Symbols & Reflections

Some items to look for and points to ponder in SOMC.

The lectern was made by Phil Mayhew a member of the church, from wood recycled from a courtesy rail and represents our commitment to caring for the world.

The majority of the wood in the church is the hardwood Abura from tropical Africa.

The Side Communion Table

This table was originally crafted for the College of the Ascension. When the college closed it was moved to Harborne Methodist Church in its temporary home at St Peters. It came to this church when the Harborne congregation merged with our own.

This batik by the Rev. Dr. Solomon Raj, shows Jesus in terms of Indian culture as a teacher of the ultimate things. The position of the right hand depicts the imparting of truth and the left hand the giving of comfort. Jesus is sitting in the lotus position, which Indians associate not only with teaching, but also with holiness. The lotus flower and the cross form the logo of the Church of North India.

The Kneelers at the Communion Rail

The kneelers, designed by Jean Wells and made by the women of Oadby Methodist Church, Leicester, depict a variety of elements from the Bible, the Christian tradition and Selly Oak Church's contemporary setting.

The three central kneelers are the interwoven triangles, the lamb and the dove. The celtic and latin crosses, the Methodist shell of discipleship and the logo of the World Council of Churches remind us of the diversity of the Christian family. The local area is represented with the oak leaves and Bournville Green Rest House, England is called to mind by the bow and arrows of Blake's 'Jerusalem', and the communication tower was included to signify the Selly Oak Colleges and their work in education and world mission. The lamp, fish, palm leaves, grapes, communion cup, crown of thorns, and hammer and nails will be readily identified. Two kneelers (not shown) name the writers of the Gospels in Greek.  

The picture tells the story of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus escaping to Africa to save Jesus from being killed. We reflect on the plight of tens of thousands of refugees throughout the world today.

This tapestry was woven in the small, poor village of Harrania in Egypt (around 1965) by Maryam Hermina. Professor Wassef, a Christian Egyptian expert on art and architecture, gave the Muslim and Christian villagers an opportunity for community development by supplying looms and teaching spinning and dyeing. He then withdrew and the young people devised their own styles and patterns. The story of the making of the tapestry reminds us that individuals can make small but important contributions to God's kingdom of love, peace and justice in the world which He created, and to which people of all religions and nationalities belong.

 

Jesus carrying the cross and meeting the women of Jerusalem.

The Mexican Crucifix

Whilst the large empty cross at the front of the church symbolises faith in the living presence of the risen Christ, the crucifix leads us to think of the suffering which preceded His death. Straw-work has a long history in Mexico, as amongst farming communities in other parts of the world. Creativity is a precious gift. 

Brass Cross

This is the cross that was in St Laurence Mission Church, Aubrey Rd in the parish of Quinton. In 1969 it was given to Harborne Methodist Church by the parish of St Faiths and St Laurence. The cross was transferred to St Peters Harborne when the Harborne Methodists transferred in 2006. In 2009 it moved with the Harborne Methodists to Selly Oak.

It symbolically shows the ecumenical friendships were strong in 1969.

The call of the disciples

The tapastry was designed by He Qi, a Chinese
Christian artist from mainland china, and made by people from the Tujia
ethnic minority from Hubei Province in China.  He Qi designed a whole series of tapestries that use the traditional Tujia weaving technique but depict
biblical scenes and stories.  In the 1980s the Church in China was only just being allowed to reopen buildings and train ministers after the cultural revolution (1966-76).  The tapestries were used to generate income for an economically deprived and socially depressed ethnic minority group and, to
raise awareness of the of the distinctive qualities of the Chinese Church.
(Presented to the church by Rev Nick Skelding)

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