
or "IHC" are the first
three letters of the Greek for Jesus ( IHCOYC)
(see below). At some time during Revd. Job's
incumbency in 1895 one of these oak chairs was presented by the Communicants'
Association. Two of the chairs are exactly the same, with the carving
"IHS" as shown
on the far right below. The litany desks
are prayer desks for the clergy. They are also made of carved wood.
See the other chairs and desks on the images page Bishop's
Chairs & Litany Desks.
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