Romsey Abbey has added to its growing collection of pieces by local artists by commissioning a new Advent Candle holder.

The candle holder designed by John Slade and Diane Hargreaves and carved in oak by John will be blessed and the first Advent candle will be lit on Sunday (November 30) at the 10am service.

Rev Tim Sledge, Vicar of Romsey said: “Advent is one of the most important seasons of the Christian calendar in the run up to Christmas, but often it is lost in all the busy-ness and preparations and carols, wonderful though they are. I wanted to have an Advent Candle which was a real focal point and also one which matched in with the Abbey in terms of style.

“John Slade has done a wonderful job and has produced something which is both eye-catching and contemporary but also feels as if it has been in the Abbey for years, it fits in so well. I am so delighted with the piece and encourage anybody who wants to see it to come along to the Abbey throughout December. If you are coming to a carol service or concert, look out for it there.”

John has already made a giant cross for the Abbey for use during Lent and Easter and many of his pieces on sale at Romsey’s community gallery, Rums Eg on Bell Street. He worked for many years as a history teacher at Tauntons College in Southampton before taking early retirement to follow an artistic career.

He began as potter before becoming a woodworker.

The candleholder took six weeks to make and as John started work on it his mechanical plane broke so he did the job with his grandfather’s hand plane which is more than a century old.