We now come to stand at the entrance to the Chancel, between the rails. This is the central point of the Church, from which we can gain a complete view of the main parts of the building. First, we look towards the Altar, and so we are facing East, since the most ancient Christian custom is to face East in prayer and especially in the Mass, since it is from the East that light comes at dawn, that greatest natural symbol of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the origin of new life. At the centre of the Sanctuary (literally the ‘holy place’) we see the altar on which Mass is celebrated. It came from the former Convent of the Sisters of Mercy which stood close by in St John’s square until it closed in 1978, when this altar was brought here as a memorial to the work of the sisters in this parish for well over a century. It is decorated by three painted wooden panels showing motifs from the Apocalypse (or Book of Revelation): in the centre the Lamb who was slain but is now risen, a symbol of Christ, holding the banner of his victory, and standing on the book sealed with seven seals; and on either side the elders who worship him with prayer represented by bowls of burning incense, just as it is used during the most solemn celebrations of Mass to this day.
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