ABBEY TREASURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ABBEY TREASURES.

INCREASE YEAR BY YEAR.

GENEROSITY OF DONORS

HISTORICAL REQUESTS

HEARSE CLOTH HERALDRY

Westminster Abbey 'is o veritable museum of works of art. This is an aspect of the wonderful old building which does not always receive adequato recognition. None the less, it ought never to bo forgotten, states tho Rov. Jocelyn Perkins in tho London Observer. Treasures of woodwork, like tho canopied stalls in Ilenry Vll.'s Chapel; treasures of ironwork, like tho grillo attached to the tomb of Queen Eleanor of Castile; treasures of sculpture, liko tho numerous Royal ofTigiesj thoso aro only a few out of a lengthy list far too numerous to recapitulate hero.

With these, however, and such as these, wo aro not hero immediately concerned. There aro in addition a great quantity of works of art, both ancient and modern, moro especially connected with the constant offering of praise and worship. Theso treasure?, thanks to tho generosity of recent and present-day donors, steadily increase year by year. At tho present rate of progress it is conceivable that our descendants 50 years hence will find themselves confronted with a groat mass of beautiful things, almoift comparable in quantity, if not in quality, with tho contents of the wonderful and tragic inventory drawn up at- tho time of tho dissolution of the medieval monastery. None of the existing treasures, with one exception, can be assigned tp a period anterior to tho Restoration. The seven-teenth-century specimens are of immense value and historical interest, whilo it may fairly be claimed that the various modern works of art, in almost every case, aro fully worthy of their august surroundings. Elizabethan Communion Cup.

Tho Abbey possesses, in tho first place, a fine collection of plate, the most ancient specimen oi which is an interesting Elizabethan communion cup and cover bearing tho date 1571. It probablj hailed from Oxford in tho first place, and after experiencing a curious history, during part of which timo it lay einbcddcfT in the mud of tho Isis, or the Cherwell, it eventually reached tho hands of tho Dean and Chapter of Westminster as a touching and beautiful War Memorial.

During thp 40 years or so which succeeded tlie accession of Charles 11. to the throne of England, tho Abbey authorities took special plains to enrich their church with various fine pieces of silver-gilt plato. Within a year from (lie llestora. tion of that Sovereign they had provided two communion cups and covers, and two flagons. These fine specimens of tho art of the period arc devoid of any decoration, depending for their effect entirely upon their graceful proportions. Ten years later, John Sudbury, a former prebendary, by this time become Dean of Durham, proceeded to enrich the Collegiate Church of Westminster with a beautiful token of his affection, consisting of two communion cups and covers, elaborately chased and embossed with acanthus leaves and other decorations.

The following decade witnessed a still moro important development. A great alms dish, nearly 3ft. in diameter and richly decorated; a smaller one, plain but displaying great beauty of proportion; and last, but by no means least, two magnificent silver-gilt candlesticks—wero all added to tho Abboy treasures at this period. The Abyssinian Cross. Tho latter gift was duo to tho generosity of Sarah Hughes, housekeeper of one of tho assistant masters at Westminster School. Her name is to be seen pounced upon one of tho medallions on tho base. The present century, too, has witnessed several gifts of great value and interest, such as tho famous Abyssinian Cross, a votive offering by tho late Has Makunan for tho recovery of King Edward VII. from serious illness; the costly processional cross given by the Hon. Rodman Wanamakcr on Christmas Eve, 1922.

A great nltar cross of silvcr-gilt, weighing upwards of 6000z., the gift of Lord Rosebery in memory of tlio marriage of the present Marquis and Marchioness of Crewe; and four splendid silver-gilt alms dishes, the offering of tlio citizens of Westminster in memory of the lalo Dean Ryle, together with other specimens of the art of the metal craftsman too numerous for words.

The Coronation copes, some "of them made of velvet, others of gold tissue, 12 in all, are deservedly famous, whilo in recent years their number has been moro than doubled by the addition of modern companions, moro than one of which is of great magnificence. Three splendid banners, too, havo been presonted sinco the war by tlio Church Lads' Brigade, tlio Girls' Friendly Society, and the Mothers' Union resepctively. The work of making them was carried out at tho Royal School of Needlework. It would bo difficult to find their equal for skill and beauty of embroidery.

Coronation Frontal and Dorsal

The hearse cloth, presented by tho Actors' Church Union, is another notablo treasure, mado of white silk and blazing with masses of heraldy in accordance with tho precedent set by medieval examples. Informs a welcome contrast to those sombro trappings of woe so doar to the heart of tho eighteeneth and nineteenth century undertaker.

Westminster Abbey possesses at the present timo 110 fewer tnan six altars, the accumulated hangings and frontals of which total a considerable number. Many aro of great interest. Among them should bo specially noted the frontal and dorsal offered in accordanco with the directions of tlio rubric, by our present King and Queen at their Coronation.

[t is difficult within the compass of a single article to givo at all an adequato account, of tho various instruments of worship possessed by Westminster Abbey. So numerous are they that a description of them is in danger of degenerating into a niero inventory; indeed, the various items sot forth, above do not constitute an exhaustive account by any manner of means. Thorn will be no difficulty at all in filling tho new Sacristy, which has been tho subject of so much discussion of late. Tho miserable accommodation at present provided for the housing of all these beautiful works of art has been a weakness for many yoars past. Tho additional accommodation proposed is certaimy not too great. It may even come to bo outgrown at some date in a, futiiro by no moans remoto.