Jesus College Chapel is the oldest chapel in Cambridge, originally serving as the monastic church of St Mary & St Radegund, a convent of nuns founded in 1157. When the convent was dissolved in 1496, Bishop John Alcock founded the present Jesus College on the same site and adapted the former convent church for use as the present college chapel. Various modifications were made, including the demolition of parts of the nave, resulting in the present chapel being a reduced version of the original church. However, it still retains distinct monastic features in its form, differentiating it from other college chapels.
Approaching the chapel from the northwest via a cloister, one can see that much of the nave has been replaced by college buildings. The central tower is now square and somewhat squat, the result of a late medieval rebuild after the college was founded. Inside the truncated nave, the plain white walls are adorned with splashes of colour from the beautiful Pre-Raphaelite art by William Morris and his circle, particularly the richly decorated ceiling and the chapel windows filled with figures from cartoons by Burne Jones. The choir beyond is partially concealed by rich woodwork, including the chancel screen and elaborately carved stalls that retain notable examples of late medieval carving. The choir itself exemplifies the Early English style with slender lancet windows filled with Hardman glass.
Despite its age, Jesus College Chapel remains beautiful and well-maintained, making it a favorite among visitors to Cambridge. The college is also visitor-friendly, allowing access to the chapel and other parts of the campus without the crowds that some other colleges attract.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2021-08-09 06:50:41