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The Chapel
of the Nine Altars |
| Originally the east end of the Cathedral consisted of three apses but by the thirteenth century these were in a dangerous condition and needed to be rebuilt. The Chapel of the Nine Altars was originally planned by Bishop le Poor (1229-1237). His architect was Richard of Farnham, who, most probably, used suggestions from Elias of Dereham, who had built Salisbury Cathedral for Bishop le Poor when he was in that See. The construction of the Chapel eventually took place between 1242 and 1274. There were so many pilgrims wishing to attend Mass and to receive blessings each day, that nine altars were provided. That is how the Chapel got its name. | to consist of = bestehen aus
chapel = Kapelle suggestion = Vorschlag see = Diözese eventually = schließlich pilgrim = Pilger mass = Messe (Gottesdienst) blessing = Segen
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| Unlike the main body of the cathedral which is a superb example of Romanesque architecture, the Chapel is built in the later, Early English style of Gothic architecture. The impression of great height was obtained by sinking the floor of the Chapel below the level of the main body of the church, by the tall narrow windows and by the slender ribs of the vaulting. The black shafts are of Frosterley 'marble' - in fact a limestone containing fossil corals from a village a few miles west of Durham. The Chapel is designed in a series of bays, three in each of the three compartments. The huge weight of the roof is sustained by buttresses on the outside of the east wall. | slender = schlank
rib = Rippe marble = Marmor limestone = Kalkstein bay = hier: Gewölbefeld compartment = Abteilung to sustain = tragen, auffangen |
| The rose window was remodelled in the late eighteenth century according to the ideas of the mason who did the work. There are particularly fine bosses in the roof. The large northern window was probably the last part of the building to be constructed and is as beautiful as any in the church. Below it stands the statue of Bishop William Van Mildert (1826-1836) the last of the Prince Bishops and founder of Durham University. Just in front of it is the grave slab of Bishop Anthony Bek (1284-1310) King of the Isle of Man and Patriarch of Jerusalem. His was the first burial allowed in the Cathedral. | according to = enstprechend
mason = Steinmetz boss = Schlußstein grave slab = Grabplatte burial = Begräbnis |
First photo © The Dean and Chapter, Durham Cathedral. Second photo © Durham City Council by Royston Thomas.
