The Dome & Organ


The Dome
The Dome
The dome is best viewed from in front of the sanctuary gates. It is some 120’ from the floor to the top of the cross on the summit of the lantern. The mosaics in the pendentives represent the four major prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Those within the drum are of a much later date and depict the four Evangelists with our Lady as Queen of the Oratory and SS. Peter, Paul and Philip.

The Dome at Night
The Dome at Night
   Also best viewed from the sanctuary gates is the choir gallery and the great organ. The arcading which supports the gallery consists of two parallel rows of four columns each, the front row of Verona marble, the back of alabaster. Both the grille of carved wood gilt and the organ casing are by Ernesto Sensi.
The Great Organ
The Great Organ
It is a massive piece of work – the central wreath is 8’’ deep at the thickest part and the rose petals are 4’’ long.

   The great organ, incorporating pipes from an earlier instrument, was built by Nicholson of Worcester. The whole organ was rebuilt in 1987 by Nicholson of Malvern and has included new solid-state capture system and action, modifications to the winding system and a certain amount of tonal revision. It comprises four manuals and sixty-one stops.

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