The Sanctuary

Although the altar for the Parish Mass is now placed in the platform in the Crossing, the Sanctuary is still the centre of worship on great festivals and for the Sunday Evensong.

The High Altar is of black marble, inlaid on the upper surface with five mosaic crosses brought from Jerusalem by Dean Charles Barnett- Clarke - a memorial to Sir Thomas Maclear, Astronomer-Royal at the Cape, who arrived on the 7th January 1834 and remained in office until 1870. The original plans for the altar called for a magnificent carved reredos. This was never completed.

On the left of the altar is a simple wooden chair - the original throne (cathedra) of Robert Gray. It bears the Bishop's arms and a small brass plaque inscribed in Latin: 'In this seat, Robert, our first Bishop and Metropolitan, once sat'.

 
 

Another memorial to Gray is the Archbishop's throne in the Chancel, made from the choir screen of Westminster Abbey.

Above the high altar is suspended the Rood designed by Francis Howard. At the foot of the crucified Christ are the Blessed Virgin and St John. The floreated ends of the cross carry the signs of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At the bottom of the rood is the figure of a pelican.

 

The four posts below the rood with their golden angels were given by subscription, initiated by Princess Alice, wife of the Earl of Athlone, at the time governor-general of South Africa.

Above the altar are five stained glass windows by Sir Christopher Whall and his assistant, Karl Parsons.

 
 
 

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