Chelsea, in the Olden & Present TimesBryan, George
History
Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times
Bryan, George
Chelsea (London, England) -- History
On the flanks the buttresses project about six feet, and their
extremities are connected by a dwarf wall, which defends an open area,
giving light and air to the crypt under the Church. The unbroken line of
this wall makes a solid base for the whole building, which gets lighter
and lighter as it ascends to the top, where numerous feathery pinnacles
impart softness and richness to the extremity that meets the sky.
* * * * *
From the great western arcade you enter by three sets of folding doors to
the vestibule, at the sides of which are placed the principal staircases
to the galleries. The principal or middle aisle of the Church is entered
from the centre of the entrance lobby by lofty folding doors, glazed with
plate glass, and as there is no western gallery to project before these
doors you have at once the full effect of the interior. In this Church,
unlike most others, the western gallery is obtained by a recess over the
vestibule, and is principally occupied by a splendid organ by Nicholls,
comprising the great organ, choir organ, and swell organ, containing
thirty-three stops and 1876 pipes. The organ is considered one of the
finest and most powerful in London. The bellows, when charged, contains
70 cubic feet of wind. {128} The King’s Arms, placed in front of the
organ, is executed in a solid piece of mahogany, and is a masterly
production.
* * * * *
The inside of the Church is 130 feet long, and 61 feet wide, divided into
a nave and two side aisles, separated by clustered columns and pointed
arches. The small column in front of the cluster continues up to the
vaulted ceiling, and there branches out into numerous ribs, which spread
their airy lines in the most graceful manner over the ceiling, tied
together at their numerous intersections by carved pendant bosses, the
principal light being from the clerestery windows gives an aerial effect
to the ceiling, which hardly appears to belong to “mid earth,” although
actually built of solid stone, whose power of gravitation appears here to
be suspended by the magic of art, of which this is said to be the only
instance of the kind attempted for the last 300 years. From the pavement
to the crown of the vault is 60 ft., clear height, a greater height than
is to be found in any edifice in London, excepting St. Paul’s Cathedral
and Westminster Abbey. The lofty position of the windows diffuses a
clear and calm light throughout. The church was for some years lighted
by oil-lamps in the three really magnificent chandeliers, but for a long
time gas has been very judiciously substituted.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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