Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal SeeSergeant, Philip Walsingham
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See
Sergeant, Philip Walsingham
Winchester Cathedral
Here the architectural history of Winchester Cathedral practically ends.
We find tombs and memorial brasses of all dates, but until the modern
restorations nothing of importance affected the actual appearance of the
church. Among the few examples of Jacobean work to be seen within, the
nave pulpit can hardly be classed, since it was brought from New College
Chapel at Oxford as late as 1884. The two statues of James I. and
Charles I. by the west door are the work of Hubert le Sueur, who came to
England in 1628. The urns which were supposed in the last century to
decorate the reredos have long ago been removed, as has also the gilt
Jacobean canopy which formerly disfigured the centre of this screen; but
Benjamin West's "Raising of Lazarus" still remains above the altar.
This century's work in the cathedral is not very formidable in its
extent. All of it is mentioned elsewhere in this book, and it is
sufficient here to say that the erection of Sir G. Scott's choir-screen
and the restoration of the reredos are the most noticeable "modern"
features, though the latter was carried out on the old lines as nearly
as was thought advisable. Sir G. Scott's additions to Winchester have by
no means given universal satisfaction, severe language having been
applied to them by more than one expert. The most recent alterations
have consisted chiefly of a very necessary, though costly, strengthening
of the nave roof. This work is, of course, invisible from the ground
level, but can be reached from the stair in the south transept. A repair
of the organ has also been provided for, and new glass has been inserted
in the large south window of the Lady Chapel, in memory of Bishop
Thorold.
[Illustration: MONUMENT TO BISHOP ETHELMAR.
(From Carter's "Ancient Architecture of England.")]
CHAPTER II
THE CATHEDRAL BUILDING AND CLOSE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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