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The Church of the
Assumption today.
The external masonry is
rock-faced with local
Carne granite. The
dressings on doors,
windows etc. are in
Whitehaven red sandstone
and bands of the same
material are continued
at intervals around the
walls. The tower and
spire with its cross
measure 112 feet from
the ground. Over the
entrance door, there is
a large stained glass
window. Further up is a
niche containing a
full-length statue of
Our Lady and the Child.
Above all is a handsome
new clock.
In
the entrance porch there
is a black marble holy
water font dedicated to
the memory of Rev.
Walter Harpur, C.C., who
died in 1868. The white
marble Baptismal font
near Our Lady's altar is
also dedicated to his
memory. Three narrow
stained glass windows at
either side of the porch
contain titles of Our
Lady from the Litany of
Loreto.
Inside the high vaulted
ceilings with ribs of
groining in Caen stone
are particularly
attractive. This stone
from Normandy was also
used for all the
internal corbels. On
either side of the nave
separating it from the
aisles are six arches
standing on seven
graceful pillars. The
bases of the columns are
of Carlow granite, the
sub-bases white Sicilian
marble, the pillars of
Co. Cork red-veined
marble and the caps of
granite with a finely
executed medallion head
of a saint in Caen stone
over each. An arcading
of Caen stone panels
with shafts of green
Connemara marble is
continued at the rear of
the high altar. A
corresponding rail
topped with red marble
and with brass gates in
the centre separates the
sanctuary from the nave.
Three pinnacles with
floral and foliar
decorations form arched
canopies over the
Tabernacle with
statuettes of St. Joseph
and Our Lady and the
Child at either side.
Between the Tabernacle
and the statuettes are
four elliptical niches
with angels, three of
whom are holding
instruments of the
Passion and the fourth,
the veil of Veronica.
Overhead is written
Adoremus In Aeternum
Sanctissimum Sacramentum.
The
panel at the front of
the high altar depicts
the Coronation of Our
Lady with the
Annunciation and the
Nativity on either side.
Gold leaf has been used
to highlight and define
certain areas and images
in the sanctuary. The
Crucifix over the
Tabernacle, the six
brass candlesticks and
the four brass plant
stands further enhance
the area and contrast
effectively with the
white marble floor. An
old sanctuary lamp
holder which lay damaged
for several years has
now been restored and
suspended over the
sanctuary.
In
the wall high above the
altar are three stained
glass windows - the
Crowning of Our Lady by
Christ at the centre,
St. James the Apostle
and St. Margaret of
Antioch on the left and
St. Aidan (patron of the
Diocese of Ferns) with
St. Ibar on the right.
The centre quatre foil
window over all shows
the Holy Spirit in the
form of a dove, with
angels acknowledging
Mary as Queen of Angels
on the sides. In the
square panels below are
angels playing the lyre,
harp and zither.
On the right side altar
is a statue of the
Sacred Heart, the
ancient Crucifix and a
statue of St. Therese
with a statue of St.
Anthony. Above are stain
glass windows with St.
Joseph, St. Patrick and
Jesus as the Good
Shepherd.
On the left side altar
is a statue of Our Lady
of Lourdes. The window
behind shows Our Lady
Queen under the title
Lilium Regis with
the Archangel Gabriel
greeting Our Lady at the
Annunciation on the left
and over all the Holy
Spirit in the form of a
dove. The narrow windows
to the left of the altar
show Saints Joachim and
Anne, parents of Our
Lady. This area also
serves as a Baptistry
with a baptismal font
and a highly ornamented
brass candle holder for
the Paschal candle.
On the side altar to the
left of the sanctuary
stands a beautiful
statue of Our Lady of
Lourdes. The window
behind shows Our Lady
Queen under the title
Lilium Regis in the
left panel and in the
right panel the angel
Gabriel greeting Our
Lady at the
Annunciation. |
