Page 2 - Internal views
The lower part of the main entrance to the chapel is by contrast to the
rest of the building, quite plain, the only saviour being the rose window
dominating the upper part of the wall. The two large Gothic arches of the
lower wall have been bricked in as this end as mentioned previously, is not
yet finished.
The oak doors allow access into the entrance hall where a calm serenity
falls over both the visitor and the stone. The ceiling of the entrance hall
is beautifully decorated by Campbell Smith and Co., a modern expression of
medieval design with deliberately subdued tones to emphasise the effect of
light as you turn through the central arch into the nave.
The entrance ceiling
The font is situated in the entrance hall along with an elm-wood statue
of our lady, carved by Leonard Ratcliffe, standing like a lonely sentinel
watching all who enter. To the west side are the steps leading down to the
cloister, whilst to the east side are the steps leading to the crypt.
The Statue of our Lady in the entrance hall
The cloister, which may be accessed from the outside too, is a serene place
of contemplation, designed by Temple Moore and built between the wars by Dick
Gale, last of the resident college masons.
The cloister commemorates the use of the college by the Royal Navy during
the Second World War and the names of the fallen are carved on slabs of pale
Hoptonwood stone. The east window shows Saint Nicolas with three midshipmen
and in the bay to the east of the cloister is the burial-place of the founder.
The crypt , extensively renovated during the 1980's, has many fine windows
and the three over the north door depict three Sussex Saints of Richard, Wilfrid
and Cuthman, designed by John Lawson. The crypt also contains the north chapel,
dedicated to All Saints, and the founders chapel, cut in African and Sicilian
marbles with alabaster reredos designed by Bernard Ingelow.
There is a chamber organ in the crypt, built in 1818 by Thomas Elliot of
London. It has a classical mahogany case, with gilded front pipes. It was
originally in Hawarden Castle and was given to Lancing by Sir William Gladstone,
former Head Master, and fully restored by Saxon Aldred in 1987.
The crypt at Lancing College Chapel
Lancing Page 1 - Lancing
Page 2 - Lancing Page 3 - Lancing
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