Ely Cathedral Part 19

2. Central Lantern restored (Peac.o.c.k Memorial).

3. South-east Transept restored.

4. South-west Transept restored.

5. Roof of North Transept restored and painted. (The painting at the expense of tradesmen employed upon the Cathedral.)

6. The Nave ceiled and painted. (The painting by the late Mr. le Strange and Mr. Gambier Parry.)

7. Nave roof repaired and re-leaded.

8. St. Catherine's Chapel rebuilt.

9. Bishop Alc.o.c.k's Chapel restored.

10. Galilee Porch re-paved.

11. The Western Tower opened, ceiled, (the ceiling painted by Mr. le Strange), re-roofed, strengthened, &c., (part of the expense borne by the late H.R. Evans, Esq., and his son, the present H.R. Evans, Esq.)

12. About seventy windows filled with painted gla.s.s.

The expense of the restoration of the Cathedral cannot be given with perfect accuracy, but the account which is here subjoined will be near enough for all practical purposes.

GENERAL RESTORATION.

_s._ _d._

Contributed by the public to the "Ely Cathedral Restoration Fund" 9578 0 0

Expended by the Dean and Chapter (about) 11,000 0 0

PEAc.o.c.k MEMORIAL.

Contributed by the friends of Dean Peac.o.c.k to the restoration of the Lantern 2407 0 0

Expended by the Dean and Chapter (about) 4200 0 0

It would thus appear that since the commencement of the great works in 1845 to the present time, the sum of 27,185 has been expended, of which 15,200 has been furnished by the Dean and Chapter. It ought to be added that the sum contributed by the public includes a donation of 500 by the Bishop of the Diocese, and about 1000 contributed by members of the Chapter in their individual capacity.

It must be observed, however, that the sum just mentioned by no means represents all that has been done for the Cathedral. The following works and gifts are not included:--

1. The painted windows, which have been supplied partly by individual donors, partly by a bequest of Bishop Sparke.

Amongst the donors are Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort. To the bequest of Bishop Sparke the Cathedral is indebted for the East windows, and those in the clerestory of the Choir, and the fund is not yet exhausted.

2. The carved panels above the Stalls in the Choir, now amounting to 37, and supplied almost entirely by individual donors, at a cost of about 18 each.

3. Bishop Alc.o.c.k's Chapel, restored by Jesus College, Cambridge.

4. A pinnacle at the south-east corner of the Choir, built by A.J.B. Beresford Hope, Esq.

5. The magnificent Reredos, presented by J. Dunn-Gardner, Esq.

6. The contribution of Canon E.B. Sparke towards the restoration of the south-west Transept, and that by the two Messrs. Evans to the works in the western Tower.

7. The Font, presented by Canon Selwyn.

8. The Gates of the Choir Aisles, presented by Alan Lowndes, Esq. and Dean Peac.o.c.k.

9. The Bra.s.s Eagle Lectern, presented by Canon E.B. Sparke.

10. The Tombs of Bishop Allen and Dr. Mill.

11. A legacy of 100 by the late Mr. Millers, Minor Canon of the Cathedral, and a contribution of 300 by his residuary legatees, applied to the ceiling of the Nave.

Neither does the sum mentioned as having been contributed by the public include a legacy of 500 from the late Miss Allen, daughter of Bishop Allen, (which has been appropriated to a new pulpit, now in progress from the designs of G.G. Scott, Esq.,) and a legacy of equal amount, from Bishop Turton, for the purpose of re-paving the Nave.

It may be safely stated that the expense of the works and the gifts above specified has not been less than 13,000; the windows alone have cost nearly 9000. The entire sum already expended upon the Cathedral will thus be found to exceed 40,000.

In order to bring the Cathedral into such a condition as would appear satisfactory to those who have taken part in its restoration, the following works require to be done:--

1. The Nave, Octagon, and Transepts must be paved. Towards this work Bishop Turton gave by his will (as before stated) the sum of 500. The whole expense will probably be not less than 2500.

2. The stone-work of the Octagon must be completed by the restoration of the pinnacles and parapet. The external effect of Alan de Walsingham's Lantern cannot be rightly estimated until this restoration has been made; the cost will be about 2500.

3. The Lantern must be internally decorated. This work, though highly necessary for completing the effect of the interior, will probably cost not more than 500.

4. The Galilee porch requires extensive repair, partly from the decay of the Purbeck marble which is largely used in its construction, and partly from the unskilful treatment to which it has been submitted in former times. A grand commencement of this work has been made by Mrs. John Thomas Waddington, of Twyford Lodge, Winchester, at whose sole expense the portal which forms the eastern side of the Galilee is undergoing complete restoration, as a memorial of her late husband. The restoration of the remainder of the Galilee would probably cost 2000.

5. The warming of the Cathedral is another work, for which it would be impossible to set down less than 500; probably it would cost much more; but this is a work which, if considered desirable, may fairly be left to the Dean and Chapter.

6. The proper lighting of the Cathedral is a matter for consideration; this also might be regarded as a work devolving upon the capitular body: but when the extremely artistic character of the standards or coronae, which such a building requires, is taken into account, perhaps it may be fairly added to the list of works in which the friends of the Cathedral may be asked to co-operate.

From this statement then it would appear that an expenditure of from 7000 to 8000 would complete the princ.i.p.al necessary works of the Cathedral, with the exception of the rebuilding of the north-west Transept, which it will probably be deemed desirable to omit from consideration, at all events until all the other works specified have been finished.

Call the sum necessary 7000; this is not much to raise for so good a purpose; and when it is considered what the effect of the expenditure of such a sum will be, it seems difficult to believe that the money will not be forthcoming.

The Dean and Chapter have not shown themselves. .h.i.therto insensible to the primary claim which the Cathedral has upon them, nor are they likely to do so in the completion of the great work which they have now had in hand so long. But the Cathedral has claims upon others beside the Capitular body. It has claims, which it is believed will be once more acknowledged by the wealthy landowners of the Diocese, by the Colleges of Cambridge, several of which are intimately connected with Ely, and finally by lovers of architectural beauty and ecclesiastical propriety throughout the country.

To all persons, therefore, who take an interest in Ely Cathedral on Diocesan or any other grounds, an appeal is now made, and they are respectfully urged to make one final effort for the purpose of completing a work which has been so well begun, and hitherto so prosperously carried out.

H. GOODWIN."

"_The Deanery, Ely, January, 1866._"

Since the issue of the foregoing memorandum further progress has been made in the Restoration of the Cathedral.