Jesus College is a college within the University of Cambridge that has the oldest chapel in the city. The chapel was previously a monastic church called St. Mary & St. Radegund and was built in 1157. The church was dissolved in 1496, and Bishop John Alcock founded Jesus College on the same site. The college chapel is a reduced version of the original church, but it is still noticeably different in form from other college chapels, making its monastic past all the more apparent.
Visitors enter the chapel from the northwest via a cloister that has been extensively modified over the years. The nave of the chapel has been replaced by college buildings, so it has been reduced to similar dimensions to the transepts. The central tower is square and somewhat squat, and it was rebuilt in the late medieval period after the college’s foundation. The interior of the chapel showcases beautiful Pre-Raphaelite art by William Morris, his circle, and various artists.
The nave of the chapel has plain white walls, but it is brightened by colorful windows and a richly decorated ceiling. The chapel windows are mostly filled with a series of figures from cartoons by Burne Jones, which are beautiful examples of Pre-Raphaelite art. The choir beyond the nave is partially concealed by elaborate woodwork, such as the chancel screen and the intricately carved stalls that retain late medieval carving. The choir itself is a beautiful example of Early English architecture with slender lancet windows filled with Hardman glass. These are the only windows not adorned with Morris & Co designs.
Jesus College Chapel is a delightful building with beautiful glass and one of the more visitor-friendly colleges in Cambridge. Visitors may explore the interiors freely without worrying about crowds of tourists. People may access more background information about the college and the chapel on the Wikipedia page.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2021-08-16 07:58:09