Ernest Hemingway

Josephine Hart

This carving of a human figure was found in the Bishop’s garden in Gloucester around 150 years ago.

The figure is of Jesus. We can tell that because there are rays of sunshine around the figures head, which means it is a special type of halo called a cruciform. This type of halo is only used for representations of Jesus.

The figure is believed to be around 1000 years old.

Luke 22:19 (KJV)

The lavatorium (‘washing place’) in the north walk of the cloister is decorated with a delightful small-scale fan vault. The trough with its drainage holes would have been lead-lined, and on the shelf behind there would have been lead tanks with taps at the front. The lavatorium was used for hand-washing before meals. The whole community of monks would line up in order of precedence to wash and dry their hands. They would then process in silence into the refectory. The open alcove opposite the lavatorium is where their towels were hung.*

The cloister lavatorium was glazed in  1868 by John Hardman of Birmingham using designs by Powell.

The main lights, appropriately for the monastic washing area, illustrate episodes from Christ’s ministry associated with water, the one exception being the lights furthest east, which depict creation. The glass is of the highest quality and among the finest in the cathedral.*

*From Gloucester Cathedral FAITH, ART AND ARCHITECTURE: 1000 YEARS by Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral 2011

Gloucester’s great Cloister is famous for its magnificent fan vaulting, which is believed to be the earliest example in England.

Originally built to house the monks, it provided space for them to live, work and meditate. In many abbeys, the cloisters were traditionally built on the south side, but at Gloucester, it unusually lies on the north.

Using the normal Benedictine layout, all of the domestic buildings would have originally branched off three of the cloister walks.

Begun in the late 14^th century and finished by Abbot Froucester before 1412, it replaced an earlier Norman cloister.

The design itself incorporates a row of twenty carrels (niche like spaces), which would have originally houses desks for the monks to study. The Cloister also includes a lavatorium, (washing place) which would have made use of a local stream.

At the entrance to Gloucester Cathedral, the West Window is a prominent feature. Although my photographs don’t capture the details well, the window depicts Biblical scenes.

The glass we see today was installed in 1859 as a memorial to Dr J. H. Monk, Bishop of Gloucester from 1830 to 1856. It was made by the large Newcastle firm of William Wailes, and is signed and dated in the red strip in the bottom left-hand corner of the window.

The themes of the window are the Birth of Jesus and the Doctrine of Baptism. These are highly appropriate for the window’s location, as fonts are usually placed near the main, often west, entrance to churches.

In the central section, between the upper and lower transoms (the main horizontal stonework across the window), you will see the nativity, with shepherds and kings visible through the windows hurrying towards the stable. To the left of this, angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, while on the right the three kings worship the infant.

Above these nativity scenes, from left to right, are the Presentation of Christ by his parents in the temple, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and John the Baptist preaching by the River Jordan. Three Christian baptisms from the Acts of the Apostles are depicted above the upper transom: those of Paul, of Cornelius, and of the jailer of Philippi.

Across the bottom of the window are three ‘watery’ incidents from the Old Testament. The first of these shows Noah with his family, animals, and birds leaving the ark after the flood. Next are the Israelites after passing safely across the Red Sea. The horror of the Egyptians as they face drowning is vividly captured, as are the treasures at Moses’ feet. Finally Naaman can be seen washing in the Jordan to rid himself of leprosy. Note his feet are showing through the water.*

*From Gloucester Cathedral Stained Glass – Gloucester Cathedral 2004

Eldest son of William the Conqueror, and benefactor of Gloucester Abbey. He died in 1134 at Cardiff Castle, a prisoner of his youngest brother, King Henry I.