A Venture of Excitement to the Fleche

By David Martin

A Venture of Excitement to

the Fleche (Spire) via the Roof Space ..

.. within St. Philip Neri Church - Now Arundel Cathedral

One of the resident priests at St Philip Neri Church (Now Arundel Cathedral) during my early years was Father Frederick Redding. (Parish Priest 1947 – 1953). A nice easygoing man who had spirit, was great fun and was always prepared to help and assist the Catholic youth of the town. This period of his assignment was of course immediately, or rather soon, after the ending of the Second World War. (1939/1945).

One particular day during his tenure having just finished attending a service in the church, myself and a couple of friends were standing chatting outside the presbytery and for some reason looking up towards the roof and in the approximate direction of the FLECHE.. The flèche being the small “spire” situated on the eastern end of the church roof.. However, I cannot remember the exact reason as to why we were looking up, but that in itself is to become the starting point of this particular true story.

This coincided with Father Redding approaching from the presbytery and stopping to also look upwards with us - he enquired “What are you looking at boys? Are you by chance looking at the spire?” (Spire was the word Father Redding used at the time rather than flèche), to which we replied “No, not especially Father”. From where we were standing it was more or less impossible to see as to where the spire was actually situated. He then started to walk away without replying to our answer when he turned and continued “Boys…I have an idea….Would you really like to actually go up and visit the” spire”? …….because if you do I will see what I can do”. We looked at each other hesitantly for a few moments and then almost in unison agreed because after all it sounded like a fun but scary idea…. Father Redding then departed., We chatted on amongst ourselves and started discussing how would

it even be possible to reach the (spire) flèche.. It was very, very high perched as it was on the very top of this huge magnificent building.. We looked up again in the approximate direction of the spire, which again from where we were actually standing at ground level, we did not have a clear view of its location. Suddenly we were becoming a little “scared or uneasy maybe” to say the least……I think the height of this potential escapade alone to which we would have to somehow traverse was beginning to sink in. At the time I think, if my memory serves me well, we each thought nothing would transpire anyway in that permission would probably never be given. .. It was then time for us to depart for our individual homes. However, It would not be too long before we got the answers to any questions we may have had as a few days later Father Redding called us together again and informed us the venture was able to go ahead …… (BUT) we must not under ANY circumstances publicise this fact...This also meant that we could not tell any of our other friends or family.

As far as I am aware, we were able to keep this subject very quiet by maintaining our promise out of great respect to Father Redding…. Who would have believed us at the time anyway??? SO NO BACKING OUT NOW. !!!!!!!!!!!

I am still not sure to this day as to whether “Official” agreement was ever given for him to undertake this unusual venture with us boys.., but of course I sincerely hope and trust that Father Redding did not get into any form of trouble.This had now become the ACTUAL day that we would attempt this rather., at the time, exciting but somewhat scary venture. It goes without saying that we were now becoming slightly nervous. In fact VERY VERY nervous……….Petrified??????????? Father Redding continued by strongly emphasising that during this entire venture it was imperative that we must, at all times, keep very close together, holding on very tight to each other and obey his instructions without question….Of course we responded with a nervous but definite “Yes Father, we most certainly will”. He then went on to further explain and emphasise that we would be going into a very dark and somewhat potentially dangerous area of the church and that it would be in more or less complete or near complete darkness at times. He could not have stressed the importance of our safety more clearly. We had by now become a little more excited but still very nervous with regard to this venture and as I recall still a little scared but we followed him rather warily to the entrance door to the choir loft (or organ gallery) on the ground floor. Then up to the choir loft and through another old door which creaked as he turned the key and with effort slowly pushed it open. At this juncture my memory is not clear.Could this have been the entrance into the North tower (or clock tower)? However I do remember that we had to then negotiate an open area by means of a number of steps upwards toward the beautiful Rose Window.( This open area is able to be seen between the NW tower and The Rose window viewed from King Street. Now we were able to enter the roof area through another door and immediately encountered a very large void which was almost in complete darkness as Father Redding had previously warned, save for a very minimal amount of day light seemingly coming from the far end. We then had to brush away a vast amount of cobwebs before continuing on. Father Redding eventually found an old electric light switch and although this

additional light was very poor(a single bulb), we could see the the top of the church inner ceiling and the underside of the actual roof itself. It was massive. But it was very, very dark up there. As the ceiling of the church rises to a point at the centre along its full length, to traverse the full length towards the location of the flèche looked a daunting task. This central point of the inner ceiling on which we were located was (again from memory) only about eighteen inches wide and then slopes steeply away each side in darkness, to where it meets each of the main supporting pillars. We

were actually kneeling on this central point what appeared in the darkness to be running the whole length of the ceiling eastwards towards the main altar. We were chatting very nervously to each other, and Father Redding continued to pacify our nervousness. Continuing his instructions he informed us that he would go first and we were to follow very slowly and carefully behind him and to hold on as tight as we could to each other. We boys then knelt behind each other in line with the boy in front holding on to Father Redding. Fortunately, Father Redding had brought a small torch with him which lit the way immediately in front of him as we very slowly crawled along this narrow ridge. His torch, at times, also showed up the vast drop at each side of us into the darkness below and would certainly end in a serious problem should any of us be unlucky enough to slip or fall. A lot of nervous talk continued between us all as you can imagine as we then progressed along.

Eventually we reached the large round (circular) opening within the ceiling structure overlooking the central aisle (crossover) of the church which was to say the least quite difficult to manoeuvre around.

However, we each managed a very quick and extremely nervous glance down through this opening and carefully negotiated around it and onwards towards the base of the flèche. I must say at this stage my heart was beating very fast. I am sure it was the same for the other boys - nervous?....YES, (very)…..Scared.? Of course. Most definitely.

Venturing on a very short distance we had at last reached the flèche location. Here there were maybe 4 or 5 old little wooden steps leading upwards to within the flèche itself. Father Redding made the first ascent. There was only room for one boy at a time to accompany him due to the very limited amount of space. We therefore took it in turns with each boy spending about five minutes each surveying the most magnificent view of the whole of Arundel and surrounding areas through the then openings within the flèche structure. What a most magnificent view of my wonderful birth town.

There is possibly no other comparable vantage point (Apart from maybe THE KEEP. in Arundel

Castle) where this can be achieved. Of course, the original flèche is no longer in existence as it was replaced a number of years ago with, I believe, a totally enclosed metal and glass fibre clad similarity.

Then it was then time to make the return and somewhat perilous journey back across the roof space. This done, again extremely slowly, carefully and with great nervousness we were soon back safely down and into the churchyard. Nervous laughter and chatter between us all was forthcoming as we started to reminisce. We duly thanked Father Redding for all his efforts and the thrill of the visit and away we went happily reliving the memory. My mother was duly shocked when I plucked up enough courage to inform her somewhat later of the escapade and it took ages for her to actually believe me that it was even true. However, I know IT WAS subsequently confirmed to my mother and hopefully likewise to my friends parents, at a later date by Father Redding himself with an apology for any anxiety it may have unintentionally caused……. It was to my knowledge never spoken of again, possibly out of respect for Father Redding and also in deference of the church authority at the time.

In conclusion, we boys must be among the minority of people who have ever undertaken this particular venture .. other than the original builders or remedial specialists) or are ever likely to do so in the future………. Apart from the fact that, as the new flèche is totally enclosed on all sides, there would be little reason. Of course, Health and Safety regulations of today would DEFINITELY not permit such an activity and I doubt very much

that The Cathedral authority of today would ever authorise/ sanction what many people reading this article will be thinking was a rather dangerous and maybe somewhat foolish thing to do.

However, on reflection I feel very proud to have participated in that venture with my friends and of course a big thank you again to Father Redding for giving us the opportunity and the thrill of the experience. A wonderful man indeed………… But then

that was some 70 odd years ago……….

Footnote:

THE CHURCH/CATHEDRAL BELL As a point of interest at the time of our venture and for some considerable time after, THE CHURCH BELL itself was operated manually by means of a long rope attached somehow to the bell mechanism itself. The rope being secured and attached to a pillar at ground level within The

Blessed Sacrament chapel. The bell would be rung at various times as notification to the public that commencement of a service was imminent and also at other specific times during religious services.

In my early days of the late 1940’s, 1950’s and early 1960’s, the activity and responsibility for the ringing of the bell was normally (mostly) undertaken by Mr Fred Smart the church sacristan at the time.