The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 58
Vestry
Chancel
Organ
Antichapel/
Choir
Side Chapel
By his own account, Walgate
approached the chapel design
with three main informants:
1 The overall rectangular
proportion is derived from the
Vesica Piscis shape. In Euclidean
geometry, which originated in
the 3rd century BC, this shape
is created by the intersection of
two circles of equal radius, with
the centre of each circle located
on the circumference of the other.
The Vesica Piscis holds significant
mathematical and spiritual
meaning, having been employed
in art and religion throughout
history. The rectangle formed
by this intersection maintains
a constant ratio of √3 – or
approximately 1.732 – which
was reflected in the rectangular
plan of the new chapel.
2 The plan arrangement would
be based on two early Christian
churches. The first was the Church
of Theotokos Pammakaristos,
a Middle Byzantine (843-1204)
construction, which was built
in Constantinople around the
turn of the 12th century. (The
church was converted into the
Fethiye Mosque, without major
structural alterations, in 1591;
54 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
Constantinople was recognised
globally as Istanbul from 1930.)
The second was the Church of
the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki,
northern Greece, a Late Byzantine
(1261-1453) construction, built
in the early 14th century.
Both churches have a plan
form of a Greek cross, also known
as a cross-in-square naos (nave),
which provides clear sightlines
to the altar from anywhere in the
church. This contrasted with the
more conventional church plan
derived from the Roman basilicas,
which Walgate rejected. The rows
of columns or arches between the
nave and the side aisles of such
a plan would have obscured the
view of the altar, and the distance
from a back row to the altar would
have been too great, given the
planned capacity.
3 The chapel would be completed
in its final form so that it could
accommodate the anticipated
very large congregations.
Architect’s drawing of the new chapel, 1922. The Brooke Chapel is to the left.
IMAGES COURTESY OF GEOFF DE WET, CRAIG WATSON (1979S), BISHOPS, WELLINGTON COLLEGE, WIKICOMMONS
The Vesica Piscis rectangle (above left) is the foundational element in the plan for the Memorial Chapel (above centre);
its plan fits exactly into the Vesica Piscis rectangle when overlaid. The plan of the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos
(above right, pictured here to the same scale) was one of two that informed the plan arrangement of the chapel.
