The Consecration Candles.

Located around the walls of any consecrated Catholic church you will see twelve candles and close to them twelve stones set into the walls. The stones and altar would have been solemnly anointed with Sacred Chrism and the candles first lit when that church was consecrated – formally set apart for use as a place where God is worshipped. In the case of the Immaculate Conception, Bicester, this took place on Monday, 10^th July 2000.

“We now anoint this altar and this building. May God in his power make them holy, visible signs of the mystery of Christ and His Church.” (Prayer used at the anointing).

The candles are lit on the 29^th of May each year when all consecrated churches celebrate the Solemnity of the Dedication. Otherwise they are lit to mark the major feasts of the Church’s year.

Why twelve candles and twelve stones? Quite simply, because there were twelve apostles. When we say the Creed we confess that “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.” Our faith is “apostolic” because it is based on the teachings of Jesus, carried on by the apostles, the direct successors of whom are our bishops, guided by the Holy Spirit. The consecration candles, twelve in number representing the twelve apostles, were paid for by public subscription and were installed prior to the consecration of the church itself. The name of the donor of the intention for which they were donating the candle are marked on the horizontal bar supporting the candle holder itself. These are - in the choir: King and Tapparo, in the Blessed Sacrament chapel: Inshaw and Thornley, while running clockwise around the church from the sacristy door: Calvert & Wotton, Hurst, Lewandowski, Hawkins, Doherty, Hanna, Maureen O'Meara 1990, and C & G Hurst RIP. The stones were annointed and the candles lit for the first time turing the Consecration Mass on the 10^th of July 2000.