UNUSUAL ALTAR IN CHURCH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 6

UNUSUAL ALTAR IN CHURCH

The altar in St. Joseph's, the Roman Catholic Church on the Main North road, Papanui, has been thought by some visitors to be somewhat futuristic but the design for' the crucifixion scene on the reredos is based on designs in the Book of Kells which dates from about the eighth century. The figure of Christ on the Cross and the figures of Mary and John and also those of the four angels are in colour against a background of black tiles. Christ is depicted as the High Priest, the King and the Saviour. The reredos is framed by a suppressed Gothic arch of Oamaru stone with bases of white marble from Italy and red marble from Hammer. The chureh itself is also ■ un-

usual. It was originally the orthodox cruciform and seated 275. Extensions and alterations were planned but, said the Rev Father Timoney, the parish priest, the original plan could not be carried out because Of a large public drain which runs through the grounds arid cannot be built on. Alterations were made and the church now seats 550. But the building is no longer cruciform. It is almost a T in shape and the alter is in the middle of the long south wall. Thb plans for the altar and for. the alterations to the building were by Mr John Collins, senior. This was the last work he supervised before he retired. The organ in the church was the first electronic organ of its kind to be brought from Germany to New Zealand.