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Just as sacred art can 'speak' to minds and hearts that are open, so too can sacred architechture speaks its own language.
If you haven't visited the other pages for Our Lady of Walsingham Church, you might want to go back and do so before proceeding with this page.
In ancient times, cities were walled to protect the residents from brigands and invaders. Many images can come to mind as once ponders the design and elements in the new Our Lady of Walsingham Church. For instance, the bell tower suggests a strong, fortress like look - a reminder of how secure and enduring the Faith is. By following the Way taught here, we too - like those ancients in walled cities - are protected from the dark invaders of the soul. The stone in the edifice reminds one of the Rock Who we are called to build our lives upon. The many crosses on the exterior of the church point to the Lord and His Sacrifice- which is commemorated within.
Just as a building has doors, so to our mind and hearts have 'doors' as well. Open yours as you step within these strong, yet inviting doors to explore the wonders within.
One of the first things noticed as you enter the narthex of this church is the modest, yet inviting image of our Lady of Walsingham. Set on an antique, it is a reminder of how ancient this devotion to our Lady is. The rising smoke from the simple candle in front of the statue symbolically carries our prayers to the heavens and His Throne.
As one enters the nave, or main body of this church, there are many traditional elements immediately visible to those who appreciate sacred architecture. Yet there are striking new elements to be found here as well. The Church is ancient yet ever new. The sense of the holy Presence is felt in the quiet, reverent atmosphere to be found here.
Soaring ceilings pull the eyes and the mind up - 'to heaven.' Powerful arches support the structure of the church just as the Faith of the Church supports our spiritual life. These arches also 'point up,' as it were, one of many reminders that we come to this place to worship the One Who alone makes all good things possible!
If you were standing at the north end of the nave, and looked left, this might be the view that you would see. The round windows up high have a Eucharistic suggestion. The windows closer to ground level are arched in a similar style to the stone arches here. These arched windows - which will someday have stained glass in them - have multiple sections. Among the elements you might notice are the circle at the top and the Cross. These again point to the timeless, sacred action that occurs in this holy place.
Icons representing the 14 Stations of the Cross surround the nave. Some of these stations are seen in this picture. The stations are positioned near wall lights which at a glance look like they are crowned. The simple yet noble design that is visible everywhere draws the mind to God in prayer. One of these elegant stations are shown below.
Approach the crossing of the church - where the nave and chancel and trancepts meet - the Cross from the original Our Lady of Walsingham Church is clearly seen over head. Here we see Christ on the Cross, shown as our Priest, Prophet and King! The reredos, altar and tabernacle quietly call us ever closer to the most sacred space in this holy place.
All Catholic Churches have an 'assent' or steps leading up to the altar. This is suggestive of so many elements in sacred history as well as the call to us all to 'ascend' toward heaven by seeking to live holy lives. Stepping up one level onto the chancel, the bay windows surrounding the sanctuary reveal shafts of light that penetrate the darkness that we'd otherwise experience. Flowers flank the altar, the bloom of life for the One Who alone gives us all Life!
Most of the time, 'frontal' altar cloths cover the beautiful icons that you see above. Should you have the joyful occasion to come to this church, remember the three icons behind the frontal. Jesus in the center - Lord of the Universe - Who freely binds Himself to the Way of the Cross out of His great love for us! His Mother, to our the left, seems to be pointing to Jesus - a reminder of her words at the wedding feast of Cana - "Do what ever He tells you."
Depending on the liturgical event or season, one of many frontals are available for this altar. The sanctuary lamp reminds us of the Real Presence in the Tabernacle. The reredos in the new church was modeled after the one found in Walsingham, England. St. Catherine of Alexandria is on our left, and St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, is to our right. In the center panel of the reredos we see the Crucified Christ, with Mary and St. John at the foot of His Cross.
Let us take a few steps closer towards the altar...
The words 'Ecce Agnus Dei,' Latin for 'Behold the Lamb of God,' are found beneath the Tabernacle. This Tabernacle is modeled after the Ark of the Covenant, as described in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 25. Notice that God commanded that the images of two angels be crafted and placed on the Ark. This alone should tell us that images are not forbidden, if God Himself commanded that they be made. What the Commandments forbade was the worship of any image or thing, other than God Himself. The angels remind us how these glorious heavenly messangers worship the One True God, Who is found in every Tabernacle.
A still closer view of this Ark of the Covenant style Tabernacle shows that its doors are marked with the Hebrew alphabet's first and last letters. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega - in Hebrew letters the Tau and the Alph - the First and the Last, the Beginning and End of all Creation!
Since Hebrew is read right to left, the Tau is on our left side on these doors.
Notice that the Ark - as described in Scripture - was supposed to be carried by the poles clearly seen. It was too holy to touch. This should humble all who receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. God is so holy that He wanted the Ark - which contained the tablets of His Commandments in them - to be untouched. Yet, the Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ, comes into our very bodies in the Eucharistic sacrament! We too become tabernacles of the Trinity beginning with our Baptism, and we have that Tabernacle purified by sacramental Confession and it is filled anew at Communion. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord! Great God of Power and Might! How humble He is to come to us under the form of bread and wine! If we were to see Him in all His glory, we would truly tremble at the thought of approaching Him.
Looking back from the chancel, towards the north end of the nave, we see the choir loft in the photo above. The medieval and English flavor of this church comes alive as we look up towards the arched, wooden ceiling. From this viewpoint, to the left of the double doors, the window to the cry room can be seen. To the right is the entry to the confessional.
The choir loft and organ above helps to build the sound and encourage the congregation in singing hymns in Our Lady of Walsingham Church. This classical design naturally avoids the theatrics that might otherwise tempt souls called to serve the congregation in this fashion.
From the chancel, a step to the east and looking up reveals the huge circular window above the trancept that is called in this church the Martyr's Chapel. Just as the 'eyes are the windows to our souls' so too windows are the eyes into and out of a church. This window will one day be replaced with a stained glass image. The current setting is quite appealing - at the heart of this circle is a circle. This suggests the Eucharist - the heart of our world and our lives. From this Eucharistic center are rays or petal like extensions. When the faithful are nourished by the Eucharist, they are called to share that grace as light to the world.
The Martyr's Chapel offers many attractions to prayer and contemplation. The statue of St. Jude, once located in the original Our Lady of Walsingham Church, is now found here. St. Jude seems to be framed by an arch behind the statue, he is one of many martyrs who has fed the life of the universal Church suggested by this beautiful arch. To our left from St. Jude, we have candles available for our prayer intentions. To our right, we see St. John Fisher, another martyr with a particular tie to the history of the Church in England.
One of the truly spectaular features of this sacred church is the model of the "Pieta" by Michelangelo. This Pieta, unlike the original, is done in color. It recalls the moment when our Lord, having died on the Cross, is placed in the arms of His Sorrowful Mother. Truly, both Jesus and Mary understand the sorrows of our life! We have great recourse to them in prayer, when ever we feel the stresses. strains and the crosses of our own life.
The western trancept in this church is known as "Holy House." It is a reminder of the origins of the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England. Unlike so many apparitions of our Lady, where a request was made to build a church, at Walsingham England, the request by our Lady was to have a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth to be built there. Walsingham is thus known as England's Nazareth. The Holy House naturally calls to mind for us the Holy Family. It is a model for living that is so rich in meaning and need in our own times. The statue of Our Lady of Walsingham is to our right from the Tabernacle, both of which were from the original church. Chairs, kneelers and candles are available here for worship and prayer before the Real Presence reserved here.
Thank you for taking our tour of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church. Please visit this page again soon to see more photos and downloadable pages with more information about this parish, the Anglican Use within the Catholic Church and the original shrine in Walsingham England.
Or better yet, why not visit this holy place in person? Plan to spend a some time before and after Mass. You'll be moved in ways that may surprise and inspire you. "Awesome is this place!".
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