3-008-342 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Midnight Mass at St. Mary's, Moorfields, on Christmas Eve, 1862. 'Our Illustration represents one of the most imposing ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church, as celebrated in an edifice which stands next to the Cathedral of St. George amongst the places of worship of that persuasion in London. St. Mary's, Moorfields, which is situated at the corner of East-street, Finsbury-circus, was opened in 1820...The interior is handsome - indeed, it may be called superb. The semicircular altar-wall, behind a screen of marble columns, has a large painting of the Crucifixion, by Aglio, an Italian artist, executed in what is called mezzo-fresco. This great scenic picture is well shown by a subdued light from the roof, and its effect is very fine. On the ceiling are painted the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, the four-Evangelists, and a series of paintings of events in the life of the Saviour. Altogether the building is well adapted to the peculiar ceremonies to which it is devoted, and on such occasions as that delineated in our Engraving presents a very imposing aspect. The sacramental plate, which is very fine, was a gift from Pope Pius VII'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.