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The Cross
 
The cross suspended over the sanctuary was designed and sculptured in copper by Mr. C. Toogood, who also made the font cover. The fact that the cross is in a modern abstract form should stimulate discussion as to its meaning and significance as a symbol of our Faith. The sculptor will have had some meaning in his mind as he worked on the cross, but there can be as many interpretations as there are viewers. A simple plain cross would be immediately obvious and once having been seen would tend to be ignored. This cross will attract attention and study. You may like it, you may dislike it, but you cannot be indifferent to it.
 
The Ammonite
 
An ammonite is a fossilised whorled shell which once contained a now extinct animal related to the squid or octopus. Ammonites, which are millions of years old, were originally found only at Whitby, but they can now also be found in Southern England, having been brought down from the North by ice sheets during the Ice Age fifty thousand years ago. They vary greatly in size, from a mere inch to eight feet across. Three ammonites form the Whitby coat of Arms.
 
As these fossils are found in Whitby, where St. Hilda founded her Abbey, the ammonite is as strongly associated with her as the shamrock is with St. Patrick. Legend says that Yorkshire experienced a plague of snakes and Hilda got rid of them by turning them into stone. People invented the legend to explain the existence of the ammonite which resembles a snake curled round. The fact that miraculous powers were attributed to Hilda indicates the saintly regard with which she was held in those days. If you look at the picture on the front cover you will see three ammonites lying at her feet.
 
The three ammonites in the plaque in the Church were brought from Whitby by the Rev. E. J. Moore to serve as a tangible link with the church of the past and the life and work of our patron Saint.
 
An Ammonite
An Ammonite
 
The Ceramic Plaques
 
The three ceramic plaques in the porch were brought from the porch of the Church Hall. They were presented by Mr. Denis O'D. Hanne, the Architect who designed the Church Hall. They depict St. Hilda, St. Colman crossing the River Lagan and Sir Fulke Conway. In 1609 Sir Fulke inherited a lot of the land around Lisburn, then known as Lisnagarvey. Under him the village was very much improved and expanded. In 1623 the Church of St. Thomas was opened, later to be named Christ Church and raised the dignity of a Cathedral for the United Dioceses of Down and Connor.
 
The Silver Trowel
 
The Silver Trowel was presented to the Governor of Northern Ireland, Lord Grey, by Mr. George Best, the builder, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Parish Church. It was then presented to the parish by the Governor on the occasion of the consecration of the Church.
 
The Gift Book
 
The Gift Book contains a list of all the items presented to the parish, the names of the donors, and where applicable the names of the persons in whose memory the gifts were made.
 
The Organ
 
The organ was a gift from St. Andrew's parish church, Belfast, which closed in the Autumn of 1970, the year in which it markes the centenary of its dedication. (It was dedicated on the 21st April, 1870).
 
It is not known precisely when the present organ was installed by Telford and Telford of Dublin, but it can be assumed that it was built comparatively early in the history of St. Andrew's.
 
The Telfords built hundreds of organs both for churches in Ireland and others overseas, and all were characterised by sturdy and lasting craftmanship. This organ, a two manual tracker action instrument of moderate size, originally intended for a lofty church, has been adapted to suit the new site. A new Discus blower replaces the original which was too large for the current position. Apart from the substitution of a fifteenth (2') and a Larigot (1 1/3') for the Bourdon and the Oboe on what was largely a tenor C Swell, the manual stops remain as before. A new pedal board replaces the out-of-date original pedals and as there was only one manual to pedal coupler, the pedal action was electrified. The former solitary Bourdon (16') was retained but augmented by the addition of the old Swell Bourdon which is now available in 16', 8' and 4' pitch.
 
The Collecting Plates
 
The four collecting plates were brought from holidays in Jugoslavia by the Rev. E. J. Moore.
 
The Church Bell
 
The Church Bell, which was obtained by the Rev. H. McKelvey, was cast in 1850 and made by Redmonds of Belfast.
 
The Chapel of Rest
 
The side chapel was built as a Chapel of Rest to be used by those who wish to accept our Lord's invitation to come apart and rest a while (Mark 6, v. 31). A prie-dieu is placed in the centre of the chapel, on which are placed an intercession list and devotional aids. This prayer desk is for the use of any person wishing to have a time of quiet. It is hoped that those who pray will make the subjects of the list of the subjects of their intercessions, and feel free to add their own prayer requests anonymously.
 
The cross on the east wall is the cross which was used to mark the centre of the sanctuary of the Parish Church on the occasion of the cutting of the first sods. The "True Vine" panels on the front of the Holy Table and Lectern, were brought from the Church Hall and are from a piece of 18th century Southern European carving (probably Spanish). They were presented by Mr. Denis. O'D. Hanna who designed the Church Hall. The Sanctuary Chairs, Prayer Book, Book Rest, Lectern Frontals and Bible were also brought from the Church Hall.
 
The Chapel of Rest is dedicated rather than consecrated, so that, when the sanctuary is closed, the chapel can be used for lectures, discussions and conferences, etc. Immediately after it is so used the chairs and prie-dieu will be replaced and the sanctuary left open. The glass panels between the Chapel of Rest and the Church can be opened and the seats in the Chapel reversed to take an overflow congregation from the Church.