Mel Howse specialises in the design and production of architectural stained glass for places of worship. She has considerable experience in designing and interpreting given religious beliefs, biblical themes and personal ideas, in an individual and sympathetic style.

Mel is also a member of Chichester Diocesan Advisory Committee. more >>

Each month ‘Art in Focus’ will highlight a new commission with more information that can be shown on individual artists’ page together with a review of the artwork.

The first of these is an installation by Victoria Rance of a commission for St Laurence Catford called 'Comforter', which is featured in the January 2009 edition of Church Buildings Magazine. It is polished steel and 450x450x8cm, around an existing glass cross on the organ screen.

The Rev Charles Pickstone, the art critic and priest at St Laurence Church, Catford tells Churchart ‘Victoria Rance created this work to focus the sense of space of this beautiful 1960s church. The large expanse of hessian fabric behind the altar that covers the church organ pipes was previously decorated only with a visually unanchored cross/star made out of thick sheets of coloured glass placed end-on and illuminated from behind.

Rance has reflected the shape of the circular sanctuary onto the wall and thus, working with an existing shape within the architecture of the building, made an artwork that sits comfortably in its space and yet also challenges the worshipper by its minimalist presence. The circle is symbolic of the infinite love of God - but rather than preach, this work allows the congregation slowly to develop a sense of the infinity that already pervades the building but now focussed in a specific place - behind the altar, the site of the reredos, traditionally the gateway to heaven.’

The installation can be seen at St Laurence Church, 37 Bromley Rd, Catford, London, SE6 2TS