Altar
From England With Love: The Altar Stone
Father Lively had an ardent desire to acquire an Altar stone from the region in England where St. Chad lived and worked. This was to follow the custom of obtaining a dedicatory stone from the place where one’s patron saint lived. This was realized through the efforts of Mrs. C. Jacobson of England, sister of Mrs. Burl Bolesta, and the Rev. A.C.A. Smith, Vicar of St. Chad’s Church, Middlesborough, England. The stone was taken from the original structure of the present Cathedral of St. Peter in England, commonly known as the York Minster. The four-inch square stone, dating from the cathedral’s construction between 1154 and 1256, was donated to St. Chad’s by Archbishop Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of York at that time. The Archbishop had the stone polished and engraved with a Maltese cross. With the stone, he sent the following message: “I am interested to hear of the link which has been formed between the Church of St. Chad, Middlesborough, and Church of St. Chad, Tampa. To the vicar, and the people of the church, I send greetings of goodwill, with the prayer that their church may be a great center of blessing and fellowship.” On December 19, 1954, during the second Confirmation Ceremony at St. Chad’s, the stone was consecrated by Bishop Louttit and imbedded in the altar.