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England |
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 King's
College Chapel, Cambridge
HISTORY
King's College Chapel is arguably the most magnificent example of late
medieval English architecture in the entire country. Guidebooks run
out of superlatives to describe the richness of its interior decoration
and the sumptuous flowing lines of the structural elements.
The Chapel
was founded by Henry VI in 1441 as part of his grand scheme for creating
at King's a college to take graduates of Eton, founded the previous
year. The chapel was intended to form one side of a grand court but
the residential ranges planned for the other three sides of the court
were never completed.
Henry compelled
landowners in the town to sell him plots along the river, and he proceded
to pull down residences, shops, and even a parish church to make room
for his creation. Henry intended his chapel to be without equal.
He employed
his royal architect, Reginald of Ely, to draw up plans for a church
along the lines of a cathedral choir, and Henry himself laid the
foundation stone of the new chapel on 25 July 1446.
Building
continued until 1461, through the opening hostilities of the Wars of
the Roses. But when Henry VI was taken prisoner by thefuture Edward
IV, workmen packed up their tools and went home. It is said that a half-cut
stone left by the workmen was eventually used as the foundation stone
for the Gibb's building in 1724.
The extent
of this early building phase is clearly noticeable. The builders used
white Tadcaster limestone, and the upper limit of this stone can be
traced, particularly in the butresses. Very little building was done
under Edward IV, but Richard II's short reign saw the first 5 bays of
the chapel completed and put into daily use.
Henry VII
provided the necessary funds to turn the half-finished chapel into a
complete building. The chest which carried Henry's initial gift of money
is preserved in the Chapel Exhibition in the northern side chapel. The
main structure was finished in 1515, and Henry VIII funded the interior
woodwork and screen.
The magnificent
- there is no other word to describe it - fan vaulting was completed
in just 3 years, between 1512-1515 by master mason John Wastell.
The chapel
surprisingly escaped major damage during the Civil War, despite the
fact that Cromwell's troops used it for a training ground in inclement
weather. It is possible that Cromwell himself, being a Cambridge student,
gave orders to spare the chapel. Most of the stained glass was removed
during WWII, and the Chapel again escaped damage.
CHAPEL
HIGHLIGHTS
The interior is composed of 12 bays, making it the largest in the world
covered with fan vaulting. The vaulting is decorated with intricately
carved bosses of wood and stone, featuring heraldic beasts, coats of
arms, and Tudor motifs.
The superbly
carved screen between the antechapel and choir was a gift of Henry VIII.
The screen bears Henry's initials twined around those of Anne Boleyn.
The organ
is a true work of art, constructed 1666-68, and rebuilt several times
since then. The pipes rise above the screen, upon which they rest.
The Tudor
choir stalls were made by Peter the Carver, who was also responsible
for the screen. The canopies were added in the 17th century. Rubens'
striking painting Adoration of the Magi (1634) looks down on
the high altar.
To the
left of the altar is the Chapel Exhibition, which illustrates the different
phases of the chapel's building, with scale models, plans, workman's
tools and period costumes.
SERVICES
Evensong
If you can make the effort to attend Evensong, you will be rewarded
by a truly remarkable experience. The setting and the world famous King's
College Choir unite to produce a memorable event. Services are sung
by King's College Choir from Tuesdays to Sundays, and on Mondays by
the College's mixed-voice choir, King's Voices. Evensong is held at
5:30pm except Sundays, when it is 3:30.
Christmas
Eve Carol Service
Otherwise known as the Festival of the Nine Lessons and Carol Services,
this annual event was first held in 1918. It is broadcast live around
the world, but if you want to be there in person, be prepared to queue
from 11:00am for the 3:00pm service.
Entry:Fee
Charged
The Chapel is generally open to the public but is occasionally
closed for recordings, broadcasts, concerts, or other special events.
To ensure entry please contact The Tourist Liaison Officer by telephone
on +44 1223 331212 or by fax on +44 1223 331315
Cambridgeshire
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© David Ross and Britain Express |
