Contemporary Art in Catholic churches
Contemporary art, including sculpture, stained glass and innovative iconography, finds a home in Catholic spaces across the UK.
Christ unites the Virgin and St John (John 19:25-27)
As Jesus died on the cross, he brought his mother Mary and St John into a new relationship.
David receives the holy bread (1 Samuel 21:1-6)
The story of the priest Ahimelech giving holy bread to David was later understood to symbolise the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
The Life of St Joseph (Matthew 1:18-2:23)
St Joseph is probably best-known for his key role in the Nativity, but there are several other episodes recorded in the gospels that tell us more about his life.
The Deposition of Christ (Mark 15:42-47)
The taking down of Christ’s dead body from the cross is traditionally known in art as the ‘Deposition of Christ', the ‘Descent from the Cross’ or the ‘Lamentation of Christ’.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
During the Sermon on the Mount, shared eight short sayings about how to be truly happy, or ‘blessed’, in this life. These are known as the Beatitudes.
The Death of God’s Son (Wisdom 2:12-20)
From the beginning of Christianity, Wisdom chapter 2 was considered a prophecy of the death of Jesus. The passage describes how the Son of God will be tested, tortured and put to death.
The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)
The Song of the Suffering Servant in the Book of Isaiah tells the story of a servant of God who suffers death for the sins of others. It was later interpreted by Jesus himself as referring to his death on the cross.
Christ is condemned to death (John 19:4-16)
Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death by giving in to the demands of the crowd and ordering his crucifixion.
St Jude the Apostle (Jude 1:1-2)
St Jude Thaddaeus was one of the Twelve Apostles, a relative of Christ and the author of one of the letters included in the New Testament.