LITURGICAL FURNITURE · 2010. 11. 11. · Commissioning liturgical furniture 39 Useful contacts 43 Recent clients 45 Luke Hughes 47. 4 5 INTRODUCTION There are, in England and Wales,

LITURGICAL FURNITURE

32

INDEX

Introduction 5

Altars and altar rails 7

Choir stalls, libraries and lighting 20

Clergy seating 29

Credence tables 31

Lecterns 33

Noticeboards 35

Plaques, carving and gilding 37

Commissioning liturgical furniture 39

Useful contacts 43

Recent clients 45

Luke Hughes 47

4 5

INTRODUCTION

There are, in England and Wales, 16,200 church

buildings: 76% are listed, 4,200 are listed Grade 1,

comprising 45% of all Grade I buildings in the country.

Dwindling congregations, demand for multiple

community use, changes in liturgy as well as new

approaches to worship have all conspired to demand

flexibility in ecclesiastical spaces.

In any quality building, the connection between

architecture and furniture design should be seamless.

Most buildings cannot function without furniture, yet

inappropriate pieces grossly undermine great

architecture. What is appropriate for an historic building

may not work for a contemporary one; indeed modern

buildings today evolve to become historic buildings

tomorrow. But even historic interiors have to evolve if

they are to remain relevant, due to changing social

patterns, the development of raw materials, the evolution

of technology, or even the reinterpretation of liturgy.

Ultimately, how this is comfortably achieved comes down

to the design of the furniture and it this connection

between furniture and architecture that Luke Hughes &

Company have been seeking to address: helping make

buildings work.

This is particularly the case for churches and

cathedrals, where the design criteria for furnishings

demand higher things than merely commodity, firmness

and delight. Cathedrals tend to serve broader

communities than parish churches. These may include

regular worshippers but often the visitors are more

transitory: civic or county dignatories, the diocesan

team, local schools, worshippers in Holy Week and,

more obviously, tourists (who, one hopes, may one day

be turned into pilgrims). They use the space for

different reasons: for private prayer and reflection, for

corporate worship, for meetings and conversation, for

concerts and drama, for educational assemblies, or just

a nice day out (there were 33M visitors to a UK

cathedral in 2005).

Conversely, what may work for an 11th century

Romanesque parish church may not be appropriate to

an Early Perpendicular cathedral. Congregations may be

high or low, active or passive, traditional or evangelical.

But it is clear that, today, they all are seeking flexible,

welcoming spaces as well as improved comfort - not just

from the seats and lighting, but in the manner they

worship or relate to the architectural space.

Constraints come from Diocesan Advisory

Committees and, especially with listed buildings,

architectural lobby groups who have legitimate concerns

about alterations to historic fabric. But there may be

others: fire officers concerned about the linking rows of

seats, promoters of music festivals with views about the

commercial implications, the PCC preoccupied with

provision for Youth Club evenings.

So when it comes to the furniture, the question is

neither just about new liturgy nor just about conservation

of a heritage asset. It is about running a major

community building (probably of considerable

architectural excellence), albeit one steeped in history,

sentiment and splendour.

This booklet illustrates some of our responses to

some remarkable architectural ecclesiastical spaces, old

and new. It also offers practical information, not least

about fund-raising, commemorative inscriptions and the

contact details of supporting organisations. At the rear

will be found our ‘Introduction to liturgical reordering

schemes’, based on experience with more than fifty

parishes and cathedrals.

For us, the architecture is the key, and how you want

to use it. If you like what we have done, then please do

contact us for more information (but please do not

assume what we have done before is what we will

propose for a new project!).

76

ALTARS & ALTAR RAILS

The Millennium altar, Bristol Cathedral

Churches are most often viewed when services are not

in progress, when there are fewer visual clues (such as

processional crosses, altar cloths, acolytes or even

priests) that might attest to the liturgical functions. So it

is for the furniture to help create the setting for these

functions, in use or not. In fact, liturgical furniture

requires powerful connections between function,

sculpture and symbolism. An altar, for instance, serves

as a table, acts as a focal point to a processional vista,

and symbolises both the Last Supper and the ultimate

sacrifice. However, a modern ‘communion table’ may

also have to relate, in a suitably subservient way, to a

pre-existing high altar and reredos that are no longer

relevant to modern liturgy but are nonetheless still

integral to the interior. Similarly, an ambo or lectern

should point up the place of the Word within the body of

the congregation, the choir seating should speak of the

presence of the choir and its importance, and the

President’s chair should convey the role of ‘presiding

celebrant’ without competing with, say, the role of the

Bishop’s cathedra. If the new furniture seems

unobtrusive, then we will have achieved what was

intended – the designs are intended to speak quietly.

The accompanying illustrations of altars, altar rails

(and other furniture) reflect the diversity of both challenge

and design response that have been presented by an

Anglican cathedral, a college chapel, a contemporary

Methodist inner-city prayer-hall, a Royal Peculiar and a

rural parish church. Further images are selected to show

other liturgical pieces in a range of different settings. The

breadth shows very well why, for us, the architecture is

the key, and how you want to use it.

The Millennium altar, Bristol Cathedral

‘The piece is so well judged... dignified and

admired, instantly at home.

Our thanks and congratulations’ -

Precentor, Bristol Cathedral


98

Westbourne Grove Church


1110

Lady Chapel, St Barnabas, East Dulwich Central nave, St Barnabas, East DulwichSt Barnabas, East Dulwich

‘I am writing to say how delighted we

are with the final design, and

especially the proportions and

detailing, and how marvellous is the

craftsmanship of its execution.

It is a fine tribute to your design skills

and determination to get things

exactly right’ -

Benefactors of St Barnabas, Dulwich

1312


Clare College, Cambridge


St Mary’s, Kempsford


1514

St Mary’s, Woodbridge



1716

Rutland Chapel, St Georges Chapel, Windsor Rutland Chapel, St Georges Chapel, Windsor


1918

Dorchester Abbey, chairs and altar rails St John’s, Shirley, removable altar rails

St Mary’s, Woodbridge, removable altar rails

CHOIR STALLS, LIBRARIES & LIGHTING

2120

Bristol Cathedral, choir library

Shelves and vestment storage at Corpus Christi Choir Library

Solid oak doors to sheet music storage shelvesWestbourne Grove Church, vestry desk and chair

‘Members of the congregation were full of

delight. I myself was thrilled by the quality of

your workmanship’ -

Precentor, Rochester Cathedral


2322

Bristol Cathedral Bristol Cathedral


2524

Rutland Chapel, St George’s Chapel, Windsor Shrewsbury School Chapel

‘The choir stalls are absolutely

splendid and everyone has

commented on how well they

suit our building. Many, many

thanks’ -

Chaplain, Shrewsbury School


2726

St Mary’s, Woodbridge Mobile choir lectionaries, Bristol Cathedral

Pencil rack and book stop

‘We are truly delighted with

the result - dignified without

being flamboyant... a worthy

offering in our cathedral’ -

Dean, Bristol Cathedral

CLERGY SEATING

2928

Rochester Cathedral


Epsom College Chapel

St Clement Danes

‘The furniture achieves a spectacular

understatement and shows us a

different building. And many thanks

for such precise arrangements’ -

Vicar, St Michael’s, Stourport

3130

CREDENCE TABLES

Credence table at the Rutland Chapel, St George’s Chapel, Windsor


Rochester Cathedral

33

LECTERNS

32

Rochester Cathedral Missal stand at the Rutland Chapel, St George’s Chapel, WindsorContemporary cable managed lectern at St Andrew’s, Southwark

Altar top lectern at the Rutland Chapel, St George’s Chapel, Windsor

‘What a wonderful job you and

your team have made of the new

chapel furniture’ -

Bursar, Charterhouse School

35

NOTICEBOARDS

34

Glazed, external notice boards at St Mary-le-Bow

Westbourne Grove Church

Graphics at Westbourne Grove

3736

PLAQUES, CARVING & GILDING

The Millennium Altar, Bristol Cathedral

Motif inlaid in oak, St Mary’s, Kempsford Inlaid metal motif, St Mary’s, Woodbridge

Chair back feature, clergy chair, St Clement Danes

38 39

COMMISSIONING LITURGICAL FURNITURE

It is our view that no standard template can work for any

church - what might work in a Romanesque cathedral will

not necessarily work in a 19th century Gothic Revival

chancel. The key to a successful reordering is to respond

to the architectural space and the way it is used.

We are happy to prepare initial ideas and concepts, but

before we do, it may be useful to know how we normally

approach such projects, to avoid any future

misunderstandings. All our design costs are normally

included within any agreed production costs for pieces of

furniture. In the event of the scheme not going ahead, we

reserve the right to charge for any aborted design costs.

These are likely, from experience, to be no more than

£2000 - £3000 +VAT, and would be payable only in the

event of the project being abandoned.

Attached is a list of factors that may help the planning

and commissioning process.

Select the right designer-maker. Do’s and don’ts Do you like what they have done? (do not assume that is

what they will design for a new project). Is their approach

likely to come up with something sympathetic to your

church and form of worship? Do you get on? Can you

work together? Is geography going to be a problem for

communicating?

Avoid competitions They are likely to be time consuming, expensive and

politically charged - that is not to say you should not have

a 'beauty parade' of possible contenders, bearing in mind

the factors listed above

Avoid individual initiatives that do not have There is a danger of a designer being commissioned to

full authority produce designs (as opposed to being invited to send

examples of their work) by individuals in a parish on their

own initiative - whilst this is sometimes surely the way to

get things started, there is a danger of incurring costs

without the authority to meet them

Be clear about the budget and the variables The budget is a critical design factor; it is very important

to establish this early; equally, it is quite reasonable to

expect any competent designer-maker to stay within any

agreed figure

Much depends on the scope of the work, the

fund-raising position, the permissions required

and the consultation process. In our experience

this can take anything from four months to

three years.

1. Tips for getting the best out of a designer and minimising design costs

2. Timetable


41


40

ACTIVITY: OBSERVATIONS:

Initial enquiry Usually by telephone through recommendation

Visiting the site and taking the brief Who has authority to move this on? Church Wardens,

Vicar, Architect?

Space planning - checking disposition of Essential to establish size of required pieces,

furniture items, circulation space sight-lines and restrictions to circulation

Indication of budget with variables A crucial factor in the design process; needs to be

established early for peace of mind of both client and

designer

Liaising with church architect and builder Architects are very rarely furniture designers of note,

(for instance concerning position of steps) but their involvement may be necessary if reordering

involves alteration to the fabric (and are therefore any link

with a builder)

Preparation of presentation drawings for PCC This has to follow from establishing the overall scheme

and the budget

Reviewing designs in light of PCC comment It is no use appointing a designer who does not listen

to feedback!

Preparation of material for Diocesan Advisory Critical for DAC faculty application

Committee

Preparation of final working drawings For manufacture - not relevant to the client but has to

be done for accurate costing

Reordering schemes of choir and chancel See below

Seating, principally in the nave - benches Benches are normally uncomfortable and cumbersome

to move, yet they tend to look better than chairs.

Conversely, chairs afford easier configuration but

are both visually distracting and time consuming to

move in quantity. Our benches are easy to move,

lighter and more versatile than pews, less obtrusive

and more economical to produce than chairs; they can

be stacked five high and butted together to allow

congregations (especially younger members) to bunch

up, thereby increasing the available seating by

up to 30%

ITEM: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Altar, communion table or mensa Light enough to move; distinct from High Altars (which must often be left

in position for architectural reasons); not so large as to restrict circulation

(e.g. of choir processions); may have to consider frontals

Altar dais Removable or not?; timber or carpet finish (acoustic considerations?);

weight and handling; provision for storage when removed

President’s chair Light enough to move, sufficient ‘gravitas’ to establish presence; may

have to stand either in the middle of the chancel or to one side,

depending on the architecture; likely to be a significant feature of the

whole chancel arrangement - seat height should be sufficient for the

President not to appear decapitated by the communion table

Clergy chairs Should match the President’s chair but with reduced presence

Credence table Should be of a piece with the altar; shelf underneath top is useful for

management of communion during service

Ambo or lectern Necessity of microphone or light? (depends on the size and natural light

of the building). Movable?

Font Movable? (if so, weight and bulk are key); scale within building; position

when not in use?

Communion rails May well have to be removable for concerts etc; physical connection to

floor, be it stone or timber, is thus a key consideration, as to storage of

components when removed

Sound desk Depends on the church and the position within it; lockable; needs to

conform to the dimensions of AV equipment; position may be conditioned

by cable access

Choir seating Replacement of Victorian choir stalls often contentious; should be flexible;

may need to create the sense of the choir ‘family’ around the altar rather

than behind the chancel arch especially for Eucharist services

Lectionaries for choir Need to be as movable as the choir seating; height can be a problem

(what works for 8 year olds may not work so well for older people); may

need a screen to the front to hide dirty shoes, fidgeting choristers or,

stored music books

Paschal candlestick Proportion and scale; position near altar on dais

Processional cross Weight, height, storage and its proportion to the church and its

processions

Visitors’ or welcome desk for narthax Dispensing leaflets? Manned or unmanned?

Hymn book trolleys Size of books; quality of castors; numbers in collection etc.

5. Likely items of furniture required

4. Likely scope of liturgical furniture

3. Indication of design work required for successful reordering

USEFUL CONTACTS

43

Advisory Board for Redundant Churches,

Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ

tel 020 7898 1866

Ancient Monuments Society,

St Ann’s Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB

tel 020 7236 3934

Architectural Heritage Fund,

Clareville House, 26-27 Oxenden Street, London SW1Y 4EL

tel 020 7925 0199

The Art and Christianity Enquiry (ACE),

(The Revd Tom Devonshire Jones) 107 Crundale Avenue,

London NW9 9PS

tel 020 8206 2253

Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic

Buildings Institute of Archaeology,

31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY

tel 020 7973 3326

Cathedral Architects Association,

Harcourt Offices, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambs PE18 9BJ

tel 01480 461101

Church Monuments Society,

Dr Sophie Oosterwijk, 34 Bridge Street, Shepshed,

Leicestershire, LE12 9AD

Churches Conservation Trust,

1 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9EE

tel 020 7213 0660 e-mail [email protected]

Council for the Care of Churches,

Fifth Floor, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ

tel 020 7898 1866

Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA),

Elden Minns and Co Ltd, 453 Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2PT

tel 0114 266 2458

Ecclesiological Society,

Hon Sec: Dr James Johnston, 143 Leithwaite Road, SW11 6RW

www.ecclsoc.org

English Heritage,

23 Savile Row, London W1X 1AB

tel 020 7973 3000 www.english-heritage.org.uk

Europa Nostra,

Lange Voorhout 35, 2514 EC The Hague, Netherlands

tel +(31) 70 3024050 www.europanostra.org

European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Associations,

Coudenberg, 70, 1000 Brussels

tel +(32) 2230 7291

Friends of City Churches,

St Margaret Pattens, Rood Lane, London EC3M 1HS

tel 020 7626 1555

Friends of Friendless Churches,

St Ann’s Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB

tel 020 7236 3934

Georgian Group,

6 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 5DX

tel 020 7529 8920 www.georgiangroup.org.uk

e-mail: georgian-group.org.uk

Guild of Architectural Ironmongers,

8 Stepney Green, London E1 3JU

tel 020 7790 3431

Heritage Lottery Fund,

7 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NR

tel 020 7591 6000

Historic Churches Preservation Trust,

31 Newbury Street, London EC1A 7HU

tel 020 7600 6090 fax 020 7796 2442

e-mail: [email protected]

www.historicchurches.org.uk

Institution of Structural Engineers,

11 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BH

tel 020 7235 4535

International Institute for Conservation of Historic Art Works,

6 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6BA

tel 020 7839 5975

Lead Sheet Association,

Hawkwell Business Centre, Maidstone Road, Pembury,

Tunbridge Wells TN2 4AH

tel 01892 822773

Liturgy Commission Office of the Bishops Conference of

England and Wales, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX

tel 020 7620 8220

London Stained Glass Repository,

Glaziers’ Hall, 9 Montague Close,

London SE1 9DD tel 020 7403 3300

Master Carvers Association,

Unit 20, 21 Wren Street, London WC1X 0HF

tel 020 7278 8759

Monumental Brass Society,

c/o Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, London W1V 0HS

tel 020 7734 0193

National Heritage Memorial Fund,

7 Holbein Place, London SW1W 8NR

tel 020 7591 6000

National Monuments Record Centre,

Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 2GZ

tel 01793 414600

Save Britain’s Heritage,

70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ

tel 020 7253 3500

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB),

37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY

tel 020 7377 1644

Stone Federation of Great Britain,

Construction House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4JX

tel 020 7608 5094

The Association of Technical Lighting and Access

Specialists (ATLAS), 4D St Mary’s Place, The Lace Market,

Nottingham NG1 1PH tel 0115 955 8818


42

ITEM: LIKELY QUANTITY: £ LOWER: £ UPPER:

President’s chair 1 1200 3000

clergy chairs 2 600 1820

Credence table 1 700 1625

Ambo or lectern 1 1500 3800

Font 1 2860 6000

Communion table 3 2000 8000

Sound desk 1 900 2200

Choir seating (per space) 20-40 150 300

Lectionaries for choir (per space) 20-40 150 300

Paschal candlestick 1 800 2000

Processional cross 1 800 2000

Visitors’ or welcome desk 1 600 1500

Hymn book trolleys 2 650 1200

6. Likely budget figures for parish church reorderings

RECENT CLIENTS

45

Educational

All Soul’s College, Oxford

Atlantic College

Bancroft School

Bedford School

Benenden School

Cambridge University Boat Club

Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Press

Campion Hall, Oxford

Charterhouse School

Christ Church, Oxford


Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

Darwin College, Cambridge

Downing College, Cambridge

Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Epsom College

Giggleswick School

Green College, Oxford

Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge

Harrow School

Hughes Hall, Cambridge

Institute of Criminology, Cambridge

Jesus College, Oxford

Keble College, Oxford

King’s College, London

Lincoln College, Oxford

London School of Economics

Merton College, Oxford

Middlesex University

New College, Oxford

New Hall, Cambridge

Newnham College, Cambridge

Open University

Oxford Centre for Hebrew Studies

Pembroke College, Cambridge

Pembroke College, Oxford

Peterhouse, Cambridge

Rhodes House, Oxford

Robinson College, Cambridge

Royal Academy of Music

Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

Shrewsbury School

St Anne’s College, Oxford

St Anthony’s College, Oxford

St Catharine’s, Cambridge

St Cross College, Oxford

St Edmund’s College, Cambridge

St Hugh’s College, Oxford

St John’s College, Cambridge

St Peter’s College, Oxford

The Queen’s College, Oxford

Trinity College, Oxford

Trinity Hall, Cambridge

University College, London

University College, Oxford

Wolfson College, Cambridge

Institutional

British Academy

British Council

British Museum

British Heart Foundation

Buckingham Palace

Cambridge Arts Theatre

Cambridge University Library

Eltham Palace

Fitzwilliam Museum

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

General Medical Council

Historic Royal Palaces

Holyrood House

House of Commons

Institute of Chartered Accountants

Institute of Electrical Engineers

International Institute of Strategic Studies

London Library

London Transport

Ministry of Defence

Middle Temple

National Gallery

National Gallery of Scotland

Paul Mellon Centre

Royal Albert Hall

Royal College of Paediatrics

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Royal Geographical Society

Royal Institute of British Architects

Royal Institute of Navigation

Royal Opera House

Royal Scottish Academy

Royal Society of Arts

Royal Society of Chemistry

Scottish Supreme Court

Special Air Service Regiment

Tate Modern

Tower of London

Transport and General Workers Union

TUC

Victoria & Albert Museum

Worshipful Company of Butchers

Worshipful Company of Haberdashers

Worshipful Company of Mercers

Worshipful Company of Skinners

Ecclesiastical

All Saint’s, Carshalton

All Saint’s, Woodford

Arundel Cathedral

Bristol Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

Charterhouse School Chapel

Clare College Chapel

Dorchester Abbey

Ely Cathedral

Epsom College Chapel

Keble College Chapel

Rochester Cathedral

St Andrew’s, Alderton

St Andrew’s, Holborn

St Andrew’s, Southwark

St Barnabas, Dulwich

St George’s, Bristol

St George’s, Bloomsbury

St George’s Chapel, Windsor

St John Baptist, Tisbury

St John’s, Berwick St John

St John’s, Blackheath

St John’s, Notting Hill

St John’s, Shirley

St Lawrence, Jewry

St Mary’s, Ealing

St Mary’s, Kempsford

St Mary le Bow

St Mary the Less, Durham


St Mary’s, Somertown

St Michael’s, Kingsnorth

St Michael’s, Stourport

St Paul’s Cathedral

Westminster Synagogue

44

LUKE HUGHES

4746

WELCOMING THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AT THE ART WORKERS GUILD IN MARCH, 2006

Luke Hughes was educated at St Paul’s School, then

read History of Architecture at Peterhouse, Cambridge.

He was a member of the Crafts Council for six years and

Chairman of their Grants Committee (1994-7). He is

former Chairman of the Trustees of the Art Workers

Guild, a former member of the Academic Review Board

of the Prince of Wales School of Architecture, and since

2005 Honorary Designer for the Worshipful Company of

Furniture Makers. He is also a member of the Fabric

Advisory Committee of Southwark Cathedral.

His design philosophy revolves around the idea that in

any quality building, the connection between architecture

and furniture should be seamless. Most buildings cannot

function without furniture, yet inappropriate pieces

grossly undermine great architecture.

© L

uke H

ug

hes &

Co

mp

any,

Aug

ust

2007

P

2020

182 Drury Lane Covent Garden London WC2B 5PP

T +44 (0)20 7404 5995 F +44 (0)20 7405 1839

E [email protected] W www.lukehughes.co.uk

Luke Hughes & Company Ltd is registered in England No 1952292

Documents

LITURGICAL FURNITURE · 2010. 11. 11. · Commissioning liturgical furniture 39 Useful contacts 43 Recent clients 45 Luke Hughes 47. 4 5 INTRODUCTION There are, in England and Wales,