CHRIST
CHURCH
Dedicated
on
North Side
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Latin Cross This is the traditional shape used in Churches of the Faith. |
St Andrews Cross Tradition says the Apostle Andrew died
on this form of Cross, requesting that he be crucified on a cross unlike that
of his Lord. It forms part of the Union Flag of the |
Patriarchal Cross Two horizontal arms, the
upper one shorter than the lower. The upper represents the inscription over
the head of our Lord on the Cross. The Cross of Lorraine, symbolic of |
Jerusalem or Crusader’s
Cross This usually has four small
crosses between the arms, the five crosses symbolizing the five wounds of our
Lord on the cross. It was worn by Godfrey de Bouillon, first ruler of |
Celtic Cross Or cross of lona, dates back to early centuries of
Christianity in |
Southern Cross One created by God Himself, the
Southern Cross is probably the only cross representing the Southern
Hemisphere. It appears on the flags of |
The Crown and Cross Symbolizing Christ the King, they also
point to the reward of the faithful, the life after death for those who
believe in the crucified Saviour and who live a life of gratitude for this
gift. "Be thou faithful unto death and
I will give you the Crown of Life"( |
South Side
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Latin Cross Fleuree This "f1owering"cross
symbolizes the fully matured Christian, ready for the Crown of Life. |
The Cross Crosslet This is four Latin crosses joined at
their bases. It represents Christianity spreading to the "four
corners" of earth and is used when the Missionary idea in far-away
places is expressed. Colin was here. |
Symbolic of the Church of England and
the emergent world Anglican Communion. The first Archbishop of Canterbury was
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Cross Pattee This resembles the Maltese Cross and
is another beautiful form of cross widely used for medical and decorative
purposes. |
Maltese Cross Consisting of four spear-heads with
points together, this cross has accepted use today on Ambulances and medical
first-aid facilities. It dates back to the days of the Crusades when the
Order of the Hospitaliers used it for their emblem. They later made their headquarters in |
Greek Cross Botonnee A beautiful “budded” cross. The
moderate trefoil ends suggest the young or immature Christian, the budding
Christian. So this cross is at the West end of the Church, where is always
the entrance and the Font of Baptism. |
Greek Cross ( This cross forms part of the Union
Jack. Colin was British. Hippocrates, who wrote the Doctors’ Oath, was Greek. |
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Christians do not worship the cross
of Jesus; they acknowledge it as a constant symbol and reminder of the Good News
that Christ brought to us and of what he was willing to do for us. We worship
God. Dr. Colin Britton was a great and
much loved family doctor of It seems appropriate that his
permanent Memorial in the Church should be a suite of fourteen crosses, in
stained glass, to last for Centuries as an illuminated memorial to an
illustrious man. The crosses were selected by the
Vicar from the many styles which have evolved through the ages. They
represent both shape and substance and are set against modern stained glass
landscapes. So the crosses glow against fields, rivers, oceans, sky and
clouds and each is in itself a significant work of modern art in an age-old
medium. As a recent issue of 'The
Economist' said, "Most people associate the art of stained glass with
entering, silent and watchful, into the darkness of a great church. The
medieval cathedrals now receive many thousands of visitors who, usually with
no dogmatic axe to grind, marvel at the reverence instilled in them by these
expanses of jewel"like glass, changing constantly under the effects of
weather and light.” Stained glass is both art and
craft, fine and applied art at once. It demands not only a lot of technical
expertise from the practitioner, but artistry as well. Molten glass is created by
furnacing a blend of ingredients including sand, soda, limestone, shards of
broken glass and even vegetable peelings (the latter, when heated, produce
gases which give the glass its unique "seedy" effects), The glasses
are stained with colour by blending metal oxides with the other ingredients.
Amber, for example, is created by a mix of manganese and iron; the exquisite,
prized "liney gold pink" glass contains real gold. Colour might be supposed to be the
essence of stained glass; but some has scarcely any tint at all.
Twentieth-century stained glass often shows the same restraint, sometimes in
conscious opposition to the same overwhelming exuberance of colour. The Colin Britton Windows are fine
examples of modern stained glass. We do not know if there has ever
before been a suite of "Cross" Stained-glass windows, but whether or
not there has, we pray that the Christ Church Britton Windows will be a
significant symbol of the glory of God over all the world, of our worship of
Him who gives us ail things bright and beautiful and of the love which one
man generated among his fellows in this Land. Dr. Monty Morris, Vicar. |
“To Colin, my friend and brother,
partner in the fray - who in your lifetime decided upon a path on your pilgrim
journey passing through this earth - two roads diverged in a wood, and you Colin,
took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference!
May your Spirit be Tranquil.
Joe H. Maier
It’s one year since Colin died and I
still constantly hear people say, "I miss Colin". Of course we miss him!
He was not just our Doctor – he was part of every family. He was one of the few
remaining “family” doctors left and was the epitome of the caring, loving,
insightful, professionally brilliant medico, who could double as a first-class
psychiatrist. We prayed hard for Colin's survival with us but God decided
otherwise. When he was in I.C.U. and some time before he died, Colin asked me
one day if he could have a cross. I gave him one of my collar-crosses and it
remained pinned to his pillow from then on. If you look at his memorial plaque
in the Garden you will see the cross, at Kamala's request, inserted in the
Marble.
Colin was ready to go on around the
corner. May we all be so blessed.
Monty Morris.