The auxiliary bishop of Melbourne, the Most Rev'd Peter Elliott (pictured at left), well-known as a scholar of Sacred Liturgy and ceremonial, commissioned the Saint Bede Studio to do a "make-over" of the Oratory of his private residence.The Oratory is very small and has a low ceiling, but is well-lit by colourful leadlights comprising one wall. At the other end of the room, the bishop had placed a newly-made timber altar upon a one-step platform. The bishop asked for the altar to be enhanced with a frontal and also a reredos.
The Oratory being so small-scale, a very simple design was prepared. The wall behind the altar was painted a crimson red (subsequently to be stencilled) and framed with a timber reredos, which went right up to the ceiling. A frontal of Coronation tapestry was made, ornamented with a superfrontal of rich crimson with gold tassling.
The (not quite complete) results can be seen in the photographs of before and after.
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Before
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After
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