mathematical writer; on the western wall a tablet by
Chantrey, to the memory of Kirke White, the poet, who died in College.
He was buried in the chancel of the old Church of All Saints, which
stood opposite to the College; when the church was pulled down the
tablet was transferred to the College Chapel. The statue is that of
James Wood, sometime Master of the College, part of whose bequests went
towards building the Chapel. On the east wall is an old brass to the
memory of Nicholas Metcalfe, third Master of the College, the words
"_vestras ... preces vehementer expetit_" have been partly obliterated,
probably during the Commonwealth. The roof of the Choir is of high
pitch, of quadripartite vaulting in oak, and is decorated with a
continuous line of full-length figures. In the central bay at the east
end is our Lord in Majesty, the other bays contain figures illustrating
the Christian centuries. Owing to the deep colour of the glass in the
windows, it is only on a very sunny day that the figures can be clearly
discerned. The windows in the Choir have been given by various donors,
the subjects being scenes from Scripture at which St. John was present;
his figure robed in ruby and green will be seen in each. The five
windows in the apse, the gift of the Earl of Powis, High Steward of the
University, depict scenes from the Passion, Crucifixion, and
Resurrection of Christ. In the apse is preserved the double piscina
which was found covered up in the walls of the Infirmary, and removed by
Sir G. G. Scott, with such repairs as were absolutely necessary. It is
probably one of the oldest specimens of carved stonework in Cambridge.
The steps leading up to the Altar are paved with Purbeck, Sicilian, and
black Derbyshire marbles. The spaces between the steps are decorated
with a series of scriptural subjects in inlaid work in black and white
marble, with distinctive inscriptions. The Altar is of oak, with a
single slab of Belgian marble for its top. On the sides of the Altar are
deeply carved panels; that in the centre represents the Lamb with the
Banner, the other panels contain the emblems of the four Evangelists.
The organ stands in a special chamber on the north side; the carved
front was not put in place till 1890. It was designed by Mr. J. Oldrid
Scott, a son of Sir Gilbert Scott. In 1635 the famous Robert Dallam of
Westminster built a "paire of new orgaines" for the College. The organ
has been repeatedly enlarged, altered
|