MICHAEL CASEY

SCULPTOR

ALTER AND FURNISHINGS
THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
MILTON ROAD,GRAVESEND,KENT,ENGLAND

The Altar and furnishings have been sculptured in Bog Yew and the wood has been carbon dated to be over 4,800 years old.  When the wood is taken from the bog it is saturated with water and it takes a number of years for it to dry out before it can be used. It becomes so hard it is really fossilised. You can actually see the colour of the heather staining in the wood.
The most spectacular and most important piece is the Altar.
 The Altar table and support are two seperate pieces of Bog Yew.
It is possible to see the figure of the Crucified Christ holding up the table.His arms are outstretched and supporting the altar top on which the mass is celebrated.

The Lectern represents the tree of knowledge. There are different heights to read from to accommodate people of different stature.

The Baptismal Font - represents the figure of the Church welcoming the newly baptised child with the arms wrapped around the bowl. The bowl is made of solid bronze.

There are eleven pieces in all. The Altar, book stand,candle holder, Baptismal Font, Lectern, the Credence Table, Priest's Chair and  two side chairs, the processional Cross and the paschal Candle.

The Priest's chair has been cut and shaped out and of a solid piece of the trunk of the tree.