Rediscovered statue in restored Huntingdon chapel

First chance to read the January East Anglia newspaper
December 13, 2018
Work of unsung Ipswich heroes recognised with medals
December 16, 2018
Show all

Rediscovered statue in restored Huntingdon chapel

A hand-carved statue of Our Lady which had been hidden in a cupboard for around 20 years has been blessed and placed in a newly-restored chapel at St Michael the Archangel church in Huntingdon.


On Saturday December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary people who attended the Mass for the feast were invited by parish priest, Fr Philip Shryane, into the newly-restored chapel of Our Lady for the blessing of the statue.

Fr Philip said: “For many years this chapel has been a storage area but it has recently been cleaned out and repainted, given a radiator and some new lights so that it can once more become a devotional chapel of Our Lady. The beautiful statue has been in a cupboard for around 20 years. It is hand-carved by Andre Lacome, a sculptor who lived near Lourdes and had his shop there, selling his own carved statues and medals.

“Along with a statue of the Good Shepherd, also by Lacome, the statue of our Lady came from the Church of the Good Shepherd which used to be in the Oxmoor area of Huntingdon. The church closed and the site was sold in 1995, the lovely statue of the Good Shepherd is now in the Good Shepherd Room, the parish room for our parish. It is very good to have both the statues on view in the church again,” said Fr Philip.

Pictured above is Fr Philip Shryane with parishioners in the restored chapel with the rediscovered statue.

 

Comments