Saturday, August 21, 2010

Pantokrator for Longbenton

I am glad to say that Sr Petra Clare has completed the large Pantokrator for SS Peter and Paul`s, Longbenton. Unfortunately it is not yet in place as there have been delays with the holidays. It is still in its crate. I`m very keen to see it. Sister has however sent some photos of the completed icon. Here they are. Next item will be the Coronation of the Virgin to go above the Annunciation icon at St Mary`s, Forest Hall.

And here is where it will go (on the centre panel where the outline of the former cross can be seen.

14 comments:

Fr Ray Blake said...

It is very splendid, I am very jealous.
She really is a remarkable painter, you are very fortunate to have some of her work.

+D said...

Love the icon,and very nice to see a decent crucifix hanging above the altar in St's peter and Paul,....not before time.Could I suggest a Laudian altar frontal which would make the sanctuary less severe.

Andrew Plasom-Scott said...

It looks fabulous Father. I hope it inspires many prayers and acts as a window into heaven for all who look at it.

1569 Rising said...

Splendid, a great asset to the church, congratulations

Anonymous said...

Sr. Petra Clare is a great iconographer and does workshops at Belmont Abbey with Dom Dyfrig each year. These are absolutely beautiful, and I agree with Fr. Blake - you are indeed lucky to have some of her great work.

Rubricarius said...

It is certainly a very inspiring work.

I beg to differ with +D and whilst empathising with his excellent taste would suggest a more 'classical' or even Byzantine style set of antependia should be used.

1569 Rising said...

Father,

Your blog has been sadly lacking in surrealness (is that a word?) recently. Your fan club is having to vent its spleen on Holy Smoke, Guido Fawkes, Ian Dale and such like fooleries instead.

So potatoes,burning beds, trolley buses, Milvain Club Nunnerly (is that a word?) Dancers, abandoned statues,Austrian hijacking, Harriet Harpic, the Millipedes,(both)- these inventions of a feverished and fertile brain are being left to rot in some forgotten and deserted ecclesiastical backwater.

Rather like the statue, when I come to think of it.

Fr Michael Brown said...

Thanks 1569. I must make the effort and start writing again. I suppose I could always fall back on `what I did in my holidays`.

1569 Rising said...

Father, how absolutely exciting! I cannot wait, have you got some pictures to go with the account?

I could reciprocate: I have been to Seahouses for a day, Consett twice, Gateshead four times, and even went to Birtley to count the wheels on trucks, and to check up on men with thick necks.

Life is unbelievably stimulating.

ScepticalBeliever said...

Before 1569 suggests that you provide photos of your holidays I think he should give us his own pictorial delights of his exciting (and adventuresome)forays into the lesser known parts of the North East. He might also enlighten us as to his means of transport because some parts of the area apparently do not yet have tarmac roads. Or, indeed, any roads.

1569 Rising said...

Sceptical Believer,

I could do a slide show presentation of the most scenic and touristy aspects of Consett, Gateshead and Birtley, but what would we do after the first 5 minutes?

Dunelm said...

For 1569 and Sceptical Believer.

This is slightly off theme but deserves a response. The tourist areas of Consett and N W Durham are a delight to behold if you know where to look. After driving along The Slonks in Shotley Bridge to Stinky Burn you could then go up Mutton Clog Bank and past the Jelly Ponds with the old slag heaps on your left. Having feasted on the exhilarating scenery of the Derwent Valley you could then head towards The Snods via Devil's Dip and return via Cutler's Hall where the great German swordmakers once produced the finest swords in Europe. Very soon afterwards you will come across the parish church of Our Blessed Lady Immaculate in Blackhill in which Cardinal Wiseman gave the first sermon at its opening in 1857.
The roads are in a reasonable condition and we even have the smallest cycle path in the country in Consett which travels for precisely two yards. This was such a talking point it was covered by the national papers and TV. We have much to boast about.

1569 Rising said...

My Dear Dunelm,

I am so grateful for the tourist guide, I can't wait to pass the Jelly Ponds - is it painful?

My mistake is approaching the Red Dust City from the high side, Hat & Feather and Number One. (Is there a Number Two?)

But you can't compete with the Barlow Cheese Quarries and Treacle Wells.

ScepticalBeliever said...

ScepticalBeliever has been denied access to the internet for some time! Yes, a crying shame and disgrace but a nice lady in India has sent me a new 'Hub' and I am once again, as I believe the xpression is, 'on line'. My heartfelt thanks to Dunelm for his guide to the Consett area and I am now making plans to go there within the next twenty years or so. I can hardly wait but petrol is so expensive...