A Lady chapel or lady chapel is a traditional British term for a chapel dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus , particularly those inside a cathedral or other large church . The chapels are also known as a Mary chapel or a Marian chapel , and they were traditionally the largest side chapel of a cathedral, placed eastward from the high altar and forming a projection from the main building, as in Winchester Cathedral . Most Roman Catholic and many Anglican cathedrals still have such chapels, while mid-sized churches have smaller side-altars dedicated to the Virgin.
31-465: The Henry VII Lady Chapel , now more often known just as the Henry VII Chapel , is a large Lady chapel at the far eastern end of Westminster Abbey , England, paid for by the will of King Henry VII . It is separated from the rest of the abbey by brass gates and a flight of stairs. The structure of the chapel is a three-aisled nave composed of four bays, leading to an apse , which contains
62-472: A more elaborate chapel to the Virgin to replace the older, simpler structure; and third, he wanted a royal mausoleum for him, his family, and his heirs at an important religious site that would enhance his legitimacy as king and his legacy. Henry VII allocated more than £14,000 for its construction between 1503 and 1509. In his will, he stipulated that more funds were to be provided as needed. The final cost of
93-411: A publication now in the public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). " Chapel ". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company. Rabbet A rabbet (American English) or rebate (British English) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood . When viewed in cross-section, a rabbet is two-sided and open to the edge or end of
124-438: Is best known for its combination of pendant fan vault ceiling . Andrew Reynolds refers to the vault as “the most perfect example of a pendant fan vault, the most ambitious kind of vaulting current in the perpendicular period.” Notably, this ceiling was also the first to combine pendants with fan vaulting. The fan vault is created by first dividing the ceiling into groin vaulted compartments. These groin vaults are created by
155-540: Is noteworthy for its size and beauty. Salisbury and Truro cathedrals have an eastern chapel that is equivalent to a lady chapel but with a different name, as a result of the whole church being dedicated to Mary. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Chisholm, Hugh , ed. (1911). " Lady-chapel ". Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 62. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
186-565: Is unknown, but it is believed that Robert Janyns the Younger was responsible for the design of much of the structure. The structure of the chapel is a three-aisled nave composed of four bays. The aisles are divided by rows of mahogany stalls into the North, South, and Central aisles. All contain numerous monuments and floor stones dedicated to various nobles. Above the stalls, at the triforium level, are many sculptures. Interspersed between
217-502: Is used. A rabbet can be used to form a joint with another piece of wood (often containing a dado ). Rabbet joints are easy to construct, but are not as strong as some other joints. Nails and screws can be added to help increase the overall strength. The word rabbet is from Old French rabbat , "a recess into a wall", and rabattre "to beat down". According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "In North America
248-588: The apostles Fagan and Duvian were said to have erected the Lady Chapel at Glastonbury as the oldest church in Britain; the accounts are now held to have been pious forgeries . The earliest English lady chapel of certain historicity was that in the Saxon cathedral of Canterbury ; this was transferred during the rebuilding by Archbishop Lanfranc to the west end of the nave , and again shifted in 1450 to
279-528: The Donor Windows (in the west), in the chapels themselves, are new additions, installed in 2000 and 1995, respectively. The latter is the west window which depicts royal coats of arms, and was designed by John Lawson and made by Goddard & Gibbs . In 2013, two new stained glass windows designed by Hughie O'Donoghue were installed on either side of the East Window. The apse of the chapel contains
310-575: The French cathedrals and churches where they form part of the chevet . In Belgium they were not introduced before the 14th century; in some cases they are of the same size as the other chapels of the chevet, but in others (probably rebuilt at a later period) they became much more important features. Some of the best examples can be found in churches of the Renaissance period in Italy and Spain . It
341-502: The aesthetics of the room. The pendants serve an additional structural purpose. The pendants are cut from single stones and inserted as wedge stones in the transverse arches. By combining with the transverse arches, the pendants do not require additional structural support. At the time of the construction of the chapel, pendant vaults were very new; they were first seen in the Divinity School at Oxford . The chapel's architect
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#1732786781523372-532: The altar, and behind that the tombs of Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth of York as well as of James I . There are five apsidal chapels. The chapel is noted for its pendant fan vault ceiling . The chapel is built in a very late Perpendicular Gothic style, the magnificence of which caused John Leland to call it the orbis miraculum (the wonder of the world). The tombs of several monarchs including Henry VII , Edward VI , Mary I , Elizabeth I , James I , Charles II and Mary, Queen of Scots are found in
403-457: The altar, and behind that, the tombs of Henry VII and his wife as well as of James I. There are five apsidal chapels. These chapels originally contained altars —they were screened off and intended for private prayer for members of the royal family—but their dedication is no longer known. Upon entering the chapel, one passes through a set of bronze gates, which are elaborately crafted and “illustrate the…intense determination of Henry VII to put to
434-439: The chapel is estimated at £20,000. According to one nobleman, Lord Bacon , “He lieth at Westminster in one of the stateliest and daintiest monuments of Europe…So that he dwelleth more richly dead in the monument of his tomb than he did alive at Richmond or in any of his palaces.” In the eighteenth century, one observer commented that “[t]his chapel, it has been said, was designed as a sepulchre in which none but such as were of
465-501: The chapel on the east side of the north transept . The lady chapel of Ely Cathedral is a distinct building attached to the north transept, which was built before 1016. At Rochester the current lady chapel is west of the south transept (which was the original lady chapel, and to which the current chapel was an extension). Probably the largest lady chapel was built by Henry III in 1220 in Westminster Abbey . This chapel
496-567: The chapel. The chapel has also been the mother church of the Order of the Bath since 1725, and the banners of members hang above the stalls. In the 13th century, a movement toward devotion to the Virgin Mary inspired the building of chapels in her honour across Europe. Henry III ’s Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey was part of this trend. In 1502, Henry VII planned a new chapel. The old one
527-471: The combination of arches along the wall and larger, transverse arches bridging the nave of the chapel. In the fan vault at the Henry VII Chapel, the compartments are nearly square in shape. The compartments are then ribbed and paneled. Ribs, of the same curve and size, are cut from single pieces of stone and rebated so to best fit with the panels. The curved ribs, extending from the same point on
558-814: The efficacy of ‘mediacions and prayers’ in his progress through purgatory is crucial to his purpose.” That is to say, he built the chapel and adorned it with numerous sculptures of important religious figures in part to ensure his acceptance into Heaven . At the far eastern end is the RAF Chapel , dedicated to the men of the Royal Air Force and allied forces who died in the Battle of Britain between July and October 1940. 51°29′57″N 0°07′36″W / 51.4993°N 0.1266°W / 51.4993; -0.1266 Lady chapel The occurrence of lady chapels varies by location and exist in most of
589-453: The forefront every possible indication of his claims to the crown of England.” The gates are decorated with numerous royal crests that serve to legitimize his rule. Once inside, the mahogany stalls stand out to the viewer as they contrast with the light colored stone of the walls and ceiling. The stalls also contribute the verticality of the interior. They date from different times; while some are original others were added later to accommodate
620-536: The increasing number of Knights of the Order of the Bath. The stalls were designated for all living Knights of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. When a knight was installed, he received a stall that was subsequently adorned with his crest, coat of arms, and heraldic banner, the last of which remained in the chapel even after the knight's death. These banners all remain to decorate the chapel. During
651-429: The nineteenth century, there were too many knights to accommodate in the chapel and no more were installed until the twentieth century. Currently, only the most senior knights are assigned stalls in the chapel. The altar and Henry VII's tomb were crafted by the same Italian artist, Pietro Torrigiano . The Henry VII tomb was created first, beginning in 1512. The tomb was sculpted by a Florentine Renaissance artist, thus,
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#1732786781523682-463: The reconstructed altar. Also significant are the aforementioned sculptures that adorn the triforium. The statues are of saints and the Apostles . According to Lindley, that “Henry VII’s will declares his trust in...‘Aungels, Archaungels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostels, Evangelists, Martirs, Confessours and Virgyns’” is critical to understanding his motivation in building the chapel: “Henry’s belief in
713-524: The royal-blood should ever be interred; accordingly the will of the founder has been so far observed, that all that have hitherto been admitted are of the highest quality, and can trace their descent from some or other of our ancient kings.” In the intervening years, some people not of aristocratic descent, including Oliver Cromwell , were buried there, but during the Restoration of the monarchy many of those people were disinterred. The Henry VII Chapel
744-547: The sculptures are the heraldic banners of the Knights of the Order of the Bath . Above this is the clerestory , with three rows of smaller windows. The window tracery articulates four larger windows, one in each bay, each composed of these three rows of smaller lancet windows. As much of the original glass was destroyed during the English Commonwealth , the East Window, over the centre apsidal chapel, as well as
775-531: The style is atypical of English art. The putti on the corners are particularly uncharacteristic. The altar was begun in 1517, but Torrigiano left the country before it was completed; Benedetto da Rovezzano finished its construction in 1526. Originally made of terracotta , white marble, and gilt bronze, it was destroyed during the Commonwealth. The current altar is based on images of the original. Two surviving pillars and two newly constructed ones support
806-463: The surface into which it is cut. An example of the use of a rabbet is in a glazing bar where it makes provision for the insertion of the pane of glass and putty. It may also accommodate the edge of the back panel of a cabinet . It is also used in door and casement window jambs , and for shiplap planking. In a picture frame the rabbet may hide uneven or poor edges of a painting and its support, while for graphic art and photographs protective glazing
837-403: The wall, are spaced equidistant from each other, forming conoid shapes. The resulting conoids, however, require great compressive forces to keep shape. Spandrels usually provide pressure along the upper edge of the conoids. In the Henry VII Chapel, these spandrels are replaced with hanging pendants. The pendants still provide the compression necessary to support the conoids and add complexity to
868-717: Was 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, much in excess of any foreign example, and extended to the end of the site now occupied by Henry VII's Lady Chapel . Also in 1220, the office of Warden of the Lady Chapel was established, with the responsibility for the Lady altar, and its sacred vessels, candles and other accoutrements. Among other notable English examples of lady chapels are those at the parish church at Ottery St Mary , Thetford Priory , Bury St Edmunds Cathedral , Wimborne Minster and Highfield Church in Hampshire. The Lady Chapel
899-597: Was built over the chancel in Compton, Guildford , Surrey; Compton Martin , Somersetshire; and Darenth , Kent. At Croyland Abbey there were two lady chapels. The Priory Church at Little Dunmow was the lady chapel of an Augustinian priory, and is now the parish church. The Lady Chapel in Liverpool Cathedral is another, more recent, example. Consecrated in June 1910, it was designed by George Gilbert Scott and
930-427: Was demolished in 1502 and construction of the new foundation began January 24, 1503. Henry VII had three goals when planning his chapel. The first was to build a shrine to honour and hold the body of Henry VI , who was expected to be canonized. Ultimately, canonization did not occur and Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York , were interred in the tomb intended for Henry VI. Second, Henry VII wished to dedicate
961-526: Was in lady chapels, towards the close of the Middle Ages, that innovations in church music were allowed, only the strict chant being heard in the choir. In late Old English the word 'lady' belonged to a declension of feminine nouns which were uninflected for the singular possessive, and the name (Our) Lady Chapel is a fossilized vestige. It should be understood as (Our) Lady's Chapel In the 12th-century legends surrounding King Lucius of Britain ,