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| The Church of St John the Evangelist in New Ferry was built in 1934. The mosaic on the outside of the church, above the main entrance, was put in place in the same year. There are also mosaics in the two chapels inside the church, which were made in the 1950s. |
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| St John the Evangelist was the author of the fourth gospel and is also thought to have written the Apocalypse. In Christian iconography his attributes are: a book or scroll, an eagle, a chalice with a snake emerging and a cauldron. All of these appear in this mosaic. |
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On the left side of the mosaic is a chalice containing three snakes. This refers to the legend in which St John's faith was tested by a priest who gave him a poisonous cup to drink. Two others had already died from drinking the poison but St John survived and also revived the others. |
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The central image is of St John with an eagle by his side. He is holding a book and there is a pen and ink beside him which represent his writings. Usually, images of St John as the Evangelist show him as an old man with a grey beard, but this artist has chosen to represent a younger St John. |
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The cauldron on the right side of the mosaic refers to the legend of St John being thrown into a vat of boiling oil. He is said to have emerged from the oil unharmed. |
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The Lady Chapel contains a mosaic floor and frieze.The three lillies which are repeated around the frieze are symbols of Mary's purtiy. |
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The floor contains the inscription Maria Regina Caeli et Terra - Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. |
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In the centre of the floor is a white dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, within a gold and white circle. Around the circle are fifteen red roses which relate to the purity of the Virgin - 'a rose without thorns'. In each of the corners is a letter M surmounted by a crown which refers to Mary's role as Queen of Heaven and Earth. |
| Many thanks to Fr Frank Rice for allowing me to photograph the mosaics in the Church of St John the Evangelist. |
