The Pictorial History of Saint George's Chapel [antikvár]

THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OFSAINT GEORGE'S CHAPELWINDSORBY SHELAGH BOND, M.A., F.R.Hist.S. Hon. Archivist, St. George s ChapelST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL dominates the lower ward of Windsor Castle and for 500 years has been the home of the College of St. George and of the Order of the Garter. It is the last in a succession of chapels in the castle, of which the earliest was built in the late llth century for the needs of the garrison, king and court. Then in 1240 Henry III ordered a chapel to be built in the lower ward, close to his new apartments. It was dedicated to St. Edward the Confessor and stood on the site of the present Albert Memóriái Chapel.Foundation and EndowmentIt was Edward III, Henry III's grandson, who by his two founda-tions a century later, gave this chapel an importance far exceeding that of the usual castle chapel. Early in 1348 the king, fresh from his victories at Crécy and Calais, inaugurated the Most Noble Order of the Garter as 'a society, fellowship and college of knights.' These, 26 in number, including the sovereign, were 'to show fidelity and friendliness one towards another' and the famous blue garter was to be 'a symbol of amity.' Edward III thus linked to himself 'in the bonds of Amity and Peace' such great soldiers as the Black Prince, the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Salisbury. The Order symbolised the new ideals of chivalry and it alsó helped to diminish the dangers of political disaffection. Furthermore, the splendid tourna-ments, yearly feasts, the opportunity of personal contact with the sovereign all meant that membership soon became regarded as the highest distinction.Within seven months of inaugu-rating the Order, Edward III on 6th August, 1348, refounded Henry III's Chapel in honour of the Virgin Mary, St. George and St. Edwardfacing page: The nave, looking east.The College seal, made about 1561, showing the Virgin Mary, St. George and the royal arms in a Garter.and established within it a body of clergy. His purpose was to found a large-scale chantry to pray for his own salvation and that of his family and all faithful souls; and alsó to endow the chapel (where he had himself been baptised) to carry out this function for ever. In 1351 the Popé granted the new body exemp-tion from the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Salisbury (in whose diocese Windsor then lay). Thus St. George's became, and still is, a 'peculiar' and 'a royal free chapel'. Statutes in 1352 defined the membership of this 'college', a word signifying in the Middle Ages a collection of men with a common purpose, usuallyecclesiastical. It was to consist of a dean or warden, 12 canons, 13 priest vicars, 4 clerks, 6 choristers, a virger and 26 alms knights.Although the Order of the Garter is not mentioned in the foundation deed and statutes of the College, the close connection between the two bodies was made clear in the Garter statutes. The dean (or a canon) was to be Register of the Order; the clergy and poor knights (who represented the Garter Knights at daily services) were to be members of the establishment of the Order and to participate in its religious services, and the Garter Knights themselves were to have their stalls in the collegiate chapel. These connections are maintained today.Edward III during the next ten years, at a cost of over L6,000 adapted the existing chapel for its new function and provided houses and offices for the College and Order. There was, fortunately, space to plan the new development. Henry III's residence in the lower ward had been burnt to the ground, but his chapel remained; this förmed the northern side of a quadrangle to be built round the special grass plot which had separated Henry III's chapel from his apartments. A central space, surrounded by a cloister, off which lie offices, chapel and lodgings is a familiar plan. It has been only recently discovered, however, that its first use other than in monastic houses probably occurs in Edward III's new college at Windsor.Plague delayed the start of building works for two years. Then clerks of the works were appointed, with John de Sponlee as architect. First the chapel was refurnished as a collegiate church; choir stalls were carved, new windows were filled with painted glass and the provision of a statue of St. George underlined his supremacy as patron saint of CollegePage 3