The Chapel Centenary Sermon - 11 October 2009
Preacher: The Warden
Everyone knows the chronology: the College was founded in 1895, the foundation stone of the present buildings was laid in 1900, the chapel was dedicated in 1902 with a temporary “east” wall, the great window was inserted and dedicated in 1906 and finally in 1909 the first part of the second major phase of building involved the completion of the Chapel with the Sanctuary we now have. The East Cloisters followed throughout 1910, so we are beginning a year of Centenary celebrations!
By the time of the new building works, a new architect was appointed, so the nave of the Chapel is by Charles Rew of Berkhampstead, and the Sanctuary is by the grandson of George Gilbert Scott. When this area was being formed, the great window by Kempe was removed from its temporary home and set into the new “east” wall. Incidentally, you can see Kempe`s signature of a wheatsheaf in the bottom left hand corner.
The Sanctuary was furnished with the rather finely painted altar, and the reredos which is so badly in need of restoration.
When I was wondering how to comment on all this, I could not escape the fact that the window which so dominates the Chapel depicts the verses of an ancient hymn about the Heavenly City. Some of the verses are, it has to be said, in what might best be described as an infelicitous translation. One day I shall get a ladder so that I can read the verse that hides behind the top of the reredos!
Frankly, I was puzzled how this vision could be related to the imagery below. Eventually, I realised that that was because I was beginning with the wrong element of the composition.
Once I looked at our Sanctuary as revealing not so much a vision of heaven as three different depictions of our Lord, I realised that they belong together in the reverse of the order in which medieval windows were designed to be “read”. Windows work from the bottom upwards. I would like to suggest that our Sanctuary reads from the top down.
Crucified
At the top of the window, we see our Lord crucified. He reigns over the Heavenly City from the Cross. There, present for all time, is the mystery of the suffering Son of God dying so that, in the end, we don’t. The moment of his triumph over death is revealed as the moment of his kingship. Very Johannine. And indeed, the statues of John and Mary which flank the window look towards him as the figures on a Rood would do – a moment recorded only in John’s Gospel.
Transfigured
I was pleased to read in the only paper I have found so far about the reredos, that the figures beside our Lord are, as I had supposed, likely to be Elijah on the left and Moses on the right.
In which case, here is the Transfiguration, with Jesus revealed as Christus Rex, arrayed in priestly garments, reigning from the Cross, his right hand portrayed in a gesture of blessing. The true celebrant of every Eucharist is shown presiding over the altar.
We are given a vision of that moment when the disciples were enabled to see a glimpse of his true nature and of the light of God’s energy radiating from his Son. A mystery which is eternally present for us, and given to us whenever we dare to approach with open hands.
Enthroned
Then there is the beautiful sequence of panels set into the front of the altar itself. A vision of the worship of the angels, who, as an ex-Precentor, I am pleased to see are accomplished musicians. In the centre of them is the image of the Lord Enthroned in Glory. He bears the orb of royalty, the symbol of his reign over all things, surmounted by the ever-present Cross, and his right hand is again raised in blessing.
Crucified, transfigured, enthroned. Wherever you turn, there giving his blessing is Christ the King: aspects of his kingship which perhaps represent symbolically the cyclical stages of our own spiritual journeys as we come to experience, to recognise and to give ourselves afresh to him who calls.
And as we turn from the altar to leave the Chapel, there above our heads on the gallery screen, sadly at present beneath a century of dulled varnish and holy dirt, is the representation of the moment when this King of ours set aside all this glory to became a servant alongside us.
There could be no better reminder of the ministry to which we are called when we go out, whether we are ordained or not. I am humbled whenever I pass the doors of a room in the nursing wing where someone is, metaphorically and often literally, having their feet washed. There is always someone for us to serve.
This place is given to us as a gift. The glory we see in this Sanctuary is present with us at every moment.
- Let us thank God for giving his Son to be our King and yet our servant.
- Let us thank God for those whose generosity and inspiration have given us such a visionary portrayal of Christ crucified, transfigured and enthroned.
- Let us rejoice in his call to each of us, to be his loyal subjects and fellow-servants.
- Let us celebrate the centenary of this holy place.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Click here to return to the main News page
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