The Ambo

The Ambo is one of two major items of liturgical furniture in the Catholic liturgy along with the Altar. It it the raised platform from which the Scriptures are read at Mass.

The Ambo is octagonal - representing the seven days in which the Book of Genesis records the creation of the universe plus the eighth day of the new creation brought about by the resurrection from the dead of Jesus.

The marble statues are of the four evangelists who wrote the Christian gospels and St Paul. Each is signified by the traditional symbol: an eagle for St John, a winged lion for St Mark, an ox for St Matthew, and a winged man for St Luke. St Paul is represented with the double-edged sword.

The Ambo was given by parishioners in memory of Fr Edward Whyte sj who served this parish from 1875-99.