Art & Music on St. Michael's Church, Bemerton


	Art & Music in S^t. Michael''s Church, Bemerton Heath	Where am I?
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ART
An attractive 'stained glass' panel executed by local artist, and member of the congregation, Alan Winstanley is in this East Window. This panel shows a foetus, surrounded by a star of David, and a circular rainbow, all supported by two angels. Below is a globe, with Salisbury in the centre, a hovering dove and a 'Dali-like' crucifix, supported by two wounded hands. The borders are vines with grapes, and the words "I AM" (JHWH) are at the foot. It was installed and dedicated in 1995.

	The same artist has painted an altar super-frontal, on silk, depicting the bread and wine of the Eucharist, with quotations from S^t. John‘s Gospel.


The Risen Christ > > >
outside was designed by Kate Parbury and faces over the housing estate served by the church. It is on the outside of the semicircular apse, and shows the risen Lord, emerging from the tomb, surrounded by angels.

	< < The "Majestas", or "Christus Rex" over the altar offers an important Eastern perspective to the Christian Faith in contrast to the more usual Western Crucifix. This isn‘t the image of a dying or dead Christ, but rather interprets the crucifixion in the light of S^t. John‘s Gospel: an image of Jesus 'reigning from the tree'. This is Christ the King, showing, by the manner of his death, his sovereignty on the cross.


MUSIC
Some of the singers at the Millennium service, on July 12th, 2000, when almost of the music was specially written for the occasion by Mr Harry Brockway (2nd on right, at rear); and the organist was Dr Richear Seale, ex-organist of Salisbury Cathedral (extreme left at rear)..

Because the shape of the tower provides reverberation, and the shape of the apse throws sound forward into the nave, the acoustics of S^t. Michael's are superb for worship and musical events of all kinds.	Informal worship led by guitars and piano, with the occasional use of other instruments and drums, uses this acoustic to good effect.	Choral singing, with a choir under the tower, is particularly effective as was experienced when the cathedral boys sang Vaughan Williams' "Five Sacred Songs" during our celebrations of George Herbert's 400th Birthday in 1993
		Dave Bilborough in Concert in S^t. Michael's in September 1997.



`last updated 12^th April 2003`