CHURCH OF RIPON***


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THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF RIPON

A Short History of the
Church & a Description
of Its Fabric

by

CECIL HALLETT, B.A.
Magdalen Coll., Oxford

With 53 Illustrations







[Illustration: RIPON CATHEDRAL FROM THE FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE SKELL.]



[Illustration]

London George Bell & Sons 1901




PREFACE.


The original authorities for the history (both constitutional and
architectural) of the Church of Ripon have been most ably edited for the
Surtees Society by the Rev. Canon J. T. Fowler, F.S.A., in his
_Memorials of Ripon_ and _The Ripon Chapter Acts_ (_Surtees Soc._, vols.
74, 78, 81, 64). These authorities range from the Saxon period to the
times following the Reformation, but in the Introductions to vol. 81,
and in the Rev. J. Ward's _Fasti Riponienses_, included in vol. 78, the
story is virtually continued to our own day; while the aforesaid
Introductions epitomise, in its constitutional and architectural
aspects, the whole history of the church.

To these volumes and to their Editor, who most kindly consented to
revise the proofs of this book, the present writer is very deeply
indebted. He has also had recourse to an article by Sir G. Gilbert
Scott, R.A., in vol. xxxi. of the _Archaeological Journal_; to the same
Author's _Recollections_; to several articles on the Saxon Crypt, duly
specified on pp. 76, 77; to the Guides, by J. R. Walbran, F.S.A.,
published by Mr. Harrison of Ripon; to Mr. Murray's _Cathedrals_; to the
volume by the Ven. Archdeacon Danks in Messrs. Isbister's Cathedral
Series; to _A Day in the City of Ripon_, by Mr. George Parker of Ripon;
to the old Guides by Farrer and Gent respectively; and to other works of
a more general character.

His sincere thanks are also due to the Right Rev. the Bishop of Ripon
for permission to consult the library at the Palace; to the Very Rev.
the Dean for privileges granted in connection with the library in the
Cathedral and with the Cathedral itself; to the Ven. the Archdeacon of
Ripon and the Ven. the Archdeacon of Richmond for their courteous
assistance on several occasions; to Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite, V.P.S.A.,
Mr. W. H. St. John Hope, Mrs. Swire, the Rev. H. A. Wilson, Fellow of
Magdalen College, the Rev. G. W. Garrod, and Mr. John Whitham for
valuable information on various points, historical and architectural; to
Mr. Ronald P. Jones for his excellent photographs, to the Archaeological
Institute and other learned Societies for various other illustrations,
and to the Rev. E. H. Swann, the Rev. J. Beanland, Capt. E. J. Warre
Slade, R.N., Mr. F. Forbes Glennie, Mr. T. Wall, Mr. Watson, and others
for similar assistance.

He desires also to express his thanks to Mr. E. W. Winser, Dean's
Verger, for much valuable local information; to Mr. Henry Williams,
Canons' Verger, for expert advice on points of masonry; and to both, as
well as to the Sexton, for that general assistance which they so
willingly rendered him throughout his investigation of the Fabric.




CONTENTS.


                                                                  PAGE
  CHAPTER I.--HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                                  3

  CHAPTER II.--THE EXTERIOR                                         39

  CHAPTER III.--THE INTERIOR                                        65

  CHAPTER IV.--OTHER OLD BUILDINGS IN RIPON                        133

  APPENDIX--
    Abbots of the Monastery of Ripon                               142
    Canons of Stanwick                                             142
    Deans of King James I. Foundation                              143
    Deans of the Cathedral Foundation                              143
    Bishops of Ripon                                               143

  INDEX                                                            145




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                                  PAGE
  Ripon Cathedral from the Footbridge over the Skel  _Frontispiece_
  Arms of the See                                      _Title Page_
  The Nave, South Side                                               2
  View from the South-West                                           3
  Early Apsidal Chapel with Later Chapel superimposed               13
  The West Front before Restoration                                 17
  Mediaeval Seals (3)                                                20
  Ripon Minster Anterior to 1660 (from an old Engraving)            32
  The Cathedral from the South-East                                 38
  The West Doorways                                                 39
  View from the North-West                                          42
  Doorway, North Transept                                           47
  Doorway, South Transept                                           52
  Reconstructed Angle of the Great Tower                            57
  Flying Buttresses, South Side of Choir                            59
  The East End                                                      61
  The North-Western Portion of the Nave                             64
  Conjectural View of the Interior of Archbishop Roger's
    Nave (by Sir G. G. Scott)                                       65
  Conjectural Plan of Archbishop Roger's Church
    (by Sir G. G. Scott)                                            67
  The Nave, looking Westward                                        70
  Plan of Saxon Crypt                                               72
  The Saxon Crypt                                                   73
  Conjectural Plan of St. Wilfrid's Crypt and Presbytery
    (by Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite)                                    77
  The Two Fonts                                                     79
  Bas-Relief in the South Aisle of the Nave                         80
  The Western Arch of the Central Tower                             83
  The North Transept                                                87
  Vault of North Transept Aisle                                     91
  The Rood Screen                                                   95
  The Great East Window                                             97
  Bay of Archbishop Roger's Choir (by Sir G. G. Scott)              98
  Decorated Capital in the Choir                                    99
  The North Side of the Choir                                      100
  Bosses from the Choir-Vault (2)                                  103
  The Sedilia                                                      105
  Choir Stalls                                                     107
  Misereres                                                        108
  Desk-End of Mayor's Stall                                        109
  Finial in front of the Bishop's Throne                           110
  The West End of the Choir                                        112
  The North Choir Aisle                                            113
  Transitional Vaulting Corbel                                     114
  The Norman Crypt                                                 118
  The Chapter-House                                                122
  Ancient Sculptures in the Chapter-House                          124
  The Library                                                      130
  The Old Chapel, St. Mary Magdalene's Hospital                    132
  Chapel of St. Anne's Hospital                                    135
  Seal of St. Mary Magdalene's Hospital                            138

  PLAN OF THE CATHEDRAL                                        _at end_


  [Illustration: THE NAVE--SOUTH SIDE.
   (Showing junction of Transitional and Perpendicular work in the
   Tower.)]





  [Illustration: VIEW FROM THE SOUTH-WEST.]


RIPON CATHEDRAL.


CHAPTER I.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.


There is evidence that the neighbourhood of Ripon was inhabited during,
and perhaps before, the Roman occupation of Britain. Whether the place
was a settlement of the Romans is uncertain; but it was assuredly in
touch with their civilization, for several of their roads passed near
it--notably Watling Street, on which, six miles to the east, was
Isurium, the modern Aldborough; while imperial coins and other Roman
objects have been dug up in Ripon itself. It is not known whether the
Romans imparted to the local tribes of the Brigantes their own
Christianity; but two centuries after the withdrawal of the legions