thence to Ely.
1808. Thomas Dampier, D.D., Bishop of Rochester.
1812. Bowyer Edward Sparke, D.D., Bishop of Chester.
On the death of Bishop Sparke the temporal jurisdiction exercised
within the Isle of Ely by the Bishops ceased by Act of Parliament.
1836. Joseph Allen, D.D., Bishop of Bristol.
The additions to the Diocese of the Counties of Huntingdon and
Bedford, and the Archdeaconry of Sudbury were made in 1837.
1845. Thomas Turton, D.D., Dean of Peterborough; afterwards of
Westminster, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge.
1864. Edward Harold Browne, D.D., Canon of Exeter; Norrisian Professor
of Divinity at Cambridge. Translated to Winchester, 1873.
1873. James Russell Woodford, D.D., Vicar of Leeds, Chaplain in Ordinary
to the Queen.
+Diocese of Ely.+
_The Lord Bishop._
The Right Rev. JAMES RUSSELL WOODFORD, D.D., The Palace, Ely, and Ely
House, Dover Street, London, W.
_Chancellor of the Diocese._
Worshipful Isambard Brunel, Esq., D.C.L., 4, Stone Buildings,
Lincoln's Inn, London, W.C.
_Archdeacons._
_Ely_, Ven. William Emery, B.D., The College, Ely.
_Bedford_, Ven. Frederick Bathurst, M.A., Biggleswade. Beds.
_Huntingdon_, Ven. Francis Gerald Vesey, M.A., LL.D., Huntingdon.
_Sudbury_, Ven. Frank Robert Chapman, M.A., Stowlangtoft Rectory,
Bury St. Edmunds, and Ely.
_Registrar._
William Johnson Evans, Esq., Ely.
_Chaplains to the Bishop._
Rev. H.M. Luckock, D.D., Canon of the Cathedral.[11]
Rev. H.F. St. John, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, Dinmore House,
Hereford.
Rev. A.R. Evans, M.A., Oriel College, Oxford.[12]
Rev. V.H. Stanton, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.[13]
Rev. J. Watkins, M.A., St. John's College, Cambridge; Gamlingay
Vicarage, Sandy.
Rev. Francis Paget, M.A., Senior Student and Tutor of Christ Church,
Oxford.[14]
[Footnote 11: Examining Chaplain.]
[Footnote 12: Domestic Chaplain.]
[Footnote 13: Examining Chaplain.]
[Footnote 14: Examining Chaplain.]
_Proctors in Convocation._
Rev. Canon Hopkins.
Rev. Canon Birkett.
_Secretaries._
J.B. & H.W. Lee, Esqs., 2, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster.
William Johnson Evans, Esq., Ely.
_Diocesan Architect._
Arthur Blomfield, Esq.
[Illustration]
+The Dean and Chapter.+
When the abbacy was converted into a bishopric, A.D. 1109, the office
of Abbot merged into that of bishop, and an officer called the Prior,
or Lord Prior, became the head of the community; he presided in
chapter, and governed generally the affairs of the monastery; and in
the reigns of some of our kings he was summoned to sit in Parliament.
The first Prior after this alteration was Vincent, and there followed
in succession thirty-six others, the last of whom, Robert Wells
otherwise Steward, surrendered the monastery, with its goods and
possessions, into the hands of King Henry the Eighth, at the general
dissolution in November, 1539. Agreeably to the powers vested in him
by Parliament, the king, by letters patent dated September 10th, 1541,
"did grant his royal charter for erecting the Cathedral Church of the
late monastery of _St. Peter and St. Etheldreda_ at Ely into a
Cathedral Church, by the name and title of "_The Cathedral Church of
the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely_" to consist of one Dean, a
priest, and eight Prebendaries,[15] priests, with other ministers
necessary for the celebrating Divine service therein." And "did ordain
the said Cathedral Church to be the Episcopal See of the Bishop of Ely
and his successors, with all the honours and privileges of an
Episcopal See and Cathedral Church. And that the said Dean and
Prebendaries be one body corporate, have perpetual succession, one
common seal, be the Chapter of the then Bishop of Ely, and his
successors, and be called '_The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral
Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely_:' also did give and
grant unto them the whole site of the late dissolved monastery, with
all the ancient privileges, liberties, and free customs of the same,
and nearly all the revenues thereof." Robert Steward, the late Prior,
was made the first Dean, since whose time twenty-three others have
held the office exclusive of the present Dean, who was appointed in
December, 1869.
[Footnote 15: By an Act of Parliament passed in 1840, the number of
Prebendaries was in future to be reduced to six, two of which stalls
were to be attached respectively to the Regius Professorships of Greek
and Hebrew in the University of Cambridge.]
We append a list of the Priors and Deans of Ely.
PRIORS.
1. Vincent.
2. Henry.
3. William.
4. Tombert, or Thembert.
5. Alexander.
6. Solomon.
7. Richard.
8. Robert Longchamp.
9. John de Strateshete.
10. Hugh.
11. Roger de Brigham.
12. Ralph.
13. Walter.
14. Robert de Leverington.
15. Henry de Banccis.
16. John de Hemingston.
17. John de Shepreth.
18. John Saleman.
19. Robert de Orford.
20. William de Clare.
21. John de Fresingfield.
22. John de Crauden.
23. Alan de Walsingham.
24. William Hathfield.
25. John Bucton.
26. William Walpole.
27. William Powcher.
28. Edmund Walsingham.
29. Peter de Ely.
30. William Wells.
31. Henry Peterborough.
32. Roger Westminster.
33. Robert Colville.
34. William Witlesey.
35. William Foliott.
36. John Cottenham.
37. Robert Wells, _alias_ Steward, last Prior, and first Dean.
DEANS.
A.D.
1541. Robert Steward, or Wells, M.A., last Prior.
1557. Andrew Perne, D.D., Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
1589. John Bell, D.D., Master of Jesus College, Cambridge.
1591. Humphrey Tindall, D.D., President of Queen's College, Cambridge.
1614. Henry Cæsar, or Adelmare, D.D.
Dean Cæsar was a great patron of Music. A musical Service, known
as "Cæsar's Service," but written by John Amner, Organist, is
preserved among the MSS. in the Cathedral Library.
1636. William Fuller, D.D. In 1646, Dean of Durham.
1646. William Beale, D.D., nominated but never admitted; Master of St.
John's College, Cambridge. Died at Madrid, 1650.
_A vacancy of ten years._
1660. Richard Love, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1661. Henry Ferne, D.D., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge; in 1662
Bishop of Chester. Died five weeks after his consecration.
1662. Edward Martin, D.D., Master of Queen's College, Cambridge. Died
a few days after his institution.
1662. Francis Wilford, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1667. Robert Mapletoft, D.D., Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.
Dean Mapletoft left several acres of land to augment the Stipends
of the Singing Men.
1677. John Spencer, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1693. John Lamb, M.A., Chaplain to King William and Queen Mary.
1708. Charles Roderick, D.D., Provost of King's College, Cambridge.
1712. Robert Moss, D.D., Fellow and Tutor of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1729. John Frankland, D.D., Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
1730. Peter Allix, D.D., Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Commenced important repairs in the fabric of the Church.
1758. Hugh Thomas, D.D., Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.
1780. William Cooke, D.D., Provost of King's College, Cambridge.
1797. William Pearce, D.D., Master of Jesus College, Cambridge.
1820. James Wood, D.D., Master of St. John's College, Cambridge.
1839. George Peacock, D.D., Lowndean Professor of Astronomy, Cambridge.
Extensive repairs and restorations were commenced in 1844.
1858. Harvey Goodwyn, D.D. In 1869, Bishop of Carlisle.
1869. Charles Merivale, D.D., D.C.L.
* * * * *
_Arms of the Deanery_--Gu. three keys or. These were the arms of
Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, and from him assumed as the arms of
the monastery.
* * * * *
The Dean and Chapter have the patronage of sixteen livings in this
diocese, three in the diocese of Norwich, and one in the diocese of
Rochester. They also appoint to the Minor Canonries and other offices
connected with the Cathedral.
* * * * *
Service--On Sundays at 9 0, a.m., 11 0, a.m., and 4 0, p.m.
A Parochial Service at 6 30, p.m.
The Ordinary Daily Service at 10 0, a.m., and 4 0, p.m.
+List of Clergy and Officers.+
_Dean._
The Very Rev. CHARLES MERIVALE, D.D., D.C.L. 1869.
_Canons._[16]
Thomas Jarrett, M.A.[17] 1854.
Benjamin Hall Kennedy, D.D.[18][19] 1867.
William Emery, B.D.[20] 1870.
Edward Clarke Lowe, D.D.[21] 1873.
Herbert Mortimer Luckock, D.D. 1875.
Frank Robert Chapman, M.A. 1879.
[Footnote 16: All have Residences.]
[Footnote 17: Annexed to the Regius Professorship of Hebrew in the
University of Cambridge.]
[Footnote 18: Annexed to the Regius Professorship of Greek in the
University of Cambridge.]
[Footnote 19: Proctor for the Chapter in Convocation.]
[Footnote 20: Vice Dean.]
[Footnote 21: Treasurer.]
_Honorary Canons._
William Bonner Hopkins, B.D., 1865.
Samuel Blackall, M.A. 1866.
Wm. Hepworth Thompson, D.D. 1867.
Thomas Tylecote, B.D. 1867.
George Heathcote, M.A. 1868.
Alexander Ronald Grant, M.A. 1868.
Frederick Bathurst, M.A. 1869.
John Scott, M.A. 1869.
John Parker Birkett, M.A. 1870.
Charles Gray, M.A. 1870.
Thomas Rawson Birks, M.A. 1871.
Francis Gerald Vesey, M.A. 1871.
Thomas Ed. Abraham, M.A. 1872.
Jeremiah W. Haddock, M.A. 1872.
C.W. Underwood, M.A. 1875.
Hon. A.F. Phipps, M.A. 1875.
G. Bulstrode, M.A. 1876.
H.I. Sharpe, M.A. 1876.
J.W. Cockshott, M.A. 1877.
C. Brereton, M.A., B.C.L. 1877.
J.H. Macaulay, M.A. 1878.
W.T. Harrison, M.A. 1880.
W.M. Campion, M.A. 1880.
_Head Master of the Grammar School_--Rev. R. Winkfield, M.A.
_Second Master_--Rev. C. Bokenham, M.A.
_Precentor, Sacrist, and Prælector Theologicus._--W.E. Dickson, M.A.,
1858.
_Minor Canons._
George Hall, M.A. 1852.
William Edward Dickson, M.A. 1858.
John Franey, M.A. 1870.
George Simey, M.A. 1874.
_Chaplains._
George Hall, M.A.
John Franey, M.A.
Richard Winkfield, M.A.
E.H. Lowe, M.A.
_Librarian_, George Simey, M.A., 1874.
_Chapter Clerk and Registrar_--W.J. Evans, Esq., Ely.
_Master of the Choristers, and Organist_--Edmund Thomas Chipp, Mus.
Doc.
Eight Lay Clerks and Eight Choristers, and Twelve Supernumeraries.
The Choristers are educated in a School within the College, maintained
by the Dean and Chapter. _Master_--Henry Jackman, Battersea College.
_King's Scholars_--Twelve on the Foundation.
_Sub-Sacrists and Vergers_,--William Henry Southby; Henry Stone White.
_Bedesmen_--Six on the Foundation.
_Clerk of the Works_--Mr. R.R. Rowe.
[Illustration]
+The Cathedral.+
"Without--the world's unceasing noises rise,
Turmoil, disquietude, and busy fears.
Within--there are sounds of other years,
Thoughts full of prayer, and solemn harmonies."
_The Cathedral._
+The West Front.+
In taking a survey of this noble edifice it is better to commence with
the western front, which, as Mr. Millers observes, on account of its
height and breadth, should be viewed from a competent distance; a good
point of observation may be easily found on the Palace Green. Even in
its present state it must be admired for its impressive though
irregular grandeur, but when the north wing was standing,
corresponding with the south, which remains comparatively
perfect--before the erection of the octagonal story on the Tower, and
the Galilee or portico, which, however beautiful in itself, has no
proper connection with the rest--it must have presented a frontage
exceedingly grand, and inferior to but few others in the kingdom.
Such, we believe, was the original design, but succeeding bishops or
rulers made such alterations and additions as their tastes dictated,
and in the style then prevailing. This may in some measure account for
the alterations of windows and other parts from their original
designs, and the transitions from one style to another, producing
examples partaking of two periods, but not perfect in either.
The stone used in the erection of the Cathedral was brought from
Barnack, near Stamford, and is of a much harder nature than what was
commonly used; it gives proof of great soundness and durability in the
excellent preservation of some of the mouldings. The soft white stone
used for some of the interior decorations is called "clunch," and is
found within a few miles of Ely; it is well adapted for the purposes
to which it is applied, it is easily worked and capable of being
highly finished, but will not bear exposure to the weather. Most of
the pillars with their capitals and bases, as well as many of the
mouldings and ornaments in the Early English portion of the church,
are of Purbeck marble.
The lower portions both of the Tower and wings were built by Bishop
Ridel (1174-1189), and completed as high as the first battlements,
during the episcopate of his successor, Longchamp (1189-1197), who
however, spent none of his money on the fabric; the lower part of this
work is late Norman, but the upper portions show indications of
transition towards the pointed style. The architecture of the Tower is
worthy of attention, as it shews some beautiful specimens of arcading
in bands between rows of windows, all enriched with mouldings of
various kinds; the western face shows three rows of windows, the
others but two, as the lower one would have been hidden by the roof of
the nave and of the wing on each side, these last being originally of
a higher pitch than the remaining one now is. The upper band consists
of circular openings with quatrefoils in the centre, and above that is
a corbel-table. A spire of timber covered with lead was erected on the
Tower about the middle of the thirteenth century, but it was
afterwards removed, and the upper portion of the Tower, in the
Decorated style, was added, and it was again surmounted by a spire.
These additions were found to be injurious, and it became necessary to
strengthen the lower portions of the Tower to support it; nor is it
improbable that the fall of the north-western Transept was in some
degree owing to the great additional weight, or that it was so far
injured as to require removal. The spire was, we believe, finally
removed about the end of the last century.
The octagonal story does not harmonize with the lower portion. There
is a large window with transoms in each of the four principal sides,
the upper portions only being glazed; it is flanked by octagonal
turrets, which rise a little higher than the centre, they are faced
with shallow arcading and connected with the centre portion by small
flying buttresses; in each turret is a winding stair, but only that in
the south-eastern turret is used. In the top of this turret is placed
the clock bell.
The wings of the western Tower formed a second Transept to the church,
and were doubtless perfectly similar; the remaining wing has towers at
the angles; that at the south-west angle is larger than the other,
though they are of equal height, and rise considerably higher than the
wing. Both wing and towers are covered with ranges of arcading one
above another, commencing a few feet from the bottom; the three lowest
tiers are round-headed, the fourth are trefoil-headed, the fifth and
all above are pointed and profusely adorned with mouldings; and the
whole surface is enriched with diaper patterns. The roof was formerly
of a higher pitch, as may be seen by the marks on the Tower.
Some years ago there was a communication by a covered viaduct over the
road, between this Transept and the east wing of the Bishop's Palace,
which enabled him to visit the Cathedral under cover; and the road
over which it passed is still called "The Gallery."
"Mr. Stewart has pointed out the fact that the Galilee porch is not
parallel to the axis of the Nave, but has a marked inclination to the
north, while the Choir on the other hand (like that of Exeter),
inclines to the south. This doubtless was for a symbolical reason. The
ground plans of churches, by so frequently assuming a cross form,
typify the doctrine of the Atonement--the Choir or Chancel marking the
position of the Saviour's Head, the Transepts His Arms, and the Nave
His Body. By an expansion of this idea the Choir is made to bend
southwards to shew the inclination of the Redeemer's Head upon the
cross; while, as it would seem here the Porch is turned in an opposite
direction to indicate the position of His feet."[22]
[Footnote 22: Hewitt's description of Ely Cathedral, p. 13.]
+The Galilee[23] or Western Porch.+
[Footnote 23: The name "Galilee" is thus accounted for by the late
Rev. G. Millers in his "Description of Ely Cathedral," p. 43. "As
Galilee, bordering on the Gentiles, was the most remote part of the
Holy Land from the Holy City of Jerusalem, so was this part of the
building most distant from the sanctuary, occupied by those unhappy
persons, who, during their exclusion from the mysteries, were reputed
scarcely, if at all better than heathens."
Another writer gives as a reason for the name, that upon a woman
applying for leave to see a monk, her relation, she was answered in
the words of Scripture, "Behold he goeth before you into Galilee,
there you shall see him."]
This has been stated to have been erected by Bishop Eustace
(1198-1215), but although he is known to have made large additions to
the building and to have built the Church of St. Mary, it has been
thought the present building is not quite so early as that date, and
that it was "the work of some unknown benefactor, who had probably
seen Hugh de Northwold's presbytery, and determined to lengthen the
church westward as it had been extended in the opposite
direction?"[24] and that it occupies the site of a former building.
Sir G. Scott seemed to think it was the work of Bishop Eustace.[25]
[Footnote 24: Stewart, p. 53.]
[Footnote 25: Mr. Scott's Lecture.]
It is a beautiful specimen, and may fairly be ranked among the most
exquisite Early English works we possess. "Nothing," says Mr. Parker,
"can exceed the richness, freedom and beauty of this work; it is one
of the finest porches in the world."[26] Externally, both sides are
adorned with four tiers of arcading of different heights, one above
another; in front, the recesses of the arches are deeper, and were
probably intended for the reception of statues; some of them are
ornamented with dog-tooth mouldings, and have trefoils in the
spandrils. It is of two stories without windows in the sides; in the
upper story there is a triple lancet window at the west end, the
middle light being higher than the one on either side; the lower story
receives light through the western opening. The arch of entrance is
very elegant, and worthy of notice; it is receding, with rich and
various mouldings, which on each side rest upon slender columns; a
central group of shafts separates the opening into two smaller arches,
with good tracery in the tympanum. The length on each side,
internally, is occupied by two large pointed arches, comprehending
under each two tiers of subordinate ones, the upper tier of five and
the lower of three, which contains both outer and inner arches of
different heights, supported by very slender columns; all the shafts
were originally of Purbeck marble, with elegant capitals; the ribs of
the vaulting are of free-stone, but the vault is of clunch. The arch
of communication with the Tower is also very beautiful; it is similar
in form to the exterior arch, but the ornaments in the mouldings are
richer and more delicate: this has just been restored, and the Purbeck
marble pillars--some of which had disappeared and others had become
decayed--have been replaced by pillars of Devonshire marble with
Purbeck plinths and capitals; the vesica in the tympanum has been
filled with stained glass representing St. Etheldreda, the foundress;
the original oaken doors have been repaired, faced, and ornamented
with scrollwork in iron: this has been effected at a cost of more than
£1000. contributed by Mrs. Waddington, of Twyford House, Winchester,
as a memorial to her husband.
[Footnote 26: Parker's "Introduction to the study of Gothic
Architecture," p. 91.]
+The Interior of the Tower+
has been considerably improved by the removal of a floor which had
been inserted just above the lower arches, thus opening it to the
great lantern, bringing into view a series of beautiful colonnades
and arches, for many years hidden, except to those who explored the
upper portions, besides relieving it of the weight of a large quantity
of stone and materials.[27] The tops of the four fine arches which
originally supported the Tower can now be partially seen; they were
spacious openings, but are contracted by interior arches in a
different style, which were inserted in the early part of the
fifteenth century, for the purpose of strengthening the building. The
beautiful painted ceiling of the Tower was designed, and all its
essential parts executed, with a rare union of artistic skill and
archæological knowledge, by H.S. le Strange, Esq., of Hunstanton Hall,
Norfolk, at the expense of H.R. Evans, Esq., then Registrar to the
Dean and Chapter; the centre contains a figure of the Saviour in an
aureole: He is represented as holding a globe in His left hand, and is
surrounded by the sun, moon, and stars; on either side are Cherubim
and Seraphim bearing scrolls containing the words "Holy! Holy! Lord
God of Sabaoth." The eastern centre contains a shield on which is the
_dextra Domini_, the "right hand of the Lord," as an emblem of the
Creator; the corners are enriched with foliage, and the whole is
surrounded by a border containing the words "Thou art worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory, and honour, and power; for Thou hast created all
things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." This was
finished in 1855. The floor, of which the pattern forms a labyrinth,
was completed in 1870.
[Footnote 27: At the time these works were in progress (Oct., 1845),
Mr. Bassevi, the eminent architect of the Fitzwilliam Museum, at
Cambridge, visited the Tower, and unfortunately fell from one floor to
another, and was killed. He was buried in the north aisle of the
Choir, and an elegant monumental brass, by Messrs. Waller has been
laid over his remains.]
The window over the entrance from the Galilee, was inserted A.D. 1800,
and improved in 1807 at the expense of Bishop Yorke, who filled two
portions of the upper part with stained glass, the other two being
filled at the cost of Dr. Waddington, then a Prebendary of the
Cathedral; the remainder has lately been completed by Mr.
Clutterbuck; the subjects are taken from the history of our Lord.
This, with the wall decoration below, has been done at the expense of
J.T. Waddington, Esq., and of his widow. Beneath the window are four
shields of arms; the upper one on the south side shows the arms of
Bishop Yorke impaled with the arms of the see; on the north side are
those of Bishop Yorke with those of Dr. Waddington; the lower ones
contain on the south, the arms of J.T. Waddington, Esq., and on the
north side, the same impaled with those of the family of Cocksedge, of
which Mrs. Waddington was a member.
* * * * *
Before proceeding further the visitor should pause, and observe the
great length of the Cathedral, the noble appearance of the lofty
arches, and the sublime grandeur of the whole. When we look around and
see the lofty Tower with its decorated ceiling above; on the right,
the south-west Transept, rich in the extreme with its several arcades
of plain, intersecting, and trifoliated arches; and in front, through
the long vista of the Nave, the noble Octagon, and the enriched Choir,
to the extreme end of the church, we cannot but pause and admire the
skill of man shewn in such a work; but when we consider to whose
honour and glory such skill is exerted, we no longer wonder that man's
best energies should be called forth to construct and ornament such a
temple,
"Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise."--_Gray_.