King's College Chapel, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's College Chapel |
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King's College Chapel (partly obscured by the Gibbs' Building) seen from The Backs
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| 52°12′17″N 0°06′59″E / 52.2048°N 0.1165°E ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters |
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| Location | Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Collegiate chapel |
| Dedication | Our Lady and Saint Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 1443 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 26 April 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Disputed |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | English Gothic |
| Years built | 1446–1515 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 289 feet (88 m) |
| Width | Vault: 40 feet (12 m) |
| Height | Interior: 80 feet (24 m) Exterior: 94 feet (29 m) |
| Number of spires | 4 |
King's College Chapel is a famous building at King's College, which is part of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. It's known for its amazing design, called 'Perpendicular Gothic,' and has the world's biggest 'fan vault' ceiling!
Kings of England helped build the Chapel in stages. Construction started in 1446 and finished in 1515. This period included the Wars of the Roses, a time of civil war in England. The Chapel's large stained glass windows were finished by 1531. A beautiful early Renaissance screen was added between 1532 and 1536. Today, the Chapel is still an active place of worship. It is also home to the world-famous King's College Choir. The Chapel is a well-known landmark and a symbol of the city of Cambridge.
Contents
Building the Chapel
King Henry VI wanted to build a university chapel that was similar to the one at Eton College. He decided how big the Chapel should be. Reginald Ely was likely the main architect. He started working on the site in 1446. Reginald was in charge of finding skilled workers for the Chapel. He continued working until 1461, when building stopped. He probably designed the main parts of the building.
The original plans were for a simpler ceiling design. But a complex 'fan vault' was built instead. This type of vault looks like a giant fan opening up. Reginald might have designed one of the unique windows. It is in a 'curvilinear' Gothic style, different from the other 'Perpendicular' windows.
Starting the Construction
King Henry VI himself laid the first stone of the Chapel on July 25, 1446. The College itself had started in 1441. By the end of King Richard III's rule in 1485, five sections were complete. A temporary wooden roof was put in place. This was impressive, considering the country was in the middle of the Wars of the Roses.
King Henry VII visited in 1506. He paid for the work to start again. He even left money so construction could continue after he died. Finally, in 1515, under King Henry VIII, the main building was finished. However, the large windows still needed to be made.
The Famous Fan Vault
The Chapel is home to the world's largest fan vault. This amazing ceiling was built between 1512 and 1515. The master builder for this part was John Wastell. The Chapel also has beautiful medieval stained glass windows.
The Rubens Painting
Above the altar, there is a famous painting called The Adoration of the Magi. It was painted by Rubens in 1634. The painting was placed in the Chapel in 1968. This caused some debate at the time. To fit the painting, the floor near the altar had to be lowered. During this work, old lead coffins with human remains were found. They dated from the 15th to 18th centuries.
When the Rubens painting was first put up, some people felt it didn't quite fit. Its bright colors seemed to clash with the stained glass. Also, the painting was a similar shape to the window, making it look small. So, plain panels were added on each side. This made the painting look like a 'triptych' (a three-part artwork), giving it its own space. This design was created by architect Sir Martyn Beckett.
The Chapel During Wars
During the English Civil War, many religious sites were damaged. This was because Puritans wanted to remove religious images they didn't like. However, King's College Chapel was mostly unharmed. Even though Parliamentarian soldiers used it for training, the building was largely untouched. Some people believe that Oliver Cromwell, who had studied in Cambridge, ordered it to be protected. You can still see some graffiti left by soldiers near the altar.
During the Second World War, most of the Chapel's stained glass was stored away for safety. Again, the Chapel avoided any damage.
Amazing Windows
The windows of King's College Chapel are some of the best in the world from their time. There are 12 large windows on each side of the Chapel. There are also bigger windows at the east and west ends. Most of these windows were made by Flemish artists between 1515 and 1531.
Barnard Flower, who was the King's Glazier (stained glass maker), completed four windows. Galyon Hone and three partners made the east window and 16 others. The last four were made by Francis Williamson and Symon Symondes. The only modern window is on the west wall. It was given by a former student, Francis Stacey, and was made by the Clayton and Bell company in 1879.
The Rood Screen
This large wooden screen separates the front part of the Chapel (the ante-chapel) from the main worship area (the choir). It also supports the organ. Henry VIII had it built between 1532 and 1536 to celebrate his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
The screen is an early example of Renaissance design. This is a big contrast to the older 'Perpendicular Gothic' style of the Chapel itself. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, a famous expert on buildings, called it "the most exquisite piece of Italian decoration surviving in England."
Chapel Today
The Chapel is still actively used for worship services. It also hosts concerts and other college events. One popular event is the annual King's College Music Society May Week Concert. This concert is held during May Week and is popular with students, alumni, and visitors.
The Chapel is famous for its excellent sound quality, also known as its acoustics. The world-famous Choir of King's College, Cambridge sings here. The choir includes male students from the college and boys from the nearby King's College School. The current director of music for the choir is Daniel Hyde. The choir sings services most days during term time. They also perform concerts, make recordings, and broadcast their music.
The BBC broadcasts the Choir's "Nine Lessons and Carols" from the Chapel every Christmas Eve. During this service, a solo boy singer (a treble) sings the first verse of Once in Royal David's City. There is also another chapel choir called King's Voices. This choir is made up of male and female students. They sing Evensong on Mondays during term time.
The Chapel is widely recognized as a symbol of Cambridge. For example, it is featured in the logo of Cambridge City Council.
Dean of the Chapel
The Dean of the Chapel is in charge of the services held in the Chapel. King's College Chapel is not officially part of the Church of England. However, the Dean usually gets a special permission from the Bishop of Ely. Both the Dean and the Chaplain take part in services regularly. They are usually present six days a week during term time. They also preach (give sermons) once or twice a term. A committee led by the Dean manages the Chapel. Another committee, also led by the Dean, organizes the Chapel choir's performances.
The current Chaplain is Revd Mary Kells, who started in September 2021. The current Dean is The Revd Dr. Stephen Cherry, who has been in the role since 2014.
Images for kids
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Side view of the Chapel from inside the college
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King's College Chapel, Cambridge, South Entrance, by Henry Fox Talbot, c. 1845
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The vault of King's College Chapel
See also
In Spanish: Capilla del King's College para niños
