In the service of God for ever
THL eeremone of the consecration of a church a ceremony much more superior to and solemn than a blessing -is one that few people beyond the clergy and altar
servers seld see.
The minister in a consecration whether of a bishop. a ChUrdIs or an altar, altar-stone, chalice and paten, is .111%ays a bishop. At every consecration the holy oils arc used. .1 consecration is permanent, i.e. it cannot he repeated as can a blessing.
The profanation of a rouses crated person or thing is a sacrilege.
Consecration of a building puts upon it an indelible mark. it is dedicated to the service of God for ever, i.e. the building cannot be transferred to another use.
The model for these graphic pictures was the consecration by Bishop Cowderoy of Southwark last week of St. Wilfrid's, I.orrimore Road in S.F. London. The church, a
ruin for s■e: years in the last World War, was re-built in 1948-9. The parish priest is Fr. Charles Waller.
The ceremonies are very long and involve the Bishop annointing the twelve crosses on the inner walls, going three times round the outside of the church sprinkling the walls at different levels, and performing many Other ceremonies some of which are illustrated here.