The original college chapel was designed by Sir Robert Smirke and was completed in 1831 as part of the College building (later known as the King's building).[1] Given the foundation of the university in the tradition of the Church of England, the chapel was intended to be an integral part of the campus.[2] This is reflected in its central location within the King's Building on the first floor above the Great Hall, accessible via a grand double staircase from the foyer. Although no pictures have survived,[3] the original chapel was described as a low and broad room "fitted to the ecclesiological notions of George IV's reign."[2] However, by the mid-nineteenth century its style had fallen out of fashion and in 1859 a proposal by the college chaplain E. H. Plumptre that the original chapel should be reconstructed was approved by the college council, who agreed that its "meagreness and poverty" made it unworthy of King's.[1]
The college approached Sir George Gilbert Scott to make proposals. In his proposal of 22 December 1859, he suggested that, "There can be no doubt that, in a classic building, the best mode of giving ecclesiastical character is the adoption of the form and, in some degree, the character of an ancient basilica."[1] His proposals for a chapel modelled on the lines of a classicalbasilica were accepted and the reconstruction was completed in 1864 at a cost of just over £7,000.[1]
19th and 20th centuryedit
Scott had to overcome several structural difficulties since the chapel was situated above the Great Hall in the 19th century. He used a lightweight construction system for the arcade and upper nave walls.[4]
In the 20th century, there were many developments that changed the design of the chapel. The original pitched roof designed by Scott was covered with canvas decorated in bays with large star motifs, but these were lost when the ceiling was substituted in the 1930s.[4] The low level windows, which were embellished with stained glass, were damaged during the Second World War. The architect Stephen Dykes Bower was asked to produce proposals for the chapel in 1948 following war damage. Under his direction, the windows were glazed with tinted cathedral glass instead of stained glass. The arcade columns, original designs on the aisle and apse walls were repainted.[4]
21st centuryedit
It was desired by the chaplaincy team of the college to have a chapel that is "sensitive to the tradition and relevant to the contemporary culture".[4] The chapel was planned to be restored and refurbished from 1996 but was not restored until 2001.
Apseedit
Apse roof, depicting Christ in Majesty surrounded by angels
The semi-dome of the apse is a copy of one of Salviati's mosaics, depicting Christ in Majesty surrounded by angels. Either side of the arch are elaborately decorated vertical panels which include figures bearing scrolls inscribed with the motto of King's College, Sancte et Sapienter (With Holiness and Wisdom), and other Christian inscriptions. The spandrels of the arches on each side of the nave feature the painted heads Doctors of the Church, and four 16th- and 17th-century Anglican Divines. These appear to have been an afterthought, as they do not feature in the original Gilbert Scott drawings.[5]
^"Director of Music - Dr Joseph Fort | The Choir of King's College London | King's College London". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
Bibliographyedit
Huelin, Gordon (1979). (PDF). King's College London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
(PDF). King's College London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to King's College London Chapel.
Official website
King's College London
April 10, 2024
chapel, king, college, london, other, uses, king, chapel, disambiguation, grade, listed, 19th, century, chapel, located, strand, campus, king, college, london, england, originally, designed, robert, smirke, 1831, renaissance, revival, chapel, seen, today, rede. For other uses see King s Chapel disambiguation The Chapel of King s College London is a Grade I listed 19th century chapel located in the Strand Campus of King s College London England Originally designed by Sir Robert Smirke in 1831 the Renaissance Revival chapel seen today was redesigned by the prominent Victorian Gothic architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1864 The Chapel of King s College LondonThe Grade I listed college chapel on the Strand Campus seen today was redesigned in 1864 by Sir George Gilbert ScottStatusActiveLocationLocationKing s College London Strand LondonGeographic coordinates51 30 43 N 0 06 54 W 51 51187 N 0 11506 W 51 51187 0 11506ArchitectureTypeChapelCompleted1831 Sir Robert Smirke 1864 Sir George Gilbert Scott Contents 1 History 1 1 19th and 20th century 1 2 21st century 2 Apse 3 Deans 4 Organists 5 Chaplaincy 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp The view facing the organ from the apseThe original college chapel was designed by Sir Robert Smirke and was completed in 1831 as part of the College building later known as the King s building 1 Given the foundation of the university in the tradition of the Church of England the chapel was intended to be an integral part of the campus 2 This is reflected in its central location within the King s Building on the first floor above the Great Hall accessible via a grand double staircase from the foyer Although no pictures have survived 3 the original chapel was described as a low and broad room fitted to the ecclesiological notions of George IV s reign 2 However by the mid nineteenth century its style had fallen out of fashion and in 1859 a proposal by the college chaplain E H Plumptre that the original chapel should be reconstructed was approved by the college council who agreed that its meagreness and poverty made it unworthy of King s 1 The college approached Sir George Gilbert Scott to make proposals In his proposal of 22 December 1859 he suggested that There can be no doubt that in a classic building the best mode of giving ecclesiastical character is the adoption of the form and in some degree the character of an ancient basilica 1 His proposals for a chapel modelled on the lines of a classical basilica were accepted and the reconstruction was completed in 1864 at a cost of just over 7 000 1 19th and 20th century edit Scott had to overcome several structural difficulties since the chapel was situated above the Great Hall in the 19th century He used a lightweight construction system for the arcade and upper nave walls 4 In the 20th century there were many developments that changed the design of the chapel The original pitched roof designed by Scott was covered with canvas decorated in bays with large star motifs but these were lost when the ceiling was substituted in the 1930s 4 The low level windows which were embellished with stained glass were damaged during the Second World War The architect Stephen Dykes Bower was asked to produce proposals for the chapel in 1948 following war damage Under his direction the windows were glazed with tinted cathedral glass instead of stained glass The arcade columns original designs on the aisle and apse walls were repainted 4 21st century edit It was desired by the chaplaincy team of the college to have a chapel that is sensitive to the tradition and relevant to the contemporary culture 4 The chapel was planned to be restored and refurbished from 1996 but was not restored until 2001 Apse edit nbsp Apse roof depicting Christ in Majesty surrounded by angelsThe semi dome of the apse is a copy of one of Salviati s mosaics depicting Christ in Majesty surrounded by angels Either side of the arch are elaborately decorated vertical panels which include figures bearing scrolls inscribed with the motto of King s College Sancte et Sapienter With Holiness and Wisdom and other Christian inscriptions The spandrels of the arches on each side of the nave feature the painted heads Doctors of the Church and four 16th and 17th century Anglican Divines These appear to have been an afterthought as they do not feature in the original Gilbert Scott drawings 5 Deans editMain article List of Deans of King s College LondonOrganists editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items March 2013 The following is a list of organists of the chapel 6 7 1835 Henry Bevington 1854 William Henry Monk director of the choir from 1849 1889 John Edward Wernham joined the college staff in 1886 1916 vacancy organ played by students under the supervision of the Department of Theology 1937 Robert Linton Shields officially appointed lecturer in music as were all subsequent organists until 1980 1941 vacant 1945 Harold Last 1953 Ernest H Warrell 1992 David Trendell 2014 Gareth Wilson 2015 Joseph FortChaplaincy editMain article List of Chaplains of King s College LondonReferences edit a b c d A brief history of the Chapel PDF King s College London Archived from the original PDF on 20 June 2013 Retrieved 20 January 2013 a b Heulin 1979 p 1 The Chapel by Gordon Huelin PDF King s College London Archived from the original PDF on 21 June 2013 Retrieved 31 October 2015 a b c d History of the Chapel PDF King s College London Retrieved 31 October 2015 Heulin 1979 p 2 Heulin 1979 p 6 Director of Music Dr Joseph Fort The Choir of King s College London King s College London www kcl ac uk Retrieved 8 January 2022 Bibliography editHuelin Gordon 1979 King s College London the Chapel PDF King s College London Archived from the original PDF on 21 June 2013 Retrieved 22 January 2013 A brief history of the Chapel PDF King s College London Archived from the original PDF on 20 June 2013 Retrieved 20 January 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to King s College London Chapel Official website King s College London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chapel of King 27s College London amp oldid 1151873450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
