On 22nd November St Anthony of Padua parish in Edgware installed a new stained glass window by Sophie D’Souza in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrement.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel plays a central role in Edgware Parish, with exposition from 6.00am to 10.00pm daily. The tabernacle is designed to also be a monstrance, allowing people to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. The window is on the eastern side of the Church meaning that the coloured light falls on the chapel throughout the morning.
Mgr Martin Hayes, Parish Priest at St Anthony of Padua, spoke of the importance of involving the community in the design process. Proposals of the design were displayed and comments encouraged. The resulting final design, Fr Martin said, “was a combination of Sophie’s own creativity and the ideas of the parish into what we see before us.”
Sophie D’Souza, the artist and designer, spoke of the symbolism of the Eucharist behind the design of the window. “The red, shining from the Lamb of God, is traditionally a colour associated with the Holy Spirit but also reflects the blood of Christ. This combined with the white surrounding the Lamb brings you back to the Eucharist”.
The parish was able to purchase the window through money raised through the diocese’s Growing in Faith fundraising initiative. Other projects that are being undertaken in the Parish from funds raised from Growing in Faith include disabled access and toilet facilities in the church, an independent flat to provide accommodation for a retired priest and extending capacity in the church.
