Fix this text
The Bulletin
Fix this text“The Bulletin,” Vol. 63.-No. 3279
Fix this textWednesday, December 16, 1942
Fix this textPrice 6d.
Fix this textRegistered at the General Post Office, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, for Transmission by Post as a Newspaper.
Fix this textSeppelts
Fix this textWELLS’ CATHEDRAL.
Fix this textTHE ancient,' but magnificent, Somerset city of Wells, lying
Fix this textat the foot of those Mendip hills to which Chesterton once
Fix this textmade happy and poetic reference, is but six miles from
Fix this textGlastonbury, “the home of Christianity in Britain,” and some
Fix this text19 or 20 miles south-west of Bath by rail, somewhat less
Fix this text“by air.” Wells without its cathedral, one of the noblest
Fix this textand most magnificent of all the secular churches of England,
Fix this textwould be merely a small country town, with agriculture as
Fix this textits mainstay and other industries represented by breweries,
Fix this textflour and paper mills, on a small scale. It is a venerable burgh
Fix this textall the same, being first chartered by King John, of Magna
Fix this textCharta fame, in 1202 and elevated to the position of municipal
Fix this textborough by Queen Elizabeth. From the time of Edward I
Fix this textdown to 1867 it returned two members to Parliament and was,
Fix this textin fact, a typical “pocket-borough” in pre-reform days. It is,
Fix this texthowever, in the ecclesiastical field its importance is and “always
Fix this texthas” been of the first order. The name is derived from
Fix this textnumerous hot springs in the vicinity known by that of
Fix this textScotland’s patron saint. In this locality, so long ago as the
Fix this textyear 704, a collegiate church was founded. During Saxon
Fix this texttimes it was one of the most important towns in the Kingdom
Fix this textof Wessex, and in 905 was made the seat of a bishopric by
Fix this textKing Edward the Elder, when its ecclesiastical status rapidly
Fix this textgrew. That growth was not unassociated with trouble. Some-
Fix this textwhere about 1091 Bishop John de Villule moved the see to
Fix this textBath, and for some time Wells’ ceased to be an Episcopal
Fix this textcity. This was none to the liking of clergy and laity in Wells,
Fix this textand serious trouble started, the secular clergy of Wells and
Fix this textthe “regulars” of Bath being the vanguards of the opposing
Fix this textforces. After many struggles it was in 1139 arranged, by
Fix this textway of a compromise, that the diocesan should take the title
Fix this textof “bishop of Bath and Wells,” which “remaineth unto this
Fix this textday,” and should be elected by delegates appointed partly by
Fix this textthe monks of Bath and partly by the canons of Wells. The
Fix this textfoundation attached to the Cathedral Church of Wells consisted
Fix this textof a college of secular canons of St. Augustine, governed by
Fix this texta dean, sub-dean, chancellors and other officials. The existing
Fix this textcathedral, illustrated, was begun by Bishop Joceline shortly
Fix this textafter his election to the episcopate in 1220, and the greater
Fix this textpart of the building was completed before his death in
Fix this text1244, indicating his lordship was possessed of great energy
Fix this textor driving-power. The eastern part of the church was first
Fix this texttaken in hand, the choir being consecrated for use long before
Fix this textthe completion of the nave, the western portion of which, with
Fix this textits superb series of statues in the fagade, was carried out from
Fix this text1250 to 1300. The upper half of the two western towers has
Fix this textnever been built. The noble and well-designed central tower,
Fix this text160 feet high, was built about 1340. The late Dr. J. Henry
Fix this textMiddleton, F.S.A., Slade Professor of Fine Art at Cambridge
Fix this textUniversity, a great authority, penned a glowing description
Fix this textof the cathedral almost 60 years ago, from which the following
Fix this textexcerpts are taken: “The whole church is a building of very
Fix this textexceptional splendour and beauty Its plan consists of a
Fix this textnave and two aisles with two short transepts, each with a
Fix this textwestern aisle and two eastern chapels. The choir and its
Fix this textaisles are of unusual length, and behind the high altar are
Fix this texttwo smaller transepts, beyond which is the very richly
Fix this textdecorated Lady Chapel, with an eastern semi-octagonal apse,
Fix this text...On the north of the choir is the octagonal chapter-house,
Fix this textthe vaulting of which springs from a slender central shaft.
Fix this textAs the church belongd to the secular clergy it was not neces-
Fix this textsary to place the chapter-house in its usual position by the
Fix this textcloister... .The oak stalls and bishops’ throne in the choir are
Fix this textmagnificent examples of fifteenth-century woodwork.... The
Fix this textgreat glory of the church and that which makes it unique
Fix this textamong the many splendid buildings of medieval England is
Fix this textthe wonderful series of sculptured figures which decorate the
Fix this textexterior of the west front—the work of English sculptors of
Fix this textthe latter part of the thirteenth century—a series which shows
Fix this textthat at this time England was, as far as the plastic art is
Fix this textconcerned, in no degree inferior of Germany and France, or
Fix this texteven Italy, if we except the work done by Niccola, the
Fix this textsculptor of the wonderful baptistry pulpit at Pisa. The whole
Fix this textof the fagade, 147 feet wide, is covered with this magnificent
Fix this textseries; there are nine tiers of single figures under canopies, over
Fix this text600 in number, mostly large life-size... .these represent angels,
Fix this textsaints, kings and queens of the Saxon, Norman and Plan-
Fix this texttagenet dynasties, and bishops and others who had been
Fix this textbenefactors to the see. There are also 48 reliefs with subjects
Fix this textfrom Bible history and immense representations of the Last
Fix this textJudgment and the Resurrection, the latter containing about
Fix this text150 figures. The whole composition is devised so as to
Fix this textpresent a comprehensive scheme of theology and history
Fix this textevidently thought out with much care and ingenuity.”
Fix this textGRAPE VINEGAR
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532744797
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved July 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532744797
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 26 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532744797>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 26 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532744797
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 63 No. 3279 (16 Dec 1942)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-532744797
| id=nla.obj-532744797
| access-date=26 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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