Bishop Edward King's chasuble
The Bishop of Lincoln John Saxbee is wearing a glorious chasuble that was made for his predecessor Edward King, who was Bishop of Lincoln between 1885 and 1910. Glorious cream damask powdered with neo-medieval motifs in coloured silk and velvet orphreys with goldwork. Who's it by? I'll hazard a guess that it's a Bodley design, embroidered by Watts. Bodley did some other work for King, including a succesful conversion of the buttery and pantry of the medieval bishops palace into a glorious chapel.
Incidentally that is me to the Bishop of Lincoln's right, shortly after I was ordained to the priesthood. Needless to say the chasuble was a tad distracting during the proceedings!
Incidentally that is me to the Bishop of Lincoln's right, shortly after I was ordained to the priesthood. Needless to say the chasuble was a tad distracting during the proceedings!
Comments
Great picture of you in a real English surplice. Very medieval!
The set belonged to the Dean who was himself Dutch. I think he took it with him when he left. I have always wondered what happened to it.
Not a Bodley design according to David Gazeley of Watts & Co - an authority on these matters. He wrote in reply to an email of mine re this chasuble as follows:
However, I do not think that in this instance this is Bodley's work. Bodley had a very recognisable way of designing the Sacred Monogram and this does not accord with the chasuble's motifs. Similarly the pomegranate designs are not quite his.
I would stick my neck out, however, and say that the vestment does put me in mind of the work of the Rev'd Ernest Geldart, who provided many designs for the Sisters of St Margaret at East Grinstead.
I would be much happier with an attribution to Geldart rather than Bodley.
So probably designed by Geldart, and possibly made by the East Grinstead Sisters.
Gordon Plumb
Gordon Plumb