BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
In
2001, Our Lady Altar was replaced by the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The Chapel
was opened during the Holy Thursday service on 12 April 2001 by Father
Michael Lynch.
The rock on which the Tabernacle stands is called
the Galloway Stone. It came from Creetown, Wigtonshire which is only a few miles
from Whithorn where Saint Ninian, the patron saint of the Diocese of Galloway,
started his mission of spreading Christianity throughout Scotland. Saint Ninian
is buried in Whithorn.
The Tabernacle is modelled on the lantern on the
Church tower while the gates are in the same style as the railings on the boundary
wall in front of the Church.
The Sanctuary Lamp replaces the two original
Sanctuary Lamps that were on the Main Altar.
Between May
and July 2007, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel was refurbished. An illuminated
mural, depicting the Last Supper, was installed on the back wall by Gail Muir
of the Lighthouse Glass Company, Irvine. It was modelled on the Tabernacle
Doors that were part of the main Altar between 1979 and the mid 1990s. A
light was fitted inside that Tabernacle and two windows were made transparent.
Holders for books were installed on the railings, the back wall was painted
and a carpet was laid.
At the right of the picture is a framed document titled The Galloway
Stone. It text is reproduced below.
THE
GALLOWAY STONE I was born in the fiery heat of planet earth part of God's creative touch when time begun. He
raised me up to see the light of day within the sound of sea Now
from my plutonic birthplace hewn Upon
this Altar throne In
cloistered silence I now stand and guard |
Other
Blessed Sacrament Chapel photographs may be seen from the Pictures
page.