Bristol: Nave, east
between it and the north-choir-aisle stands the Tomb of Maurice, ninth Lord Berkeley (died 1368). Here he lies with Elizabeth, his wife. The knight is in armour and his head lies on a mitre. A good groined canopy overshadows these figures.
Retracing our steps into the choir and passing into the South-choir-aisle, we examine the Glenham window, which is of the same date as the corresponding one in the north-choir-aisle.
The subjects are—in the centre, above, Our Lord Driving the Money Changers from the Temple; below, Jacob’s Dream; on the right, above, the Tribute Money; below, Melchisedec and Abraham; the subject on the left, above, is uncertain; below, the Sacrifice of Gideon.
From the western bay of the south-choir-aisle we enter the Newton Chapel, where members of the Newton family lie. This dates from 1332-1341. The style is late Decorated. The south wall divides it from the Chapter-House, with which it is parallel.
On the right, after passing out of the Newton Chapel, we come to one of Abbot Knowle’s recesses. The foliage consists of oak leaves and acorns interspersed here and there with tiny sprays of mistletoe, an unusual ornament, in church decoration.
We next pass the Tomb of Thomas, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1243. He is represented in armour. His crossed legs show that he was a knight-templar. This is the oldest monument in the cathedral. The next recess contains the effigy of Maurice, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1281. He is also in armour. In the next bay we pass up one step to the entrance of a Vestibule (once a sacristy, now a music-room for the choristers), a fine specimen of Decorated work. Through this we pass into Berkeley Chapel.
“Opposite the entrance door on the south side are three ogee arches with niches between. In one of these, the third from the west, was a hearth upon which the sacramental bread was baked. The ornamentation in the spandrels and the finials is curiously interesting work in foliage. The vaulting of the roof would seem to stamp the work as that of Abbot Knowle. It consists of curved ribs, quite detached, large in section, springing from small capitals. The bosses are particularly fine, the foliage being very flowing and free. It is difficult to realise that the mason has here done in stone what many wood-carvers would fail to do in their softer material. The door into the Berkeley Chapel is enriched with a niche overhead, and a moulding below consisting of medlers.”—(H. J. L. J. M.)
The Berkeley Chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is thought that an altar also stood here to St. Keyne, who turned to stone all the snakes in the vicinity. The ammonites were probably suggested by finding one or two in a piece of stone.