A striking feature of the Chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine is the suspended crown of thorns – a symbol of the suffering of Christ. PLAN
62. QUIRE ENTRY
Opposite the Chapel of Saint Andrew and St Catherine is the Northern entry to the quire which is thoughtfully designed for wheelchair access. At this entrance is an ancient frontal cloth and two framed banners.
63. ALTAR FRONTAL
The sign tells us that this altar frontal dates from the later 16th or early 17th century. It is probably Italian. The cloth is silver and red satin appliqué on a ground of white silk and metal thread embroidery. The central figure is a Madonna – Mother and Child – and a bird is featured on either side.
64. BANNERS
A framed banner stands on either side of the altar frontal. At left is St Peter holding his golden keys. At right a young Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, placed in a rural setting.
65. ST LUKE’S PLAQUE
As we continue walking up the North Quire aisle, we come to this plaque relating to St Luke’s College. Now part of the University of Exeter, St Luke’s College started life in 1839 as a teacher training college in the Cathedral Close. It was created after a meeting in the Chapter House that led to the setting up of a Diocesan Board of Education. In 1978 the college became the School of Education, within the University of Exeter. In 1854 the College welcomed 40 students for training, while in the 1990s there were more than 700.
66. RACHEL O’BRIEN MEMORIAL
A little further up the North Quire aisle is this touching memorial to Rachel Charlotte O’Brien. She is remembered for the act of heroism which led to her death in rescuing her child from a fire. Amongst all the memorials to the high and mighty, it is pleasing to find this remembrance of the bravery and sacrifice of an ‘ordinary’ – extraordinary? – young lady.
67. NORTH QUIRE AISLE
Looking back along the North Quire aisle we see where we have been: the colourful West nave window in the far distance, the wooden walkway into the Quire, and opposite the entrance to the Chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine, and on the near right wall the memorial to Rachel O’Brien. Details of many more of the monuments found in Exeter Cathedral are given in the excellent website http://www.churchmonumentssociety.org/Devon_2a.html .
68. ST GEORGE CHAPEL
At the East end of the North Quire aisle is the Chapel of St George, also known as the Speke Chantry. Between 1649 and 1660, Anglican services were forbidden in the Cathedral. Unable to agree on a common form of worship, Presbyterians and Independents divided the Cathedral between them. A wall was built on top of the pulpitum screen and the Cathedral became known as Peter’s East and Peter’s West. To allow access to Peter’s East a doorway was made in the Speke Chantry. When the monarchy was restored in 1660, the wall in the Cathedral came down and the Speke Chantry doorway was walled up.
69. CHAPEL ENTRY SCREEN
The entry is through a beautiful and elaborately carved screen which deserves some closer examination.
70. CHAPEL CROSS PANEL
The Chapel of St George has an attractive carved altar with three scenes relating to the birth of Christ. In the centre stands a prominent blue cross, but I can find no information about the significance of the colour. .
71. CHAPEL EFFIGY
The effigy in the Chapel of St George is that of Sir John Speke (1518). He was said to have been knighted for his wealth not for his prowess in warfare. He was a friend of Bishop Oldham whose image lies in the chapel South of here.
72. CAREW EFFIGIES
Leaving the Chapel of St George we come to the adjacent Chapel of St John the Evangelist. On our left we find these colourful effigies. On the upper level lie Sir Gawen Carew and his second wife, while below lies Sir Peter Carew, his nephew. This monument was erected in 1589. Sir Peter is shown with crossed legs, reviving a style of an earlier age. Both men fought in the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549. At right is one of those mysterious and easily-missed Cathedral doorways, leading to a spiral staircase up to the roof.
73. CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST – WINDOW
The Chapel of St John the Evangelist has this attractive stained glass window.
74. BISHOP STAFFORD TOMB (NORTH SIDE)
There is a curious arrangement here. St John’s Chapel and the symmetrically opposite St Gabriel’s Chapel are separated by an open space, partially subdivided by two ornate tombs. One of these is shown here (the near one). It is the tomb and effigy of Bishop Stafford. Bishop Edmund Stafford lived from 1344 to 1419. He was Bishop of Exeter from 1395 until he died. The somewhat similar tomb in the background belongs to Bishop Branscombe, as we shall see shortly.
75. BISHOP STAFFORD TOMB (SOUTH SIDE)
Bishop Stafford’s effigy and canopy glow more brightly in the Southern light! Edmund Stafford had parallel academic, ecclesiastical and political careers. He attended Oxford University, graduating BA in 1363; in the same year he was appointed a canon of Lichfield. He obtained a BCL in 1369 and a DL in 1385, the same year he became Dean of York. He also held the Rectorship of Clifton Campville, his family lands. Whilst Dean of York, he was named Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1389, keeping that role until 1396. Later that year, he was appointed Lord Chancellor of England, holding the position until 1399.
76. LADY CHAPEL EFFIGIES
Along the North wall of the Lady Chapel are the effigies of Sir John and Lady Dodderidge. Sir John (died 1628) wears the scarlet gown of a judge in the Court of the King's Bench. He was known as the 'Sleeping Judge' because of his habit of closing his eyes while sitting. Lady Dodderidge (died 1614) wears flowered brocade and holds a wreathed skull.
77. LADY CHAPEL WINDOW
The Lady Chapel has a beautiful stained glass window. It is also notable for the painted ribbing above.
78. MADONNA AND CHILD
On the South wall of the Chapel stands a fine sculpture of the Madonna with Child. The familiar Ave Maria is inscribed on the base.
79. IN THE AMBULATORY
Stepping back from the Lady Chapel, there is a screened ambulatory separating the chapels from the quire. Two banners hang here. The banner at left celebrates the Mothers’ Union, and pictures a lily along with St Peter’s keys. The design on the right is a little unclear but appears to show the Risen Christ being acknowledged by various groups from the world and church.
80. ST GABRIEL CHAPEL TOMB
Returning now from the ambulatory to the South East chapels we come to the tomb and effigy of Bishop Branscombe. Walter Branscombe lived ca 1220–1280, and was Bishop of Exeter from 1258 to 1280. He faced some problems at the start of his time as bishop, for right after the death of the previous bishop, Richard Blund, a number of Blund's officials and clerks had used Blund's seal to forge letters giving away benefices as well as Blund's property. This left Branscombe with debts and administrative issues. He undertook building work on the Lady Chapel and choir in Exeter Cathedral.