New Baptistery model

The models of the new buildings continue to take shape. Here is a cut-away view of the Baptistery, the link between the existing church (behind you) and the Newman Chapel (to the right). On the ground floor the Font, naturally. To the left a Confessional, with wheel-chair access. On the next floor a gallery, overlooking the font, but also with a balcony over the Newman Chapel, and into the back of the Church. Above that, through the open door you can glimpse the Chapter House, so called because it has a pillar in the middle, just like York Minster. The pillar is actually a "light tube" which will catch natural daylight and funnel it down to the font two floor below. The Chapter House will be used for choir rehearsal, because it connects on te level with the choir gallery (behind you!), and to the right with the music archive. But the Chesterton material will also be in rooms to the right, so the Chapter House can also be used for exhibitions of that and other archival material.

Our New Patron

We have another Patron and defender to add to our existing list - none other than Bernard Longley, Ninth Archbishop of Birmingham, and tenth successor to Newman's friemd William Bernard Ullathorne. He is an old friend, and we are very glad to welcome him to our campaign. He will be coming to Oxford on Sunday 18th April to celebrate the High Mass, and to meet parishioners and friends.

Inside the new Chapel

A more detailed model of the new chapel, baptistery and cortile is gradually taking shape. If you look inside the chapel you can see the amber light shed over the altar, back-lighting the sculptured group, which appears to represent the Transverberation of Blessed John Henry Newman, and is meant to remind you of the Bernini sculpture in Rome of St Teresa. On either side of the altar are statues of St Athanasius, Newman's first love, the saint who aught him about the Development of Doctrine, and St Francis de Sales, whose portrait hangs in Newman's private chapel.

Of course, it may take some time before these greatr works of art are ready. What we hope to do this generation is to get the structure of the chapel up and useable.

Bingen to Binsey

Coming soon - The Grandeur of God, a musical oratory featuring the music of Hildegard of Bingen - well, she actually lived at Disibodenburg which is up the Nahe valley from Bingen, very picturesque in the spring, though only a few tumbled stones remain of Hildegarde's house (pictured) she was a polymath and poet though perfectly orthodox.

Also we feature the poetry of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins, former curate of this church, noted for not knowing that poplar trees have to be felled, all felled, before they become dangerous, but they do grow rather quickly. Binsey poplars feature in the paintings of Roger Wagner (at present on display in the church across the road, St Giles) . The stained glass figure is in Binsey church - it probably does not represent St Frideswide.

The narrator of the oratory will be Robert Hardy, best known as an expert on the mediaeval long bow (much involved in exploring how the ones found on the Mary Rose were used), also something of an actor (former Minister of Magic, you remember...). All this with singing by Vox Angelica. So -- Hildegard, Hopkins and Hardy, in our Church, in aid of our Appeal, on Friday 12 March at 8:00. Tickets £10, or £8 if you are slightly older than me, or £5 if you are struggling students. From the Lodge here at the Oratory, or the Playhouse in Beaumont Street.