Designing and Making a Church Aumbry

An interesting and unusual project. We were asked to design and make an Aumbry for our church here in Cuckfield (if needed, see earlier news post about what an Aumbry is).

Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, dates from the 13th century with a later interior by George Bodley / Charles Kempe, so there was much to inspire our design, helped by a very supportive consulting architect who, to his credit, gave us a pleasingly open brief.

We produced a range of ideas but settled on a form that sits comfortably in the existing chancel setting and firmly in the Kempe tradition. The Aumbry features a wall-mounted metal safe encased in English ash and an outer carcass in English oak. The piece is finished with a Chi-Rho carving to the front doors and consecration crosses to front and sides, executed by the very talented master carver, Neal Shaw.

 With panoramic views to the South Downs, Holy Trinity Church both inside and out is a delight and worth a visit for its Kempe painted wagon vault ceiling alone. And its Aumbry.