On entering the Church and standing at the back under the organ gallery, one is struck by the impressive size of the church as a whole, its height (50 ft – 15.2 m) and length from end to end (150 ft – 45.6 m), and its light airiness, being lit by so many large windows, especially the great West window (hidden behind us at this position) and the three tall windows at the far end of the Church, filled with magnificent stained glass. The eye is drawn towards the great carved stone ‘reredos’, which fills the entire space beneath the three windows of the Sanctuary as an adornment to the original High Altar, which was constructed here in 1880. The Altar is the most important element in the Church, being the place on which the Sacrifice of the Mass, the central act of Catholic worship, takes place. It is also the place where the Tabernacle contains the consecrated hosts which are the sacramental Body of Christ which we adore and receive in Holy Communion, reserved behind the veil.

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