All Saints' Church, Cambridge

All Saints' is a church on Jesus Lane in central Cambridge, England, which was built by the architect George Frederick Bodley. The church was constructed in stages between 1863 and 1870 and is a notable example of English Gothic Revival style. It was designated Grade I listed building[1] status in 1950. It was vested in The Churches Conservation Trust in 1981. Opening times vary and it's recommended that visitors contact The Churches Conservation Trust to find the current arrangement.

All Saints', Jesus Lane
All Saints' Church from the south east
Location in central Cambridge
General information
Architectural styleGothic Revival
LocationJesus Lane
Town or cityCambridge, England
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates52°12′30″N 0°07′24″E
Construction started1863
Completed1870
Design and construction
ArchitectG. F. Bodley

History

All Saints in the Jewry
All Saints in the Jewry in 1841 opposite Trinity's chapel (far left) and St John's College gatehouse

A mediæval church stood in St John's Street, Cambridge. This was known as All Saints in the Jewry,[2] and previously as All Saints by the Hospital (due to its proximity to the Hospital of St John the Evangelist).[3] This was to distinguish it from the other All Saints' Church in Cambridge at the time, All Saints by the Castle, now demolished.

By the 13th century, the church was in the patronage of St Radegund's Nunnery, later re-established as Jesus College. The church was rebuilt several times but by the nineteenth century was deemed too small for the growing congregation, being able to accommodate less than 400 of the 1,400 people of the parish. Consisting of box pews, for which there was a levy, the poor were doubly excluded. A plot of land in Jesus Lane was donated by Jesus College and the new building was erected at its junction with Manor Road. The old church was demolished in 1865. The churchyard of the original church is now an open space known as All Saints' Garden and contains a memorial cross designed by Basil Champneys in 1882.[4][5]

The cross in All Saints Garden

A new church

Although it was initially hoped that George Gilbert Scott would design the new church. G. F. Bodley who had been Scott's talented pupil (and was later a founder of Watts & Co.), was chosen. The foundation stone was laid on 27 May 1863 and the church was consecrated on 30 November 1864. Between 1869 and 1871 the present tower and spire were added, with St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, used as the model.[4] The final ornament was a weather vane, donated by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and fixed in place by the priest and author Herbert Mortimer Luckock, later Dean of Lichfield. The author and academic A. C. Bouquet was the parish priest from 1923 to 1945.

By the early 1970s the congregation had reduced dramatically and regular services ceased in 1973. It lay redundant for several years and fell into disrepair, during which time plans to demolish part of the building arose. These were abandoned in 1981.[6] Today the church is used during term time by the neighbouring theological college, Westcott House, and is also available to hire for secular events, such as art exhibitions, concerts and talks.

Architecture

The church's spire is a prominent Cambridge landmark. At around 175 feet (53 m) in height it was, at its construction, the tallest building in the city; it remains the city's third tallest building, after the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital and Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church.[4] It is constructed from brick as well as Ancaster and Casterton stone. The church was built from a second series of designs and in an early 14th-century style. It consists of a nave, large south aisle which extends almost to the easternmost wall, a chancel and vestry. The exterior is decorated with gargoyles and the spire has decorative lucarne openings.

Interior

The church is noted for its strikingly decorated interior, much of it to designs by Bodley. Fittings by Bodley include the alabaster font, the pulpit, south aisle screen, textiles, pews, candlesticks and tiles. The rood screen was designed in 1904 by John Morley, architect at Rattee & Kett of Cambridge. Its function was not purely liturgical as its cornice hid a large support beam which had been added to bolster the chancel arch from the massive weight of the spire.

The wall and ceiling decorations were applied by F. R. Leach & Sons and form complex, bold stencilled patterns throughout the church. As well as exotic floral friezes there is much use of religious symbolism such as the Sacred Monogram and the Fleur-de-lis. Around the upper walls are texts from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:9) and Psalms in the south aisle, and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) in the nave. Part of the Beatitudes have been lost due to water damage to the plaster.[4] One of the team of artists was David Parr who is known to have decorated his own house in similar style/designs. His residence is currently being restored and digital tours of the house are available with trained guides during 2020/21.

The east window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and executed by Morris & Co. It was installed in 1866 as a memorial to Lady Affleck, wife of William Whewell, master of Trinity College, Cambridge. She had lain the foundation stone of the church in 1863 and also donated £1,000 to its construction. The twenty figures, over four rows, were individually designed by Burne-Jones (12 panes), Ford Madox Brown (4 panes) and William Morris (4 panes). The diagonal lettering and oak leaf borders were designed by Philip Webb. It is most notable for its high proportion of pale, silver-tint glass, which is believed to be a rebellion against the dark, rich colours prevalent in stained glass of the time and it allows much-needed light into the chancel. In the north wall of the nave are three windows by Charles Eamer Kempe and one by Douglas Strachan installed in 1944 which features depictions of Elizabeth Fry, Josephine Butler, Edith Cavell and Mother Cecile Isherwood. There are also two south aisle windows, one by Ward & Hughes and the other by Philip Webb with possible additions by F. R. Leach. High in the west end window are two angels - a sun bearer and a moon bearer designed and produced by William Morris.

  • All Saints' Church from the eastern end of Jesus Lane
  • Nave, arcade and south aisle
  • Chancel arch with painting of "Christ in Majesty" by Wyndham Hope Hughes
  • Bodley's designs in the SE corner of the south aisle
  • The altar
  • South aisle, looking east
  • Judas Maccabeus by Edward Burne-Jones from the east window by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
  • The 'Womanhood' window by Douglas Strachan in the NW nave
  • George Bodley, architect of All Saints'
  • Nave stencilling by F. R. Leach & Sons
  • Forster & Andrews organ of 1864
  • South aisle
  • Chancel canopy, wall decorations & chandelier
  • All Saints' with the rear of the neighbouring Jesus Lane terraces

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "All Saints Church  (Grade I) (1126204)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. R. B. Dobson (2015). "The Jews of medieval Cambridge" (PDF). Jewish Historical Studies: Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England. 32.
  3. Archaeologia, Or, Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity, Volume 6. The Society of Antiquaries of London. 1782. p. 175.
  4. "All Saints' Church, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire". Churches Conservation Trust. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  5. Ian Kitching. "Religious & Hospital Foundations". Cambridge — Past, Present and Future. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  6. Cambridge Association of Architects. "Rebranding Cambridge" (PDF). Cambridge Architecture Gazette. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
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