Celestial Semantics

Chair without seat

Chair without seat, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Because Saint Edmund's was elevated to mimic the status of Solomon's Temple, the vaults beneath are high enough to walk around in comfortably. I came across this chair (has it been there since 1873?) whilst walking up to the altar area.

Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close this month.

Capturing the Lecturn

Capturing the Lecturn, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Just a hip shot showing the simple set up to capturing some of the detail in the Masonic Lecturn at Saint Edmund's

Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close this month.

Choir Stall Finial

Choir Stall Finial, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close this month.

Saint Edmund: Tower Staircase

Saint Edmund: Tower Staircase, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Saint Edmund's, Falinge near Rochdale - is a real tour-de-force. Built in the 1870's for £28,000 (when a good church cost £4000). It is a Masonic Church and Pevsner says that it has symbolism to rival the Da Vinci Code Rosslyn Chapel. I am photographing the interior because it is due to close this month.

Royd's Chapel East Window Detail

Royd's Chapel East Window Detail, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Masonic symbols in the middle of the pentagram tracery.

At Saint Edmund is a complete scheme of stained glass (with some missing lights) by Lavers, Barraud & Westlake. It is fascinating to know that Henry Holiday (who was behind the frieze at Rochdale Town Hall) also designed for them. Pevsner says that the scheme isn't quite up to the whole concept and some windows do play a secondary role to the strong masonic theme - but - there are some real gems - especially in the artwork - which jump out from the others

Royd's Chapel detail

Royd's Chapel detail, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Albert Hudson Royds is incorporated into the scheme as the Master mason here with his hand directing the works.

At Saint Edmund is a complete scheme of stained glass (with some missing lights) by Lavers, Barraud & Westlake. It is fascinating to know that Henry Holiday (who was behind the frieze at Rochdale Town Hall) also designed for them. Pevsner says that the scheme isn't quite up to the whole concept and some windows do play a secondary role to the strong masonic theme - but - there are some real gems - especially in the artwork - which jump out from the others

Royd's Chapel East Window

Royd's Chapel East Window, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The Royd's Chapel East Window is prickling with information and surely is intrinsically a vessel of communication? On the one hand we have the symbolism of the building of Solomon's Temple complete with plan. Then we have the image of Albert Hudson Royds incorporated into the Master Mason and then his initials and date of foundation inscribed into the glass. At the top we have 3 symbols of freemasonry.

At Saint Edmund is a complete scheme of stained glass (with some missing lights) by Lavers, Barraud & Westlake. It is fascinating to know that Henry Holiday (who was behind the frieze at Rochdale Town Hall) also designed for them. Pevsner says that the scheme isn't quite up to the whole concept and some windows do play a secondary role to the strong masonic theme - but - there are some real gems - especially in the artwork - which jump out from the others

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

Detail from three lights. The text to each light from left to right reads:-

Left: "She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man"
Centre: "The eyes of them both were opened"
Right: "The Lord God sent them forth from the Garden of Eden"


At Saint Edmund is a complete scheme of stained glass (with some missing lights) by Lavers, Barraud & Westlake. It is fascinating to know that Henry Holiday (who was behind the frieze at Rochdale Town Hall) also designed for them. Pevsner says that the scheme isn't quite up to the whole concept and some windows do play a secondary role to the strong masonic theme - but - there are some real gems - especially in the artwork - which jump out from the others. Amongst them is this window in the Nave which shows real empathy for the plight of Adam and Eve. They say a picture tells a thousand words. Just look at the full window here

Saint Edmund's in macro

Saint Edmund's in macro, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

You can view each of the macro's individually here

When I first went into Saint Edmund's I really had a dilemma as to what to photograph,as my time there was limited. As it happens I have managed to spend a number of days there. The more time I spent there, the more that I realised how the church is packed jam full of detail. Detail which has been added over it's 140 odd year existence. The church is a rich tapestry of the locale's life and the sheer exuberant indulgence of a family who played a major part in the history of Rochdale - the Royd's.

The detail fixed and unfixed, attached and unattached forms the soul of the building. It tells the story of how its incumbents worshipped, lived, loved, worked and died. It is its Genius Loci.

I have to admit at some times, when on my own, in the quiet of the church I have found it all a little overwhelming. Coming across things such as a hidden memorial; or the carved graffiti in the organ cupboard; or the sheer empathy with the story of Adam and Eve in the painted glass - is enormously enriching.

The experience I have had reminds me of the words of Emily Bronte

"I've dreamt in my life dreams
that have stayed with me ever after,
and changed my ideas;
they've gone through and through me,
like wine through water,
and altered the colour of my mind"

Such an effect on me, has had Saint Edmund's.


Key: (from left top left to right)

1. Stop key to organ
2. Lace detail to table in Children's section
3. Key to organ cupboard
4. Holy Bible with Masonic symbol on Royd's brass memorial in the Chancel
5. Flower detail on aumbry opening in Chancel
6. Christ detail on crucifix on main altar in Chancel
7. Marble detail on column between Chancel and Royd's Chapel
8. Pomegranate symbol found on Masonic Lecturn
9. Snake symbol found on Masonic Lecturn
10. Hand detail from depiction of the four evangelists on the marble font
11. Text detail found on the baptismal jug on the font
12. Stencil print on the Reredos
13. Text detail found on the aumbry opening in the Chancel
14. Beading detail found on the altar rail
15. Flower detail found on the carved wooden pulpit
16. Text detail found on the Royd's brass memorial in the Chancel

Masonic Lecturn, Saint Edmund's, Falinge

Masonic Lecturn, Saint Edmund's, Falinge, originally uploaded by fotofacade.

The Masonic Lecturn at Saint Edmund's is the fulcrum of the whole architectural scheme. It is the architectural and probably the masonic (although I wouldn't know - I am not a mason)centre of the church. Whilst walking around the church over the past few weeks I have always been drawn to it. Firstly, because of its reflective qualities which picks up the light from the south transept window. This forms a real contrast against the shade of the chancel.Secondly, because of its unusual sharp and angular shape, which gives it masculinity and robustness of form. It is a real success within the spatial hierarchy of the church and wherever you go it provides a strong punctuation within the syntax of the structure.

The lecturn stands on block of white ashlar which holds the inscription "FROM CLEMENT THE FOUNDERS SON 1871". This in turn stands on a black block of marble. The 'legs' of the lecturn are formed of three columns - doric, ionic and corinthian. The lecturn itself is made up of the 'symbolic tools of masoncraft'. (Pevsner). The base is made up of fretwork which includes pomegranates, lilies and intertwined snakes. On top of this the lecturn is made out of square and compasses.

I have created a separate photoset for the lecturn so that it can be studied in detail

Here is a link to all my other images of Saint Edmund's.