'Stations of the Nativity': Oxford sculptor's works on display in ante-chapel

Four pieces by Oxford-based sculptor Toddy Hoare are on display in the college ante-chapel until Candlemas (Sunday 31 January). The sculptures are taken from an 8-piece sequence entitled 'The Stations of the Nativity' designed to enhance the familiar biblical narrative of the birth of Christ and—when seen in conjunction with the texts—take the viewer deeper into the story.

The four pieces, as described by Toddy, are:

• The Birth of Jesus - "The setting is a stable from archaeological evidence. The separate front room of the house is occupied, hence no room in the inn (guest room.) The main living area is raised above the stable area in one other big room. Naturally on the edge of the raised platform is a trough or manger for the beasts. Birth here is dependent on self-help; no birthing stool, no make-do stones as a substitute, and women did not give birth lying down with their legs suspended, but crouching. As a result Joseph's thighs form the temporary birthing stool, which make a biblical precedent that the child is his in the same way that the child born on Jacob's thighs became his. [Matthew chapter 1, verses 18-25; Luke chapter 2, verses 1-7.]"
• The Visit of the Magi - "Wise men, astrologers and astronomers combining wisdom leading to the truth; probably three by nature of their gifts, but the group was probably larger. [Matthew chapter 2, verses 1-12.]"
• Candlemas - "The Christ child is presented in the temple where Luke gives us the highlight of the Nunc Dimittis. Joseph has the sword ("a sword shall pierce through thy own soul", as Simeon comments) and the pigeons or doves for sacrifice; Simeon lifts the child rather as the High Priest in the temple made a 'wave offering'; behind the child the temple beams suggest the future cross; Mary looks apprehensive—as any mother might—but she is there with her husband like any normal family in those days; Anna comes onto the scene to worship the child. [Luke chapter 2, verses 22-28, 29-38 (Nunc Dimittis), and 36-40 (the Adoration of Anna).]"
• The Flight to Egypt - "Like Syria today (hence their uniforms) the soldiers seek out likely opposition to eliminate it, but they are protected: the corn the peasant is sowing immediately grows up tall and hides the Holy Family (as in the traditional Danish Folktale.) [Matthew chapter 2, verses 13-18.]"

Toddy trained professionally at the City & Guilds of London School of Art and was studio assistant to John Mills and Cecil Thomas. He served as a soldier in Northern Ireland, and, after training at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, spent 25 years as a parish priest in rural North Yorkshire on the edge of the Moors between Thirsk and Northallerton, before taking early retirement and returning full-time to sculpture.

Toddy currently has an exhibition of 28 watercolours, linocuts and drawings, Time, Tide, Toddlers & Tombs, which runs until Easter at Wycliffe Hall (viewing by appointment, call 01865 274200). Later this year he has two further exhibitions in the Oxford area: one at St Andrew's, Linton, 7-15 May; and a second as part of the MCS Arts Festival Oxford 2016, which take places between Friday 17 June and Saturday 2 July.