G
O R D O N C H A P E L
T H E W I N D O W SLANCETS and ROSE |
|||
Introduction
|
The East wall, behind the altar, is dominated by the three Lancet windows and above them the Rose window. The Rose Window (above) depicts an Angel surrounded by five Minstrel Angels. The Lancets (below) depict on the left the Virgin Mary, Mater Dolorosa (the Weeping Mother) with the Good Samaritan below. In the centre Christ on the Cross with two weeping angels clasping the foot of the cross. On the right St John, Discipulus dilectus (the Beloved Disciple) and in the panel below Dorcas (a Christian woman of Joppa and helper of the poor). There has, however, been considerable speculation about the accuracy of these interpretations (particularly those in the lower panels). It has been suggested that the panel considered to be the Good Samaritan may in fact represent the Prodigal Son. Similarly, there is no concrete evidence to support the assertion that the bottom right panel represents Dorcas. If anyone can shed light on the actual iconography of these panels please email the Webmaster as we would be delighted to hear from our visitors in cyberspace. The Inscription in Latin across all three sections of the window is taken from the first Epistle of St John, Chapter 4 verse 10, with certain omissions (given in brackets below) and reads: In hoc
est charitas [non quasi nos dilexerimus deum sed] quoniä deus
dilexit Herein is love [not that we loved God but] that God loved The omission in the centre is caused by the impossibility of adding a middle inscription on the central Lancet depicting Christ on the Cross. This window has no dedicatory inscription but it has been suggested that it commemorates Elizabeth Duchess of Gordon, widow of the 5th and last Duke, and founder of Gordon Chapel. Although a more likely explanation is that it commemorates Caroline Paget, widow of the 5th Duke of Richmond.
Please note: These images of the Lancets and the Rose are not to scale |
