Once you have entered the church first stand with your back to the font and look towards the screen, chancel and high altar. Then walk half the length of the nave and stand with your back to the nave altar to view the rose window at the west end

The Rose Window tells the story of Creation. The central figure is Christ, the Creative Word; round Him in circles are the heavenly bodies, the green herbs, the fish, birds and beasts. In the trefoils are the sun, the moon, the planets and a comet. The outer series of circles depict the Fall and Old Testament Redemption themes which are constantly recapitulated throughout the church. All the stained glass in the church is by Messrs Clayton and Bell, as are the wall paintings.

The five windows below represent the Old Testament figures Abraham, Isaac, Melchisedec, Moses and Aaron. In the small windows on the west wall at ground level are Adam and Eve.

Above the font is a carved figure of S. John Baptist who marks the link between the Old Testament and the New. The alabaster Font has three panels depicting the Christ’s Baptism, Christ blessing children and S. Peter baptising at Pentecost.

The Nave was completed in 1878; it is 28 feet wide with seven bays and has transepts on the north and south sides. An ambulatory surmounts the nave and necessitates a double arcade which separates the nave from the aisles. A second processional way or triforium surmounts the lower one; visitors may go upstairs on request. Five of the nine clerestory windows depict the angelic hosts. Below each figure are added scenes of the life of Christ. The wall paintings around the nave depict His healing ministry.

The pulpit has five alabaster panels representing Christ and four preachers - Noah, Elijah, S. Paul and S. John Chrysostom.

The Figure of Our Lady and Child and the Stations of the Cross around the walls were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed the reredos in the Lady Chapel.

The windows in the south and north aisles depict Saints directly connected with the British Isles, men on the south (including S. Augustine) and women on the north. Visit Nave Windows.

St Michael’s Chapel and South Transept. Think of the south transept as part of the chapel. There are two themes: (1) Eucharist and Sacrifice - paintings depicting Old Testament “types” foreshadowing the Sacrifice of Christ and two New Testament “signs” of the Eucharist - the Feeding of the Five Thousand and the Marriage at Cana; (2) Angels and the worship of Heaven.

The Rood Screen. The word “Rood” refers to the Cross. The screen is dominated by the large Crucifix accompanied by Passion figures; below are Passion scenes.

The Chancel and Sanctuary (Holy Place) was the first part of the church to be begun but the last to be finished. It is enclosed on all four sides by densely carved stone arcades. The Passion story is continued from the screen on north (organ) side, ending with panels of the Crucifixion and Burial on the reredos behind the High Altar. The Resurrection experiences are depicted on the south side. Also in the chancel are S. Cecilia (organ loft), four Archangels, the four Cardinal Virtues, the Four Doctors of the Church, seven seated Archbishops of Canterbury, two sets of thirteen saints and the Twelve Apostles on the east wall. Visit Chancel Statues

The East Window. The lowest tier tells the story of S. Augustine; the upper, the life of Christ from the Annunciation to the Ascension. Visit East Window

The Lady Chapel contains three frescoes from the infancy of Christ. They were painted by an artist named Weatherstone. There was a fourth, the Presentation in the Temple but this was replaced by Scott’s carving of the same scene.