A Short Account of King's College ChapelLittlechild, Walter Poole
Religion
A Short Account of King's College Chapel
Littlechild, Walter Poole
King's College (University of Cambridge). Chapel
[18] It may appear to my readers somewhat strange that in this case the
words "Pray for the soul" and "May God have mercy, &c." are intact.
Until 1898 this chantry had a boarded floor above the slab, the fillet
round not being visible. The figure itself with label was affixed to a
board and placed in the vestry for those who cared to inspect it. When
the floor was removed the Brass was placed in its proper place on the
slab and the whole inscription could then be seen. There are the
matrixes of four coats of arms. Probably they were King's, Eton, the
University, and Argentine's own coat, which was gules, three covered
cups argent. At the upper corners of the fillet are the evangelistic
emblems of St. Matthew and St. John, while those of St. Mark and St.
Luke, which were evidently at the bottom, have been taken away.
Conclusion
LIKE human beings, the chapel has received well-merited praise from
many, while some have used their knowledge (or want of it) to criticise.
Fuller speaks of it "as one of the rarest fabricks in Christendom,
wherein the stonework, woodwork, and glasswork contend which shall
deserve most admiration." To quote Carter again: "It is entitled to be
ranked with the finest buildings of the world," although he further goes
on to say: "The exterior aspect is perhaps justly open to some
criticism, but it has received unqualified abuse at the hands of some
writers." Ruskin was very severe, comparing it to a billiard table,
turned upside down, the four corner turrets being the four legs; but he
afterwards, it is said, retracted. The late Rev. Augustus Austen Leigh,
Provost of the College from 1888 to 1905, in writing a history of the
College, says: "Like other really great works, King's Chapel produces an
impression which is instantaneous, and at the same time permanent. It
does not disarm criticism, but it compels admiration. And if anyone is
inclined to criticise, let him look at the exterior on a moonlight night
from the south side of the Quadrangle, or from the top of Trinity
Street, or let him take his stand within the ante-chapel at the
northwest corner on a bright summer's day, and cast his eye along the
coloured glass and stone vaulting till he catches a part of the east
window rising above the stately rood-loft; and if he does not feel that
there is an inspiration in the building which is above criticism, he
must be a man that hath no music in himself."
I cannot end this brief sketch better than by quoting Wordsworth's two
famous sonnets on King's College Chapel:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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