10. THE SANCTUARY

We move through the choir to the east end. There are many elements that combine here to make the Sanctuary a splendid creation, humanity's response to the awareness of God's grace.

First we notice the elaborate wrought brass rails and the communion kneelers made by the Cathedral Embroiderers. Beyond the rail is the floor tiled with the best Minton tiles from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. On the lower level is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, carrying a pennant, the risen Christ who has overcome death through his own sacrifice. On the upper level is "the Pelican in Her Piety", another ancient symbol of Christ who gives his blood for those he loves, enclosed in the Latin legend: "You have redeemed us in your blood". In legend the pelican is said to feed her young with blood from her own breast. The symbol is on the Diocesan Coat of Arms.

The High Altar itself was carved by Jones and Willis of Exeter in 1916. It is in memory of Bishop Barlow, the third Bishop of Goulburn. At the centre is the Paschal Lamb - the Easter sacrificial lamb "without blemish" who is Our Lord. It is becoming plain that the repeated theme of the Sanctuary is that of sacrifice, of "giving yourself to God", and in particular of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Above the altar the Last Supper, after Leonardo da Vinci's fresco, is carved in Oamaru freestone from New Zealand by W.P. Macintosh. Bas-relief representations of the great fresco abound, but this particular one is a work of considerable inspiration with a liveliness in the sculpturing that is rare.



Again the theme of self-giving is found: Jesus breaks the bread and offers the wine to his followers, saying: "This is my Body", and "This is my Blood". There is great drama in the scene portrayed as some of the men are asking John (on Jesus' right) who he said would betray him; Judas waits his opportunity with moneybag in hand to slip away to the Temple guards. Thomas, with upraised finger, is at the left of Jesus. The table setting is imaginative. The piece was given by Mrs. Thomas in memory of her husband, who died in 1892. Flanking the sculpture are panels with the words of St Paul from 1 Corinthians 10:16.

On either side of this ornate reredos are the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Our Father. After the Reformation, it was the fashion in England until the nineteenth century to have these texts occupy the place where, in medieval times, scenes from the life of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin or of some of the popular saints were depicted. Below these texts can be seen the four gospel symbols: St Matthew is represented by the man, St Mark by the lion, St Luke by the ox and St John by the eagle. The symbols came originally from the Book of Daniel. In early Christian times they were taken to represent the four Evangelists.On each side wall of the Sanctuary is a niche flanked by marble columns that support a carved canopy of white stone. Its arch leans forward towards the top and is known as a "nodding canopy".

The niche on the right contains the credence table for Communion vessels; the one on the left contains an Aumbry, a small cupboard holding oils and the Reserved Sacrament. Near to it is a white light that signifies that Christ is the light of the world.