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History of the Altar

The altar is a monolith of stone incised at the four corners and in the center with stylized crosses.  The magnificent stone altar is seldom to be seen in all its stark simplicity except following the Maundy Thursday service when it is stripped in preparation for Good Friday.  The four beautiful frontals in the liturgical colors of white, green, red, and violet were also gifts from the early women of the church in honor of Bishop Benneft's wife.

The beautiful and intricate oak woodwork above the altar is also in perpendicular gothic style and serves to soften the effect of the massive stone pillars and walls of the church, and leads the eye upwards with its delicately carved spires.

The painting designed and executed by New York City artist, Justin Purvis, took more than a year to complete.  Its three panels are made of 3-ply mahogany covered with. gesso, a plaster of Paris mixture combined with a glue made of rabbit skins.  At least 8 coats of gesso were applied, sanded smooth between each application to guard against warping due to changes in humidity.  Rather than the customary oil-based paint, Purvis elected to employ a very difficult medium with a base made of egg yolks.  This medium demanded that each brush stroke be perfect as it was impossible to paint over or paint out any brush strokes.  The method employed assures a virtually impermeable and imperishable painting whose colors will remain vivid for as long as the painting exists and permits gentle cleaning when that is necessary.

The three panels of the painting have a two-fold theme - the first motif being the story of the nativity and the second emphasizing the dynamic spirit of Jesus Christ.  In the left panel a shepherd looks in through a window, in the center panel two magi and a shepherd are "lost in wonder, love and praise" as they contemplate the Holy Family while in the right panel we see the third Magi and another shepherd.  The scene is deliberately kept very simple with emphasis on curving lines radiating from the Babe.  Note the ass who is curious, the cow who is attracted by the radiance of the Star of Bethlehem, and the dove representing the Holy Spirit, which descended upon Christ at his baptism.  The dove is almost hidden behind the woodcarving.  The many constellations are correctly oriented for the time and place of Christ's birth.  They include Hercules "the Kneeler", Bootes the herdsman, Virgo the virgin, Corvus the deer and lastly, Crator, the Holy Grail.

 Have you ever noticed that beneath the communion rail there is a Latin inscription taken directly from, the Holy Eucharist, "This is my body given for you, this is my blood given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me." There is also a Latin inscription taken from Scriptures on the pulpit, which loosely translated means, "If the trumpet sounds an uncertain note, who will be prepared?"