porch was added, as well as the internal gallery with its Gothic timber stairway. Along with the increase in the length of nave and aisles, this extended the seating capacity to over 1,000. Internal features The interior with its tall, open timber-trussed roof is decorated with string courses and brickwork of contrasting colour, as well as carvings and mosaics. Elegant features, such as the narrow Gothic windows in the chancel and the slender timber trusses, mingle with the robustly carved foliage which adorns the capitals to the nave columns and the black-banded red brick arcade itself. The capital above the pulpit with its four heads of angels is more delicately executed than the rest and is the only one on which figures appear. Carvings of the symbols of the four Evangelists – man, lion, ox and eagle – can be seen in the chancel next to the windows of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which flank St Thomas and St Paul in the two central lancets and there is finely carved tracery on the wall panels as well as on the oak altar. The stone pulpit is fairly heavy in style but elaborately ornamented. Attractive original wrought iron light fittings are still in use in the nave. Eight modern roundels on the chancel wall to the left and right of the altar are symbolic representations of aspects of the Holy Communion. There are many very fine stained-glass windows throughout the Church, about 45 windows and panels in all. Much of the pre-war glass is by Heaton, Butler and Bayne of London. The greater number of the windows depict scenes from the life of Christ and familiar Biblical passages, such as the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Talents. The Resurrection also figures prominently. A plan of the windows, with explanations, is available in the church. The Hill organ of 1874 was enlarged by its builder in 1906, but has remained essentially unaltered since then, which makes it an instrument of considerable and national significance. The peal of eight bells in the tower was presented by Robert Atkinson of Beaumont, Malone Road, in 1870. In 2008 the church underwent a significant refurbishment by Killowen Contracts, following designs made by architects Consarc Design Group. Rectory The adjacent rectory was also designed by Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon and built in 1871. A fine red brick residence, this is also