THE REREDOS.
At the back of the Holy Table stands the Reredos, of richly-carved Bath stone, the general idea of the sculpture being “the one great sacrifice of our Blessed Lord,” made with blood-shedding upon the Cross, represented in the Crucifixion. Examining the reredos more in detail, it will be observed that the whole is divided into three sections of richly canopied niches by slender buttresses, upon which are angel figures holding shields carved with the emblems of the Four Evangelists. In the central section our attention is first of all directed to the offering of the Great High Priest of the “one oblation of Himself once offered on the Cross.” The sculptor has succeeded in combining that which it is so difficult to do, the true pathos of human suffering with the dignity of the Divine personality of the Holy Victim. On either side of the crucified Son of God are the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John, whilst in the two smaller niches are the figures of the two Maries, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.
The reredos and the whole of the carved work throughout the chapel are the work of Mr. Nathaniel Hitch, the well-known sculptor of Harleyford Road, Vauxhall, who has been ably assisted throughout by Mr. Harold Whitaker.