In making a particular survey of the Choir, it would perhaps be better to examine carefully the architecture of the six eastern bays first, and then the three western bays, which were built subsequently to the others, before examining the reredos, monuments, &c.; this is simply a suggestion, we leave the visitor to follow his own inclination, and continue our description in the order of our course from west to east.
The architecture of the three first bays is greatly to be admired as a specimen of the Decorated style, perhaps not surpassed by any other in the kingdom; they were erected about the same time as the Octagon, and most probably under the superintendence of the same skilful architect, and for which purpose Bishop Hotham left a sum of money at his death; they were built during the episcopate of his successors, Bishops Montacute (1337-1345), and L'Isle (1345-1361). The lower columns are nearly, the capitals entirely, of the same form with those of the Octagon, but the arches are more ornamented, some of them having bosses of foliage attached to their mouldings; and those of the triforium are, as Mr. Bentham observes, "embellished with tracery work of such elegance and delicacy as seems scarcely consistent with strength." Between each of the lower arches is a corbel or elongated bracket profusely adorned with foliage carved in high relief, richly coloured and gilded; from this rises a column between the upper arches, and from the top of this column spring the ribs of the vaulting, which spread in lavish ramifications over it, dividing it into angular compartments, and at the angles are flowers and other ornaments, curiously carved, and originally were coloured. In the spandrils of the lower and triforium arches (with the exception of the first bay on the south side, which contains the arms of the see, those of Bishop Hotham, and another shield), are sunk trefoils, some of which are painted dark blue relieved with small stars in gold, having an elegant appearance. The range of pierced parapet at the bases of the triforium and clerestory has been entirely renewed; and on the south side, the triforium roof (which on both sides is of bare rafters,) has been recently painted and ornamented in a style similar to those of the Transept. The windows in the clerestory are large, filling the whole opening, having in each four lights with rich tracery, and the same kind of trellis-work we noticed in the large windows in the Octagon; these windows, on both sides have been recently filled with stained glass, executed by Mr. Wailes, the expense defrayed out of the balance of the accumulated fund for the east window; the subjects are illustrative of two verses of the "Te Deum," with figures of angels and the arms of the donor, &c., in the tracery:
North side—"The noble army of Martyrs"—represented in the western window by figures of St. George, St. Agnes, St. Catharine, and St. Alban; middle window—St. Lawrence, St. Cecilia, St. Justin, and St. Prisca; eastern window—St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp, St. Lucian, and St. Stephen.
South side—"The Holy Church throughout all the World," the Eastern Church being represented in the western window by figures of St. Chrysostom, St. Basil, St. Athanasius, and St. Gregory Nazienzen; the Western Church in the middle window, by figures of St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Gregory the great; the British Church in the eastern window, by figures of St. Columba, St. David, the Venerable Bede, and St. Augustine of Canterbury.
The absence of a bishop's throne is peculiar to this Cathedral; the bishop occupies the return stall on the south side, and the dean that on the north; those seats being generally appropriated to the dean and sub dean. When the abbacy was converted into a bishopric (a.d. 1109) the bishop took the seat previously held by the abbot, the prior retaining his own; and, on the re-foundation in 1541, the dean took the seat previously used by the priors, and here occupies traditionally the side opposite to his customary position.
On the right hand of the entrance, therefore, is the seat of the bishop, and on the left hand that of the dean, both surmounted by lofty pinnacles of tabernacle work; and the ancient stalls, formerly used under the Octagon, extend on both sides to the length of the three western bays. These, which we believe form the sole existing specimen of stalls of that date in England, have been cleansed from their coats of paint and restored, and harmonise well with the new work: the canopies are rich and elaborate, and the panels in the upper portions have recently been filled with sculptured groups illustrative of Scripture history, those on the north side from the New, and those on the south side from the Old Testament; they are beautifully designed, and contribute greatly to the good effect of the whole. These sculptures have been executed in oak by M. Abeloos, of Louvain, (with one exception, "the Nativity," by Mr. Philip,) and are the gifts of various benefactors. They are placed in chronological order and, as we proceed from west to east, the subjects may be noticed in the positions described as follows.
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NORTH SIDE. The Annunciation. The Salutation. The Nativity. The Presentation in the Temple. The Adoration of the Magi. The Murder of the Innocents. The Flight into Egypt. Jesus disputing with the Doctors. The Baptism. The Temptation. The Miracle at Cana in Galilee. The Transfiguration. Mary anointing the Lord's feet. The Betrayal. Our Lord before Caiaphas. Jesus mocked. Pilate washing his hands. Jesus scourged. "Behold the Man." The Crucifixion. The Entombment. The Resurrection. Our Lord at Emmaus. The incredulity of Thomas. The Ascension. |
SOUTH SIDE. The Creation of Man. The Creation of Woman. Adam and Eve in Paradise. The Fall of Man. The Expulsion from Paradise. Adam and Eve at Work. Cain killing Abel. Noah building the Ark. The Deluge. Noah's Sacrifice. Promise to Abraham. Isaac carrying the wood. Abraham's Sacrifice. Isaac blessing Jacob. Jacob's Dream. Joseph sold by his Brethren. The Burning Bush. The Passover. Moses striking the Rock. Moses raising the brazen serpent. Return of the Spies. David anointed by Samuel. Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. Jonah. Elijah's ascent to Heaven. |
The sub-stalls are new, and of good design; the stall-ends in the upper range have a series of statuettes of the principal among the ancient benefactors, or of the builders of various portions of the church, each under a canopy, and for finials they have figures of angels with instruments of music. Each of the statuettes (where finished) is represented as holding some type or model of the particular portion with which its prototype is more intimately connected. They were designed and modelled by Mr. J. Philip, and executed partly by him and partly by Mr. Rattee; we append a list of them in the order in which they are placed, commencing from the west, as before:
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NORTH SIDE. St. Etheldreda. King Edgar. Abbot Simeon. Abbot Richard. Bishop Hervey. Bishop Ridel. |
SOUTH SIDE. Bishop Alcock. Alan de Walsingham. Prior Crauden. Bishop Hotham. Bishop Northwold. Bishop Eustachius. |
The fronts of the stalls are generally of open work, shewing the hinged seats, or misereres as they are usually called, behind; in both series of stalls these are curiously and grotesquely carved beneath. On the faces of the stall-ends of the lower tier are various emblematical devices, crests, and shields, beautifully carved; our list is made in the same order as of the statuettes.