King's College Chapel, Cambridge
A masterpiece of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and home to the world's largest fan vault.
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Where it is
Coordinates: 52°12′18″N 0°07′01″E (52.2050, 0.1170) · Open in OpenStreetMap
Coordinates and connected clubs: the infobox of Wikipedia: King's College Chapel, Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: drawn by Codexery from OpenStreetMap tiles.
King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was built in phases by a succession of kings of England from 1448 to 1515, a period which spanned the Wars of the Roses and three subsequent decades.
The Chapel's large stained glass windows were completed by 1531, and its early Renaissance pulpitum was erected in 1532–36. The Chapel is an active place of worship, and home of the King's College Choir. It is a landmark and a commonly used symbol of the city of Cambridge.
Lore & Background
The first stone of the Chapel was laid by Henry VI on 25 July 1446. Reginald Ely was most likely the architect and worked on the site from 1446. The original plans called for lierne vaulting. The pace of building was greatly reduced after the fall of Henry VI in 1461.
After Ely's death, he was followed as master mason by John Wolryche and Simon Clerk. Henry VII visited in 1506, paying for the work to resume. In 1515, under Henry VIII, the shell of the building was completed.
The Chapel features the world's largest fan vault, constructed between 1512 and 1515 by master mason John Wastell. It also features fine medieval stained glass. During the English Civil War, the building was largely untouched; some sources suggest Oliver Cromwell ordered its protection. During the Second World War, most of the stained glass was placed in storage, but the chapel again avoided damage.
Reader's Guide
The Chapel is actively used as a place of worship and also for some concerts and college events. The world-famous Choir of King's College, Cambridge, sings services on most days in term-time. The BBC has broadcast the Choir's Nine Lessons and Carols from the chapel on Christmas Eve. The chapel is widely seen as a symbol of Cambridge (for example in the logo of Cambridge City Council).
Did You Know?
- Above the altar is The Adoration of the Magi by Rubens, installed in 1968.
- The windows are by Flemish hands and date from 1515 to 1531, except the west window which is from 1879.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: King's College Chapel, Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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