S. Philip’s Chapel
S. Philip’s Chapel
S. Philip’s Chapel
S. Philip’s Chapel is the last remnant of the old church, and dates from 1858. Newman often offered Mass and gave discourses here. The only significant change is that before the building of the new church the entrance was at the other end and it was at the large gate there that the ancient Cardinal would sit to watch the ceremonies of High Mass. The building of the new church also meant moving one of the three bottle glass windows above the altar; the balance was somewhat restored by adding two dummy windows. According to the original plan, once a separate chapel for the exercises of the Oratory could be built, this chapel will become a sacristy, replacing the temporary one still in use.

    The altar, of Derbyshire alabaster, was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) and the rest of the sanctuary is by his son. The altarpiece is another copy of Guido Reni’s S. Philip. The chapel was redecorated and restored in 1984-1985 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of F. Philip Lynch. As a result of this work the altar gained the three panels which reproduce the design on the tabernacle doors. Happily these panels were executed by Mr Patrick Feeny who had designed and supervised the decorations of 1959.

    The columns at the rear of the chapel are copied from those in the Cappella Palatina in Pelermo, which Newman had sketched while on his Mediterranean voyage in 1833. Above, are placed portraits of several saints: on the front SS. Charles Borromeo, Ignatius Loyola, John Leonardi and Felix of Cantalice, all friends of S. Philip; on the rear SS. Cecilia and Sebastian.
Relic Case
Relic Case     


   The chapel houses the fine wooden gilt case, made by Sr Ernesto Sensi, which contains a large number of beautiful reliquaries and interesting relics, in particular some of the English Martyrs SS. Thomas More, John Southworth, Philip Howard , Oliver Plunkett, Cuthbert Mayne and Edmund Campion. There is a fine bust of S. Philip, a relic of the True Cross and relics of most of the great post-Reformation saints, in addition to some relics of SS. Gregory the Great, Anthony of Padua, Thérèse of Lisieux and an autograph of her namesake, S. Teresa of Avila.

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