Photographs by John Salmon, and text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
The Pulpit
Left to right: (a) The pulpit, featuring the apostles in canopied niches. (b) St Matthew, writing his gospel, with a winged youth at his feet holding a scroll. (c) St Luke, similarly engaged, with his symbol, a winged ox, beside him. (d) St John, quill in hand as well, with his symbol, an eagle at his feet.
Designed by George Basevi (1794-1845), the original architect of St Saviour's Church, Knightsbridge, London, the pulpit is a fine example of intricate Gothic Revival stone-carving, and suggests that Basevi could, when he turned his hand to it, design with feeling as well as skill in the Gothic style. St Mark unfortunately is missing. [Click on these and the following images to enlarge them.]
The Altar
While the pulpit is ascribed to Basevi, the information in the church's vestibule does not say who designed the altar. But it is likely to have been the Rev. Ernest Geldart (1848-1929), since he was responsible for the new Chancel of 1890 — "and much else," according to Cherry and Pevsner (560). It is certainly a very handsome piece of work, with statues denoting the nine orders of angels with their various attributes.
Left to right: (a) Powers, Virtues and Dominions. (b) The Seraphim from the central group, consisting of Seraphim, Archangel and Cherubim. (c) Principalities, Thrones and Angels.
With carved figures in niches, the altar harmonises perfectly with the pulpit. Each figure is clearly differentiated. For example, the Seraphim and Cherubim are very well-feathered, while the fierce-looking Archangel wears armour, and the Angel carries a stringed instrument and a scroll of music with notes and text (see below right).
Related Material
- St Saviour's: Part I (Façade of the church)
- St Saviour's: Part II (Remains of the original church inside the current building — shows the pulpit
in situ) - East window (Biblical figures with Christ in Majesty) designed by Geldart
- Chapel window (The Presentation) by Cox & Son
- The Hierarchy of Angels embroidered panel at St Edward the Confessor, Leek
Bibliography
Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. London 3: North West. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2002.
Explanatory text from a statement in the current building's vestibule.
Created 6 June 2017