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Lady Chapel
he
Lady Chapel was blessed February 2, 1915, the Feast of the Purification,
and is the gift of the Boudinot family. The chapel was designed by Horace
Wells Sellers and the stonework done by Edward Maene.
The interior of the Lady Chapel is lined with English red stone. It has
a beautifully groined ceiling, the ribs carved with lilies of and roses
in conventionalized forms, and the central boss showing a quaint Nativity.
The altar and reredos are of red stone. Upon the altar front are three shallow
niches containing angel figures. The angel in the centre holds the chalice
and host, glorified, and the angels on either side carry smoking censers.
The reredos is formed of three canopied niches containing statues. The central
figure is that of the Virgin and Child, while on either side are S. Joseph
and S. Elizabeth with the child S. John the Baptist. The tabernacle door
is of wrought iron and copper and shows various symbols of Our Lady including
the the Tower of David and the Ark of the Covenant.
The window was designed and executed by Alfred Godwin, after a painting
by Gozzoli. Our Lady is represented enthroned holding the Divine Infant;
on either side S. Clement and S. Elizabeth, S. Catherine and S. John Baptist
kneel adoring the infant Christ while angel figures hover overhead and a
jewelled crown is seen descending upon the head of the Virgin. The inscription
is a quotation from Isaiah and is one of the antiphons from the office of
the Blessed Virgin: Eris corona gloriæ in mane Domini et diadems regni
in mans Dei tui. [Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord
and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.]
Wrought iron gates at the entrance to the chapel and also at the entrance
to the Choir and between the chapel and choir are the work of the Yellin
Studios of Philadelphia.
