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The Lady Chapel

The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, has a special place in the hearts of Catholics. Honoured for bearing the Son of God, in this chapel we pray to her especially.

Ceiling mosaic
The rich decoration of the chapel gives some vision of the completed Cathedral. Here, on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1903 the first Mass was said in the Cathedral. In the Lady Chapel the Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church is celebrated daily.

Above the altar is an image of the Virgin and the child Jesus. Above, Jesus stands on the Cross - not a means of death, but the Tree of Life. From it gush fountains of living water, and its branches produce vines, and refuge for birds of the air.

Marble floor designed by Bentley completed in the 1950.
To the left of the Tree stands Mary in front of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Next to her is Gabriel, archangel of the Annunciation, and a group of saints renowned for their devotion to the Virgin Mary.To the right of the Tree is St Peter, Patron of Westminster, in front of Westminster Cathedral. Beside him is the archangel Michael, and a medallion of King David. The domed vault is marked with a wreath, containing portraits of the first four Cardinals of Westminster.


St Agatha represented in mosaic.

Above a marble, a frieze depicts Mary's life. Above these scenes, angels hold a garland, representing the Rosary.
The tops of the window recesses bear portraits of early women martyrs: St Lucy, St Agatha, St Justine, St Cecilia and St Catherine.

In the four alcoves set into the marble are represented four prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah: Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah.

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Mosaic of Madonna and Child by R Anning Bell


Bronze relief of Thérèse of Lisieux by Manzu






 

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