When I was glancing down my labels list, I was disappointed to see that I have only written one post on Pugin. The plan, after seeing his masterpiece in Cheadle, was to visit and report on more places in the Midlands designed by Pugin. I already have St. Chad's Cathedral in mind, which is the mother Church of our Birmingham Archdiocese and the first Catholic Cathedral to be built in this country following the reformation. To wet your appetite, here is the sanctuary:
As a stop-gap I want to mention one other Pugin building which has been an inspiration for me: Ratcliffe College Independant Catholic School in Leicestershire.



The new Church is Byzantine-style, and what I think to be rather attractive. It is able to accommodate all 750 pupils for school assemblies. Not really in keeping with Pugin's original architecture, but still.

1. Once more in Alma Maters bowers we meet to crown another year.
And ev'ry sight recalls the hours when we were laughing youngsters here
The pranks we played the jokes that flew
The mirth that bubbled in the brain;
and gazing on the picture, few but wish they could be lads again.
Chorus: Then come all ye boys of Ratcliffe, raise the brimming bowl and let your song, both loud and strong under the rafters roll Then here's to the wolds and woodlands and the wreake that by them runs And the heath that's dear to all hearts here old Ratcliffe and her sons.
2. Again we breathe the cloisters peace old voices echo in the hall.
And batsman poses on the crease the crashing elm receives the ball
Now for a dip in sultry June
Within the islet cool we stand
or lounge a lazy afternoon beside the millstream rod in hand. &C.
3. That bell within its lofty perch that summon'd us to work or play,
That bade us to our place in church, rings out again our holiday
Oh, could it toll above the noise that murmurs over land and sea
And gather here all Ratcliffe boys, what mercy greetings would there be! &C.
4. Now some have made their homes afar and some are laid within the loan,
And of so many few there are who meet in this their boy-hood's home
Yet here their hearts are still entwined like ivy round an aged stem
And we will keep them all in mind, and pledge a cup for us and them! &C.
Although I have some bitter memories from my time there, reading this song (which I hasten to add is probably no longer sung) brings a tear to my eye and the overriding happy memories to mind! If any of my old school mates are reading this, I join my affections with you in offering up prayers to Our Lady.

O my God, O incarnate Word, may your Spirit be the cause of all my activities, of all that I do; may nothing in me come from myself, but everything from you.
That's some pedigree Matt. Mine's just some Irish peasants! LOL
ReplyDeleteIts funny you should say that, because as well as an assisted place I received a scholarship to the school for having some Irish peasant ancestors (from Cork and Clare)! In my time it was a school mainly for people with money rather than any particular class! Believe me, that meant all sorts!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Just a couple of possible clarifications. St Chad's was the first cathedral built post Reformation in England as opposed to any other part of the UK/British Isles. There is a huge debate over the architect of the Palace of Westminster - was it Pugin or Sir Charles Barry? Pugin himself stated 'Barry's great work...was immeasurably superior to any that I could at the time have produced, and had it been otherwise, the Commissioners would have killed me in twelve months'.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Pugin will be happy that a Tridentine mass was celebrated recently by one of our own Oratorians in Parliament.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Paisley didn't protest - we weren't that blest!
Just seen Louis Deacon playing Rugby against Wales. Which reminds me that he was in my year at Ratcliffe College (not that I was in his clique)!
ReplyDeleteThere are photographs of the Pugin chapel at Ratcliffe in some of the big books published at the time of the Pugin exhibition, 'Pugin: a Gothic Passion', a few years ago. It was beautifully furnished but much was detroyed immediately after Vatican II. Sir Charles Barry designed the plan and elevations of the Palace of Westminster, Pugin the Gothic detail outside and in. It's Pugin whose work there makes the biggest impact today. Matt, I thought you were a convert. How did you get into Ratcliffe as a non-Catholic? Or perhaps I am mixing you up with your wife.
ReplyDeleteYes, my wife is a convert from Anglicanism. I was a nominal Catholic before becoming lapsed, then rediscovering the Faith with my wife in 2004.
ReplyDeleteGreat!
ReplyDelete