The times., 1901-04-28
BISHOP SATTERLBE'S CHAIR
A Unique Feature of the Episcopal
Cathedral Close"

/ stones i'm the Cathedra Brought
From glastonbury Abbey, Wales
A Specimen of Norman Art-Mod-
ern Additions and inscriptions.
THE British Cathedra" or THE Glas-
tonbury Throne" are the titles descriptive
of the chair of Bishop Satterlee now in
course of erection on the grounds of the
Episcopal Cathedral close on Mount st.
| Alban, Wisconsin Avenue, and which Will
he completed and dedicated next Ascen-
sion Day.
The chair will be rich in symbolic mean
ing and q unique ornament to the beau
tiful location selected as the site for the
Episcopal Cathedral. 1t will be composed
partly of twenty stones from the ancient
Abbey of Glastonbury, in Wales. These
stones have the characteristic carving of
the Norman architecture of Glastonbury
Abbey. and have been taken from that
part of the ruins erected during the Nor
man period The portions of the chair
formed of the ancient stones are the low
er part, the seat, or cathedra proper, and
the two pillars that rise from the arms on
either side.
The inscription on the panel forming
the back of the chair sets forth the terms
of the Chicagc-Lambeth Quadrilateral-
Holy Scripture and Apostolic Greed,
Holy Sacrament and Apostolic Order"
The panel Immediately above the seal
will bear the names of Eborius, Bishop
of York; Restitutus, Bishop of Lon
don, and Adelfius, Bishop Of Caer-
leon-on-Usk, three British Bishops who
attended the Council of Aries in Gaul A.
D. 914 Beside these will be inscribed
l,., ogC n,,hr
Sid, Columbia, Aidan, Chad, and Angus
tine
The cathedra has been designed by Mr..
r. w. Gibson, who, it is said has dis
charged his difficult task with rare skill,
displaying great taste and discretion, as
well as an intimate knowledge of Norman
and early English architecture. 1t was
necessary to employ some new material
in erecting the cathedra, but these ad
ditions are principally in the upper por-
ton. The correspondence between these
and the older parts has been carefully
preserved, and will be seen in the Norman
pediment of the cross which forms the
final of the chair, in the round billet
molding and in the zig-zag ornament
around the central panel. Above the old
Glastonbury pillars on each side of the
chair arises Bishops pastoral staff, and
the mitre is conspicuous as occupying the
angle below the final of the chair and
above the central panel. On the right side
of the chair is the following inscription:
These stones from the Ancient British Abbey
OF SIS. Peter and Paul.
| given
| by the Churchmen of Glastonbury
to the Churchme1 Of America
for the Cathedral
| Of SIS. Peter and Paul
Washington, d. c.
~, .T,o eide ,,anaI &c ooyy-ad thiu in
scription:
This Glastonbury Cathedra
| is raised a witness TO the continuity Of
The Anglican Church
and presented on
Ascension Day, 1901.
The designations Of the chair as THE
British Cathedra" or THE Glastonbury
Throne" were suggested by the Episcopal
Bishop of Bristol, England, one of the
greatest living authorities on British ar
| chaeology, who preached at the Glaston-
bury service of the Lambeth Conference
It was on the occasion of this conference
that the ancient stones for the chair came
to be presented to Bishop Satterlee for
the Cathedral at Washington. In the
summer of 1897 there was held in London
, what is known as the Lambeth Confer
ence of all the Bishops of the Anglican
Communion throughout the world, which
of course included all the Bishops of the
Episcopal Church in America One of the
: most memorable meetings of this assem-
: bly, was that which was held in the ruins
of Glastonbury Abbey. Within the roof
less pile, which once sheltered the tomb
of kings and saints, were assembled the
, official representatives, of the Episcopal
Church from all parts of the world. The
Diocese Of Washington was represented
> by Bishop Satterlee. In speaking Of the
occasion, the Bishop says:
Nobody who was present will ever for
> get the scene. All met first in the par
ish church Of Glastonbury. There a pro-
cession was formed, headed by a long
line of surpliced choirs, followed by more
( than 500 clergy, the rear being brought up
by over 100 Bishops from all parts of the
world. Both Bishops and clergy were in
: their robes. Moving slowly through the
, streets of Glastonbury they reached the
: | ancient abbey. The service which fol-
| lowed was absolutely unique Within the
, | picturesque ruins on the green sward
: | and beneath the bright sun of sum
: mer's day this vast assemblage was
{ gathered The Bishops sat in that part
of the abbey ruins which had once been
G the choir The clergy occupied the front
a part of the nave, while the surphced
| choirs filled the transepts The remain
- | Ing space Wltnln the pare walls was OCcu-
a pied by the great assembly which had
0 met there. while others took advantage of
e every coign of vantage to witness the
:. proceedings-some gazing through the
= ruined windows or standing on mounds
e of fallen moss-covered stone.
The Bishop OF Bristol Dr. Browne)
was the preacher on this historic occas-
ion. He dwelt chiefly on the ancient his
tory of Glastonbury The owner Of GIas-
tonbury Abbey, Mr.. Stanley Austin, was
most courteous TO the American Bishops
u and since then he has taken particular
= interest in the welfare Of the Diocese OF
5, Washington"
Il When Mount st. AIban, the beautiful
S wooded height overlooking this city, was
purchased for the site Of the Cathedral
h of Washington, Bishop Satterlee wrote t.
a Mr.. Austin to acquaint him with the fact
e About year later Mr. Austin, after con
= sultation with the Bishop Of Bath and
= Wells dn whose diocese Glastonbury is
situated and the diocesan architect
I most generously made the present OF
y twenty stones from the old abbey 10 the
o Cathedral at Washington for the express
O purpose Of erecting Bishops chair. The
i | cost of the completion and erection OF
this chair has been borne by person IL
the Episcopal Diocese Of Washington who
unknown.
r NOT KILLED BY POISON.