High Altar and Reredos, Church of Our Lady and St. Patrick, Oldham

OLDHAM - On Sunday, 21st inst., the Church of Our Lady and S. Patrick, Oldham, was re-opened for Divine service by the Archbishop of Westminster, Dr. Manning. In addition to a thorough cleaning which it has undergone. there has been erected a high altar and reredos, which occupy all the five bays of the sanctuary. The centre bay contains the altar table, of Sicilian marble, supported by four octagonal columns of dark Devonshire marble, between which, and standing a little backward, are three panels, sculptured to represent “The Annunciation,” “The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” and “The Adoration of the Wise Men. Above the altar-table rises the tabernacle, with a richly-gilded door, and surmounted by an imposing canopy, having, as the terminal of the apex of its front, an elaborately carved cross, bearing the sacred monogram. From the centre of the canopy rises a delicately-carved pinnacle to the height of 25ft. Each of the four angles between the bays of the sanctuary contains a clustered shaft with a carved capital, on which stands a life-size statue of an evangelist. The canopies above the figures terminate in clusters of pinnacles, also 25ft high. The five bays of the reredos are divided into 14 blank tracery panels, each containing the figures of angels bearing symbols, the spandrels being filled with richly- carved foliage. The bays are surmounted by a cornice, with carved and perforated cresting: In the two outer bays are placed oak sedilia, benches, also highly decorated with carving: The whole work has been carried out by Messrs. Evan Williams and Millson, sculptors, City Road, Manchester, from the designs of Messrs. Goldie and Child, architects, London. [Building News 26 September 1873 page 353]

Sculpture            Evan Williams and Millson,

Reference           Building News 26 September 1873 page 353