A Guide to St. Edward’s Church – The Organ Loft

As can be seen from this pencil sketch drawing by C.Dudley Brown which was included in St.Edward’s Church consecration booklet in 1946, the area above the chancel was originally intended to be a choir gallery.

In May 2021 it was converted into a functional and comfortable room for meetings of our parish groups, for catecheses, liturgies for children and many other pastoral purposes.

Previously to that it contained the pipes for the organ. The organ itself was intended to be one transferred from Holy Trinity church, Desborough in 1978. However the organ fitter was a conman who sold off many of the better parts of the organ. This organ therefore was a hybrid, made of parts from various decommissioned organs supplementing the sections of the Holy Trinity organ that were left.

A view from the organ loft, incorporating the organ. The Sacred Heart Window is visible in the background.

Located in the organ loft is a window containing four lights.

A radiant cross - detail of a stained glass window in the organ loft of St. Edward's Church, Kettering

Fleur-de-lys - detail in a stained glass window in St. Edward's Church, Kettering

A hammer and ladder intersecting as a cross - a detail in a stained glass window in St. Edward's Church, Kettering

A baptismal cross with a scallop in the centre - detail from a stained glass window in St. Edward's church, Kettering

Left to right: Lights 1-4

Light 1: A cross with a background of rays, known as a radiant cross. Light 2: A Fleur-de-Lys (a symbol both of Our Lady and of the Holy Trinity). Light 3: A hammer and ladder intersecting in the form of a X. The hammer and ladder are both used as symbols of Our Lord’s Passion. The hammer used to nail Jesus to the cross and the ladder to help bring him down after the crucifixion. There are three nails in a semicircle around the base of the panel, three nails are used to symbolize the crucifixion, two nails through pinning Christ’s hands to the cross and one through his feet. Light 4: A baptismal cross, with a scallop shell in the centre. The scallop shell is the traditional symbol of baptism and for centuries has also been used to signify pilgrimage.

In the ceiling of the organ loft is a round window which depicts a crown of thorns superimposed over a (Greek) cross.

A window depicting the lyre of King David against the background of a (Greek) cross is located in the stairwell leading up to the organ loft.