Furnishings
of Faith
In
July 1999, we compiled and published a booklet - now out of print -
to mark the impending centenary of the foundation of St Faith's. The
introduction below, written at that time, explains its orgins and
purpose. The index which
follows it gives access to the original articles which fornmed the
booklet, together with one subsequent addition, and with one or two
updates.
Inevitably, there have been changes in
the more than ten years since
these pieces were written, and we apologise for any inaccuracies or
omissions. The line drawings referred to below, which featured in the
porinted book, are not at this tnme part of the online ediutioon.
Nevertheless, this archive may provide a useful resource for those
interested in our church, its history and its many features, whether
acquired at its foundation or added over the years.
Introduction
Since its foundation a century ago, there have been various
publications from St Faith’s: magazines, leaflets and a number of
histories of one sort and another. However, there seems to have been no
attempt yet to write systematically about the fixtures and fittings of
the church, other than passing references in magazines to the
installation of some of those furnishings, and brief descriptions of
them in editions of the current St Faith’s guide booklet.
With the coming of the Centenary, and the emergence of various people
with an interest in such matters, we decided to commission a series of
articles in the church magazine Newslink on various aspects of what
might be termed the hardware of St Faith’s. Those with special
knowledge, responsibility, or just interest in various aspects of the
subject, researched and wrote about the subjects that now form the
Contents page below. There was no particular brief: each writer tackled
his or her chosen subject in his or her own way: the resultant
anthology therefore has no visible editorial policy and does not bear
the mark of a single hand or outlook — but it may be all the better for
that.
In these pages, then, you will read something of St Faith’s as a
building, and of its artifacts. We hope it will prove both interesting
and informative, and that we haven’t missed out anything vital. What is
certain is that this is not a definitive descriptive history, but a
series of different attempts to explain and inform. You will find
things left out, and questions left answered — and we hope that
somewhere out there there are further answers waiting to be given and
more facts to record for a later edition. Editorial additions to
certain articles bring the story up to the date of publication.
In the meantime, this first record of our ‘Furnishings of Faith’ is
offered to mark the Centenary of the church. Neither guidebook, history
nor devotional manual, it is nevertheless presented as a thankoffering
for 100 years of prayer and praise in this household of Faith, for
which our contributors, and this writer share (if they share nothing
else!) a deep and abiding loyalty and affection. I am more than
grateful to the various contributors to these pages, hoping that they
will forgive some of my titles for their articles. Especially I thank
Eric Salisbury for valuable editorial assistance and, of course, for
the series of line drawings which lighten these pages.
Chris Price
July, 1999
Contents
Click on titles to access individual
articles
The Architecture of St Faith's
Eric Salisbury
Coming Out of the Woodwork - A
Feast of Craftsmanship
Chris Dawson
Through a Glass Darkly - The
Windows at St Faith's
Chris Price
Thoroughly Brassed Off
Ron Rankin
Embroidering:
the
Truth Frances Luft
The Organ at St Faith's George Gilford
Joseph Bell and the 'Titanic' Disaster Denis
Griffiths
Other
Memorials, Tablets and Ornaments
Chris Price
The Salviati Reredos - Angels in
Fixed Amazement Chris
Price
Hang Out the Banners Audrey Dawson
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