Ely Cathedral Part 8

It may be mentioned that the ceiling is upwards of 200 feet long, and is 86 feet from the floor, and the general size of the princ.i.p.al figures in the painting is nine feet.

The central subjects are arranged in chronological order from the west, each being surrounded by a border varying in form, and containing a legend; in the ten western bays the subjects are supported by figures which are for the most part representations of Patriarchs and Prophets, carrying scrolls[31] upon which are written words of their own, bearing more or less forcibly upon the coming of the Messiah. The eleventh subject has, properly speaking, no supporters, but the Shepherds and the Magi are so arranged as to carry on the artistic effect of a central group with conspicuous lateral figures. In the twelfth and last subject, the picture extends entirely across the ceiling; in the centre is the Lord Jesus in His glorified humanity, seated on a throne, round about which is a "rainbow like unto an emerald." Above His head is the choir of Seraphim, painted in prismatic colours, and reflected in the "sea of gla.s.s before the throne." On the right and left are the figures of the twelve apostles seated; beyond them, on the dexter side, are two archangels, St.

Gabriel, "the angel of redemption," holding the standard of the cross, and St. Raphael, holding a sword with its point downwards, expressive of victory and peace; at their feet rise three figures, typical of the blessed received into glory. On the sinister side are also two archangels, St. Uriel holding his sword downwards, and St. Michael spearing the dragon, expressive of the condemnation of, and victory over, sin. The figure of our Lord is connected with the tree of Jesse by its last branches, which break into scrolls and golden fruit at His feet.

[Footnote 31: In the key to the ceiling as represented in the two following pages, we have placed the words of the legends under the princ.i.p.al subjects, and the contents of the scrolls under the names of the persons represented.]

The arch which separates the Nave from the Octagon has also been decorated, as well as the wall which connects the arch with the ceiling; the design contains the evangelistic symbols of St. Matthew and St. John, and the text "Blessed be the Name of His Majesty for ever, and all the earth shall be filled with His Majesty. Amen and Amen."

[Transcriber's Note: In the original book, the following text in brackets is placed sideways along the right and left sides of a box around the rest of the text. The top and bottom of the box are represented here by a line of asterisks.]

[The heads forming the border represent the human ancestors of our Lord, according to the genealogy in St. Luke's Gospel; they commence at the Eastern end, and terminate at the Western, thus linking together the Glorified Manhood, as exhibited in the last of the pictorial representations, with the Creation of Man in the first.]

"Non n.o.bis, Domini, non n.o.bis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam."

12.

THE LORD IN GLORY.

'I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.'

11.

THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS AND OF THE MAGI.

'Unto us a child is born: Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising.'

| 10. | ST. MATTHEW. | THE NATIVITY. | ST. LUKE.

| 'The Word was made flesh, | ST. MARK. | and dwelt among us: full of | ST. JOHN.

| grace and truth.' | | | | | MALACHI. | 9. | ZEPHANIAH.

'The Sun of | THE ANNUNCIATION. | 'The Lord their G.o.d Righteousness shall | 'A Virgin shall conceive and | shall visit them.'

arise.' | bear a Son, and shall call | | his name Immanuel.' | | | ZECHARIAH. | | NAHUM.

'I will bring forth my | 8. | 'Him that bringeth servant the Branch.' | DAVID. | glad tidings.'

| 'Of the fruit of thy body | JEREMIAH. | shall I set upon thy | EZEKIEL.

'Unto David a | throne.' | 'My servant David righteous Branch.' | | shall be a Prince.'

| 7. | | JESSE. | DANIEL. | 'There shall come forth a | HAGGAI.

'He shall confirm the | rod out of Jesse, and a | 'The desire of all covenant.' | branch shall grow out of | nations shall come.'

| roots.' | | | | 6. | MICAH. | THE MARRIAGE OF RUTH. | ISAIAH.

'Out of thee, | 'The Lord make the woman | 'There shall come a Bethlehem, shall He | like Rachel and Leah. Be | rod out of the stem come forth.' | thou famous in Bethlehem.' | of Jesse.'

| | | 5. | AMOS. | JACOB'S DREAM. | HOSEA.

'I will raise up the | 'In thee and in thy seed | 'O Grave I will be tabernacle of David.' | shall all the families of | thy destruction.'

| the earth be blessed.' | | | | 4. | JONAH. | ISAAC CARRYING THE WOOD. | JOEL.

'Thou hast brought up | 'Behold the fire and the | 'I will pour out my my life from | wood, but where is the burnt | spirit upon all corruption.' | offering? | flesh.'

| | | 3. | MOSES. | NOAH'S SACRIFICE. | NATHAN.

'The Lord shall raise | 'I do set my bow in the | 'I will stablish up a prophet like unto | cloud, to be a token of | the throne of His me.' | covenant between me and the | kingdom.'

| earth.' | | | | 2. | JOB. | THE FALL OF MAN. | BALAAM.

'I know that my | 'Her seed shall bruise thy | 'There shall come a Redeemer liveth.' | head, and thou shalt bruise | star out of Jacob.'

| his heel.' | | | | 1. | ABRAHAM. | THE CREATION OF MAN. | JACOB.

'My son, G.o.d will | 'Which was the son of G.o.d.' | 'The sceptre shall provide himself a | | not depart until lamb.' | | Shiloh come.'

"Sit splendor Domini Dei nostri super nos, et opera manuum nostrarum dirige super nos," &c.

Traces of early fresco work may be seen on some of the arches of the Nave, on both sides, and in all probability other parts were also decorated.

Before proceeding further eastward we will examine the

+Nave Aisles,+

commencing with that on the south, at the western end. We first observe a range of small semicircular arches running under the windows, with a chevron moulding over some of them; in the first bay from the west there is a row of intersecting arches over them. The vaulting is supported by semi-columns placed at the back of the pillars on one side, and on the other by wall-shafts between the windows, and forms a great contrast to the rich vaulting of the eastern portions of the Cathedral. Several traces of early fresco work may be observed in the vault of the tenth bay from the west, and in other places.

Under the fourth window is a doorway, which is, on the exterior, richly ornamented, filling all available s.p.a.ce, the whole of the imposts, arch mouldings and capitals being thickly sculptured with interlaced carving. In the tympanum is a figure of the Saviour in an aureole (or 'glory' of a pointed oval shape), held up by two angels sitting, holding an open book surmounted by a cross in His left hand, His right being elevated in the act of benediction. The mouldings above, as well as the capitals, jambs, and pilasters, are enriched with running foliage, and with a series of medallions containing birds, animals, flowers, &c., some of which are very curious. This was formerly the Prior's entrance from the cloisters; it now opens into a private garden belonging to the Deanery.[32]

[Footnote 32: A new door, with scrollwork in iron, has been put in at the cost of the Bedfordshire Archaeological Society.]

Near this doorway stands a curious relic, deserving attention. It is the lower portion of a stone cross with a square pedestal, found some years ago at Haddenham, in the Isle of Ely, where it was used as a horse-block; the inscription on the pedestal is in Roman capitals, except the E, which is Saxon:

"LUCEM-TUAM-OVINO-DA-DEUS-ET-REQUI[=E].-AMEN."

A translation of it is thus given by Mr. Bentham: "Grant, O G.o.d, to Ovin, thy light and rest. Amen." On reference to the history of St.

Etheldreda, foundress of the monastery at Ely,[33] to which allusion was made in the introduction to this work, it will be seen that her steward bore the name of Ovin, and it is not improbable that the cross was erected either to his honour during his life, or to his memory soon after his death; probably in the early part of the eighth century: this would make it earlier by nearly four hundred years than anything else in the church. The Biss.e.xcentenary, or twelve-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the monastery at Ely by St.

Etheldreda was commemorated by a grand Festival in October, 1873.

[Footnote 33: Bentham's History, i. 45, &c.]

The doorway at the east end of the aisle, under the last window, formerly the entrance for the monks from the cloisters, now the south entrance to the Cathedral, is also worthy of special observation; the head is trefoiled, and ornamented with figures holding pastoral staves; above, two dragons are represented with their necks entwined; the mouldings are rich and various, and the capitals and jambs are sculptured with grotesque ornaments. By some persons it has been thought that these doorways were insertions, as they do not accord with the lines of the adjoining wall, perhaps brought from some other building, and re-erected here when the cloisters were built.

On the second pillar from the east end of the Nave in both aisles, may be observed a niche with a canopy, indicating the position of the rood-screen at the western extremity of the original Choir, which extended eastward across and beyond the s.p.a.ce now covered by the Octagon.

The windows of the aisles, as also those of the triforium, were originally Norman, but were altered at some subsequent period to a later style; those, however, of this aisle have, with one exception, been restored to their original form, and all are filled with stained gla.s.s. We will endeavour to describe them in their order, beginning at the western end of the aisle.

_1st._ The days of Creation; Adam expelled from Eden; the punishment of Mankind; the Offerings of Cain and Abel--executed by Messrs. Henri and Alfred Gerente, of Paris; the contributions of Visitors to the Cathedral.

_2nd._ The Building of the ark; the entry into the ark; the Flood; and Noah's Sacrifice--by M. Alfred Gerente: the gift of Mrs. Pleasance Clough, as a memorial of her aunt, Susannah, wife of John Waddington, Esq.

_3rd._ The Annunciation; the Salutation of Mary and Elizabeth; the Birth of Christ--by Mr. Warrington: his own gift.

_4th._ The Tower of Babel and the Confusion of tongues--by Mr. Howes: the contribution of various tradesmen connected with the Cathedral.

_5th._ Abraham visited by angels; the expulsion of Hagar; and the Blessing of Jacob--by Mr. Gibbs, his own gift.

_6th._ The inst.i.tution of the Pa.s.sover; the Death of the firstborn; and the Exodus of the Israelites--by Mr. Howes, his own gift.

_7th._ The fall of the walls of Jericho; the pa.s.sage of the Jordan; and the return of the spies--by Mr. Wailes: presented by the Rev. G. Millers, as a memorial of his wife.

_8th._ Samson slaying the lion; Samson carrying away the gates of Gaza; and Samson destroying the Philistines--executed and presented by M. Alfred Gerente.