Churches - Bevendean History Project
Holy Nativity Processional Cross and other Furnishings
The processional cross at The Holy Nativity Church in Bevendean was carved from a piece of Welsh slate by John Skelton a sculptor who worked at Streat near Ditchling.
John
Stephen Skelton M.B.E. F.R.B.S. was born on the 8th July 1923 in
Glasgow and died on 26th November 1999 at Streat near Ditchling where
he had a studio. He was a British letter-cutter and sculptor.
Skelton was a nephew of Eric Gill and was first apprenticed to his uncle, shortly before Gill's death. He continued his training under Joseph Cribb, the sculptor who carved the Rood Screen at St Mary Magdalen Church in Coldean.
In 1963 John Skelton executed a number of commissions for the Architect Reginald Melhuish for The Holy Nativity Church which replaced the Old Barn Church in Bevendean.
The Cross at the top of the Processional Cross
Holy Nativity Church in Bevendean
They included the processional cross, a Hymn Board, the Crucifix which is still hanging on the wall behind the Altar in the church, two Altar Ornaments to hold candles, whose bases are carved from blocks of slate.
Crucifix behind the main altar
Holy Nativity Church
John Skelton also created a Font in Copper and Slate which was removed when the church was thought to have been closed in 2007.
The Copper Font on its Slate base in the 1980s
The man carrying the Cross is Paddy Seaman, a Churchwarden. The boy nearest the camera is Chris Hawkes, the other boy is Dibby Jones.
The Vicar nearest the camera is Fr. Jack Money from St Andrews at Moulsecoomb, the other Vicar is Fr. Kenneth Chapman the Vicar of Bevendean.
Fr. Tony Pannett is just coming round the Corner, behind the Bishop, the Right Reverend Roger Wilson, in front of him is the Archdeacon.
The Pulpit in the Church of the Holy Nativity designed by the Architect.
The altar in the church has a rectangular brick base laminated with sheets of Welsh slate. The table top is made of cast concrete which sits on the base and was designed by the Architect Reginald Melhuish.
John Skelton's public work includes the headstone to Edward James at West Dean, a sculpture of St Augustine above the church of that dedication in Bexhill-on-Sea, and the font at Chichester Cathedral (1983).
Skelton was a nephew of Eric Gill and was first apprenticed to his uncle, shortly before Gill's death. He continued his training under Joseph Cribb, the sculptor who carved the Rood Screen at St Mary Magdalen Church in Coldean.
In 1963 John Skelton executed a number of commissions for the Architect Reginald Melhuish for The Holy Nativity Church which replaced the Old Barn Church in Bevendean.
The Cross at the top of the Processional Cross
Holy Nativity Church in Bevendean
They included the processional cross, a Hymn Board, the Crucifix which is still hanging on the wall behind the Altar in the church, two Altar Ornaments to hold candles, whose bases are carved from blocks of slate.
Crucifix behind the main altar
Holy Nativity Church
John Skelton also created a Font in Copper and Slate which was removed when the church was thought to have been closed in 2007.
The Copper Font on its Slate base in the 1980s
The Copper Font being used for a baptism in the 1970s
One of John Skelton's Candle holders for the Altar
The processional cross leading the procession
at the
dedication of the Holy Nativity Church 30th May 1964.
dedication of the Holy Nativity Church 30th May 1964.
The man carrying the Cross is Paddy Seaman, a Churchwarden. The boy nearest the camera is Chris Hawkes, the other boy is Dibby Jones.
The Vicar nearest the camera is Fr. Jack Money from St Andrews at Moulsecoomb, the other Vicar is Fr. Kenneth Chapman the Vicar of Bevendean.
Fr. Tony Pannett is just coming round the Corner, behind the Bishop, the Right Reverend Roger Wilson, in front of him is the Archdeacon.
The Pulpit in the Church of the Holy Nativity designed by the Architect.
The altar in the church has a rectangular brick base laminated with sheets of Welsh slate. The table top is made of cast concrete which sits on the base and was designed by the Architect Reginald Melhuish.
The font decorated with flowers in the 1980s
John Skelton's public work includes the headstone to Edward James at West Dean, a sculpture of St Augustine above the church of that dedication in Bexhill-on-Sea, and the font at Chichester Cathedral (1983).
