Baptistery and organ loft

Baptistery

The Baptistery, to the left of the main entrance as you come in, has a screen which was probably added a bit later. This is evidenced by the screen part covering a headstop. Enclosed by pierced tracery carved stone screens and a wrought iron gate in a similar style to the rest of the church.

The Octagonal Caen stone font is carved with symbols of the Evangelists. Each of the four Evangelists is associated with one of the living creatures, usually shown with wings. Shown here is Matthew the angel, Mark the lion, Luke the winged ox or calf, and John the eagle. There is also a celtic cross and the medieval latin for ‘Christ’ in between each evangelist panel. The evangelist panels on the font were mentioned in The Tablet article of Saturday 27 December 1851, on the opening of the church, so the font was in place then.

Organ loft

In the restoration  carried out in 1965 by the architects Myles and Deirdre Dove, commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the Rt Rev. Mgr JJ Farrell, the work included the insertion of a timber choir loft with a new organ, and a porch below. Panelling of nave and aisle ceilings was carried out, and a timber confessional to the right aisle added. 

The organ is a two manual and full pedal board ‘Eminent’ with 31 speaking stops. It is reached by climbing the spiral stairs to the gallery.