Construction

Construction

"If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labour..."   

Psalm 126 (127): 1 


The 'first dig'

On the Feast of the English Martyrs, 4th May 2011, the prioresses of three Carmels each put a spade into hard, stony soil: the construction of the new monastery at Maryton had begun. Work would continue until the spring of 2013 and, for a while afterwards, the finishing touches. The Feast of the English Martyrs was of particular significance as one of them, St John Almond, was born and bred in Allerton. We like to think that, as a child, he might have played on this same ground, walking daily to school at nearby Much Woolton. St John Almond is now the patron saint of our local area, whose priests regularly help our chaplain by supplying for Mass.

Blessing of the foundation stone

Martyrs were again prominent on 17th July 2011, when Archbishop Patrick Kelly laid the foundation stone of the monastery in the presence of the sisters, architects, builders and a few close friends. The pouring rain did not dampen our spirits! This time we were under the patronage of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne, whose feast is celebrated the day after the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 

The sisters of the Compiègne community were victims of the French Revolution because they refused to abandon their convent during that period of acute persecution.  The patronage of such martyrs on these two momentous days in the construction of the monastery, gave us the courage to face all that lay ahead!

Building progresses

There was much to discuss, decide and correct regarding an undertaking of this size. It was necessary to visit the site regularly and be imaginative and decisive. Here we see the church in progress, before the grille was erected.

The church windows

The windows installed in the back of the church are of coloured glass. They were designed by one of the sisters who chose each piece of glass herself before the windows were skilfully made by a glass designer. The design spans three long windows and symbolises God the Creator, in a circle of “white light” glass, from which emanates shards of all colours, depicting the variety and splendour of creation, flowing from and returning to the central light. The narrow red glass spiralling through the design represents the Holy Spirit, uniting the whole picture. Coloured light covers the church walls when the sun shines through the windows.

The church windows

The windows installed in the back of the chapel are of coloured glass. They were designed by one of the sisters who chose each piece of glass herself before the windows were skilfully made by a glass designer. The design spans three long windows and symbolises God the Creator, in a circle of “white light” glass, from which emanates shards of all colours, depicting the variety and splendour of creation, flowing from and returning to the central light. The narrow red glass spiralling through the design represents the Holy Spirit, uniting the whole picture. Coloured light covers the chapel walls when the sun shines through the windows.
"Everyone doing the building must work carefully. For the foundation, nobody can lay any other than the one which has already been laid, that is Jesus Christ. On this foundation you can build in gold, silver and jewels, or in wood, grass and straw, but whatever the material, the work of each builder is going to be clearly revealed when the day comes."

1 Cor. 3: 10-13
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