The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-16
A MEMORIAL REREDOS.
The Easter Offering Of Mrs. Lyman
Klapp Blessed at St. Stephens.
BISHOP CLARK OFFICIATES.
The Seventeen Pictures symbolical Of the
Church the Handsomest OF Their Kind
In America and Were Executed BY .
Celebrated London Artist.

At o'clock this afternoon there was
held service at st. Stephens Church on
George street. the like of which was never
before witnessed in this State, and prob
ably not in New England, outside the
Roman Catholic Church.
The occasion was the blessing Of the new
Reredos, which was presented to the
church by Mrs. Lyman Klapp in memory
of her husband, who died about two years
lasting memorial of one who was
valued member of the parish and a
highly-respected citizen.
The church decorations Of st. Stephens
Is planned on the ancient theory OF SYM
bolism, according to which the Rood.
Screen was emblematical of the Gate OF
Death, Over this was therefore depicted
the Crucifxion. Beyond everything spoke
of Life and the Church Triumphant.
Bearing this in mind we see in the large
central panel OF the Reredos majestic
figure of our Lord enthroned in glory,
magnifcently crowned as King of Kings,
the rainbow arching round His throne
and Himself surrounded by Seraphs
glowing with the fire Of love, and by
azure-winged Cherubs.
On the Epistle side of this picture Is
the Alteration of the Magi, and on the
Gospel side, Annunciation.
In the middle of the tier Of panels be-
holding the Divine Child. On the Epistle
side Of the Virgin stands st. Paul, Apos-
tie of the Gentiles, fruit Of st. Stephens
dying prayer, and traditionally associated
with British Christianity
Then comes St. Athanasius as q great
champion Of the divinity of Christ, and
then St. Chrysotorm representing the
tor Ntsrrn av.A xxvhn tc
familiar to Anglican churchmen from the
prayer I'm the daily Offices, which is as
cribed to him.
On the gospel side Of the Virgin is st.
Stephen as the saint for which the church
is named. Then st. Alban. the first Eng
lish martyr, and then ST. Ambrose. rep
resenting the Latin Church, and who Is
by tradition associated with the author
ship Of the Te Deum.
The lowest range of panels is treated to
suggest the Resurrection-the front of the
Tabernacle being supposed TO be the door
of the Sepulchre, and on which Is painted
the Angel Of the Resurrection.
On the Epistle side the three Maries ap-
proach with their vases OF sweet spices,
while on the Gospel side are SITS. John.
Peter and James. The Brilliant golden
background of this work gives an effect
of great splendor to the whole as seen
from the church.
these paintings were executed Dy hoger
Watts, of John Hardman g. Co., London,
and reflect high praise upon the artist.
The Reredos is probably now the most
beautiful of its kind in America.
The service lasted one hour. The Rev.
DR.. George Mcclellan Fiske officiated and
was assisted bv the Rev. Mr.. Barlow. tue
Rev. Mr.. Jackson, the Rev. Mr.. Rogers
and other priests of this discese.
After the Even-Song the Right Rev.
Thomas Nj. Clark, bishop of the diocese,
blessed the pictures and then delivered
short address.
The altar was then made ready for the
grand floral decorations for Easter day,
which are to be extremely rich and plenti-
full.