Page 10 - St Alphege Guide 2012 for website

St Antony’s Chapel

This chapel was formed in 1535 at the east end the floor of St Katherine’s Chapel.
of the south aisle. Its dedication to St Antony at The incised alabaster slab in the south side
that time is surprising. He is regarded as the marked the grave of Thomas Greswold
founder of monasticism and in 1536 an Act for d. 1577, and his three wives. He lived in the
the Suppression of the Lesser Monasteries was Manor House in the High Street. The slab and
passed. By 1540 there were no religious houses that of his father Richard were discovered in
left anywhere in England. 1879 beneath the pews.
This chapel, too, was desecrated and for many High up in the respond pier is the outside of
years was the pew of the owners of Longdon the blocked Norman window already noted
Hall and Silhill Hall. It was restored in 1953. from the nave. Opposite is an unusual flat
The stone reredos and piscina date from the headed window which contains good glass by
creation of the chapel. The central niche of the Kempe (dated 1901) showing scenes from the
reredos probably contained a representation of Resurrection.
the Crucifixion with the twelve Apostles on The statue of Our Lady in front of the piscina
either side and St Antony in the separate niche is carved in African hardwood by Job Kekana.
on the left. The surrounding decoration It was acquired in 1961 after a short stay in
contains four faces as well as bosses of foliage. the parish by an African curate, Fr Lukindi,
The altar, however, was reconstructed using who later became a bishop in southern Africa.
an original altar slab found, in pieces, beneath