Stephen Owen: Communion table and lectern
Title: Communion Table and Lectern
Artist: Stephen Owen (British)
Location: Guildford Baptist Church (Baptist)
Date: 2016
Winner of the 2019 A+C Art Award for Art in a Religious Context in the permanent category.
‘These two pieces carved from oak were commissioned specifically for and contemporaneously to the prayer chapel located within the newly renovated, multi-functional church building. The communion table focusses on redemption, and is based on the empty tomb. The lectern is intended in Owen’s words “to bring back the shocking immediacy and reality of Calvary but without any grotesqueness”. The panel felt that the rough wood, pierced by the iron nail, forged by artist blacksmith Chris Yeomans, achieved this compellingly, as well as uniting a representation of the Cross with the supportive function of a lectern. We were also struck by the materiality of the pieces and how, despite their small scale – carefully judged to fit the size of the chapel – they feel monumental. The panel were particularly heartened that a Baptist congregation had undertaken the commission of a work of art; despite some initial scepticism amongst the congregation and concern that a work of art was an extravagance, now that the community is using the pieces within their worship they appreciate them deeply, demonstrating that communities do not have to choose between art patronage and charitable giving but can decide to do both.’ (Olivia Horsfall Turner, chair of the judging panel).
Further Information
Medium: Wood; Green oak and steel
Permanent display
See Cox’s Communion table and lectern on the Ecclesiart map here.