61. CHOIR CARVINGS

It is worth taking time to inspect the choir stalls with their many attractive carved figures. Some damage is evident.   PLAN

62. QUIRE CRESTS

Above the stalls is a set of crests. These are coats of arms of the old families of the local county of Gwynedd.

63. ORGAN PIPES AND OWL

Above the Northern quire stalls there rises a set of organ pipes – one of two visible stands. Organs have a long history in this Cathedral. The first reference we have of an organ in the Cathedral comes in the poem by Gruffudd Gryg, who witnessed the arrival of a new instrument sometime between 1350 and 1370, and records how all the parishioners contributed towards it. Under Bishop Rowlands (1598 – 1616) arrangements were made for the payment of a stipend to an organist. However, during the episcopate of the next bishop – Lewis Bayly – we hear of one Thomas Boulton playing the organ and complaining that his salary was not paid! At right, an owl keeps watch!

64. CHANCEL FLOOR AND ROOF

The chancel / sanctuary have a distinctive tiled floor, and a very attractive roof with fancy decorated ribbing, golden bosses, and painted roundels depicting angelic figures. ••• In 1779 the existing organ was replaced by a new instrument made by Samuel Green, the leading organ builder of his day. This was in constant use until it was replaced by the present organ which was built by one of the greatest master organ builders of the nineteenth century – William Hill – and installed in 1873.

65. ORGAN PIPES II AND FLEMISH FIGURES

We come to the second stand of organ pipes. The organ is the largest pipe organ in Wales and potentially one of the finest in the British Isles. It provides North Wales with an irreplaceable community asset. It is a splendid four-manual instrument with the majority of its 4,210 pipes dating from 1873. Between 2006 and 2008, David Wells Organ Builders Ltd of Liverpool rebuilt the organ; the solo soundboard is now located in the crossing arch into the north transept and is the unenclosed choir organ. The choir soundboard in the organ chamber has become the solo soundboard and has been turned round to face through the transept arch, it has been raised high to allow space for toilet and kitchen facilities on the ground floor. The new console is placed in the North transept. ••• A set of Flemish figures can be seen in the background.

66. FLEMISH FIGURES

This is a display of early Flemish statues. At centre is the sixteenth century statue of Christ the King. The remaining figures may include St Paul and St Peter, along with various other Flemish saints. Some details are given in the framed information sheet below.

67. SANCTUARY AND CATHEDRA

As we make our way towards the sanctuary we come to some further seating on the South side, and then the cathedra.

68. CATHEDRA AND CREST

The cathedra is the bishop’s throne. The name comes from the Latin word for ‘seat’ or ‘throne’, and it is from here that the title ‘cathedral’ comes for this church. The diocesan crest has been adapted from the Bangor crest: a red shield with stars crossed by a blue diagonal with mace. The meaning of the diocesan crest, first recorded in 1512, is unknown.

69. SIDES OF THE SANCTUARY

These views show the North and South sides of the sanctuary. There is a range of furniture, including a set of three sedilia on the North side. Of interest is the South facing stained glass window, and the sanctuary cross.

70. SANCTUARY SOUTH WINDOW

This window depicts various scenes from the Book of Acts. They include the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, the conversion of Saul, Peter receiving the Keys of the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit comng on the gentiles, and Peter healing the lame man.

71. SANCTUARY CROSS

Standing in a corner of the sanctuary is this gold, bejewelled cross. This would have pride of place on the high altar during services.

72. HIGH ALTAR

The high altar is a simple wooden table bearing two candle sticks. At the centre of the reredos standing behind the altar is the Risen Christ and two angels. Each of the outer panels contains two saints and two figures which presumably are not saints. There is Welsh text below ... . Four golden angels stand on top of the reredos.

73. GREAT EAST WINDOW

Behind the high altar rises the Great East Window. The original East window was removed when the chancel was restored and George Gilbert Scott introduced a window by Clayton & Bell as the East window in 1873. It remains in place today with ten main compartments, now filled with scenes from the Life of Christ. ••• This completes our tour of Bangor Cathedral.