Sheffield Anglican Cathedral is a beautiful place of worship. Last week by the time one of the group meetings I go to in an afternoon had finished it was dusk and the atmosphere in the various areas of the church was even more inspiring as the evening lights came on.
The new St. George's Chapel with the Holy Spirit Chapel
and the Crypt beyond (accessed via a flight of steps).
This Advent five prayer spaces in different areas of the cathedral have been set up including a Prayer Labyrinth drawn on the floor of the old St. George's Chapel. (Prayer labyrinths were used in medieval cathedrals. Unlike a maze they have only one path, the inward journey to the centre and the outward path back. There are no dead ends). On the four pillars surrounding the labyrinth there are thought-provoking words or scriptures to inspire the visitor as he/she walks slowly around. The prayer spaces have a piece of creative visual art installed there. Each one was inspired by the Advent Antiphons that are sung in churches in the days before Christmas describing God's saving work in Christ and although it's not known when or by whom they were composed they were in use by the 8th century.
The High Altar
The Shrewsbury Chapel
detail from the stained glass window in St. Katherine's Chapel
This will be my last blog post before Christmas Day as our daughter is coming to stay tomorrow and we shall be enjoying her company and also getting together with our other daughter, our son and their families. Thank you for your friendship and support especially during the health challenges I've experienced during the last six months. I wish you a happy Christmas, Hanukkah Shalom to those who celebrate this festival and, above all, a peaceful time during the holidays for everyone.
