New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
ELY CATHEDRAL.
WOnderfuI Structure NO7c Eight
Hundred Years Old.

This week at Ely, says writer in BLACK and
White" under date of October % has been COM
memorated the SO0th anniversary of the dedica-
ton Of the present building of Ely Cathedral,
when also took place the second translation Of
the body OF the founder. Etheldreda the Queen
Abbess, from the Convent Church
Many the legends and stories that cluster
around building like Ely Cathedral. which has
witnessed the nations history for more than
twelve centuries. and whose influence is seen to
this day in the speech of our country by the
word ''tawdry." Among the legends connected
with the life of St Etheldreda is that of Bryh-
stan. He in sickness pledged himself to a re-
ngious life recovery. but was thrown into
prison account OF his wealth. To him. as the
legend goes, after continual prayers to Ethel
dreda, the saints appear and the prison chains
are broken Queen Matilda, wife of Henry I,
wished to retain the iron collar, but this Bryh-
stan hangs on the shrine of Etheldreda when he
enters her monastery OF the Benedictine order at
Ely. There the chains seem to have remained
a cause for much reverence, and probably Of
superstition: while it became the custom of the
monks to give to pilgrims as memento of their
visit miniature shackles like those of Bryhstan-
These are the st Awdrey Chains" which later
degenerated into plated Gawdry t'Awdrey)
ribbons Hence the adjective was used for per-
sonal ornaments. snowy but common. and is
corruption OF the saints name-4Ethedrythe.
Etheldreda. Eldreda, Aldreda, st. Aldred. st.
Awdrey
The glory OF Ely Cathedral is the Gothic domo
and lantern, aptly styled st. Awdrey's Crown
This is that which makes the great minister of
the fens so utterly unlike any other church in
England, or, indeed. In Christendom both in the
stateIiness and the variety of it's outline
The lantern was the result OF catastrophe
constructive genius of man. that greatest
of the English cathedral builders of the four
teenth century, Alan dc Walsingham sacrfst
and afterward abbot of the foundation. On Feb
ruary Y. 1322, the old Norman central tower.
erected by Abbot Simeon just after the Con-
quest, fell the monks were returning from
the church to their dormitory. Alan is repre-
sented in the old records as being at first per-
picked and overwhelmed. not knowing which
way to turn himself or what TO do for the repair
alton of such a ruin; but, taking courage and
putting his whole trust in God he set his hand
to the work, clearing the spot with all possible
speed and with much labor and expense He
then measured out eight positions iii which the
eight stone columns stand. supporting,
the new Campdnile. These spots he caused to
dug out and examined until he had found the
solid rock Alan'S main object was to build IN
something that should be less likely to fall than
the traditional centre tower borne up by four
arches. CupolaS OF the East, as we'll towers
OF the West, formerly supported by four
arches, and SO could have greater span than
the four limbs gave The popularity Of the Ely
octagon is that the central space is far wider
than any of the four limbs, which. from other
points OF view. look vast. but sink into mere
adjuncts to the great central space