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Jesus College |
The Misericords of Jesus College,
Cambridge.
Most of the misericords are copies by Pugin, created from fragments preserved in the Master’s Lodge
.Click to launch a description of the misericords of Jesus College, Cambridge
History of Jesus College, Cambridge
Although Jesus College was not founded until 1496, it is unique in as much as the chapel and other buildings date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Originally it was the Benedictine Convent of St Mary and St Radegund, which was dissolved by John Alcock, Bishop of Ely.
The Chapel was founded in 1157 and took until 1245 to complete, was cruciform in shape, the nave had both north and south aisles. A high, pitched roof was surmounted by a belfry and steeple, this collapsed in 1277. The chapel was also used as the parish church of St Radegund. Twice the chapel was ravaged by fire, 1313 and 1376.
When the college took over the precincts, the parish was renamed after the college as Jesus parish, with the churchyard still being used for burials, this however, was short lived, as by the middle of the 16th century Jesus parish was absorbed into that of All Saints.
The chapel was much modified, with the western two thirds of the nave being converted into college rooms.
The period after Henry VIII’s split from Rome until the restoration of the monarchy, was turbulent to say the least, and may best be read in the Official Jesus College website. Subsequent ages have brought much in the way of restoration to the chapel’s former glory.