Walsingham

[organist]

I enjoyed Ann's article in the latest Music and Liturgy about the new church at Walsingham. In Together in Christ Southwark's Diocesan Bulletin for Christian Unity June 2007 there are photos of the new church which was dedicated on 26 March 2007. I must say the tabernacle looks rather odd on a pillar to one side of the altar and I cannot help thinking it might have been better placed more to one side but I don;t think I have been in the church so it's perhaps unfair to just go on the photos alone.

[RobH]

I haven't seen the article about the new church of the Annunciation at Walsingham, but, living quite near, I have visited it several times and it is, in my opinion absolutely lovely. However, I tend to agree about the tabernacle looking slightly odd on the pillar to the side of the altar. It would look a lot better if it was in the centre behind the altar. I know there's always the argument about the priest celebrating with his back to the tabernacle, but to me it is always better to have the Blessed Sacrament in the centre. I've been in some churches where you have to hunt for the Blessed Sacrament as it is so out of the way. In my own church we have just moved our tabernacle from the side aisle to the middle of the 'East' wall of the sanctuary, behind the altar where it used to be and it just looks and feels right. But I'm sure some people will have different views.

[presbyter]

Clarification please Mr Bear and Mr Doc - what's the topic? A specific church in Walsingham? The position of the tabernacle in any church?

[musicus]

It's about the new church at Walsingham. But if someone wanted to start a new thread about the wider question, that could be interesting.