Sacred Heart Exeter
The Altar of St Joseph was a gift of Mrs Knight of Axminster in 1881, in memory of her deceased husband, named Joseph – “for the repose of whose soul she begs the prayers of the faithful”. The wooden floor blocks are of Italian origin, and form a series with the floors of the Lady Chapel and the Sanctuary, getting progressively more ornate.
Plaque at the right side of St Joseph Altar. The golden lettering reads “This Altar in Honour of St Joseph has been Erected by Mary Knight in Memory of her Beloved Husband James Alexander Knight Esquire of Axminster who died December 26th 1881 and for the repose of whose Soul she begs the Prayers of the Faithful. Jesu Mercy, Mary and Joseph Help”.
The statue in the centre of the St Joseph altar depicts the saint holding a lily as symbol of purity and virtue, and surrounded by four biblical figures: Joseph the son of Jacob holding a sheaf of wheat with keys on his belt, King David, holding a lyre, Simeon, holding the child Jesus, and Abraham, holding a lamb and a basket of bread. The panel of the left represents the wedding of St Joseph and Mary, and the one on the right their escape to Egypt. At either end of the altar are St Matthew on the left and St Luke on the right.
St Joseph altar was first used to celebrate Mass on the 18th of November 1884 by Father Hobson, the first priest of the parish. However, the Altar was not consecrated until 1887, the same years as the altar of the Lady Chapel. The decorations at the bottom represent the death of St Joseph accompanied by Jesus and Mary. St Joseph is traditionally prayed to as the patron of a happy and peaceful death.
