The Milbank Choir
In preparation for the Chapel’s artistic zenith in the Milbank Choir, notice the
small windows dedicated to the book of Psalms that lead the viewer in. These include
windows depicting Psalm 147, 148, 150; Psalm 107; Psalm 22 and 23; and Psalm 91.
Also serving as preparation are the vividly decorated pulpit and lectern,
both imported from northern France and dating to the sixteenth (pulpit) and seventeenth
(lectern) centuries.
Entering the Choir one notices an assortment of intricately carved pews,
which took over one hundred expert carvers over one year to produce. Beautifully
anticipating the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that “they shall beat their swords
into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4), the pews in the main nave were made out of wood
intended for Civil War gun-carriages. Likewise remarkable is the fact that the
wood in the Milbank Choir comes from Sherwood Forest, some of which may
date back to the time of Robin Hood.
The carved figures reflect the intended seating arrangement during a Chapel
ceremony. In the front where the choir would seat are (north side) Ptolemy (view),
Pythagoras (view) and St. Gregory (view) and (south side) Orpheus (view), Cecelia (view), and St. Ambrose (view) – all figures with a connection to music. Behind them where
professors would sit are (south side) Aristotle (view), King Alfred (view), William of Wyckeham (view), and (north side) Thomas Aquinas (view), Charlemagne (view), and Bede (view) – all noted scholars. Behind the Holy Table is a stunningly carved wooden
facade containing an ecumenical message. On the north are Catholic
saints Gregory and Augustine of Canterbury and above them St. Peter
and St. Columba. On the south are Protestant luminaries John Knox and
Jonathan Edwards, and above them John Wycliffe and John Calvin.
Such an assortment recalls the words written in promotion of the Chapel,
“With Christianity split asunder into so many
doctrinal and denominational fragments, we need some massive monuments to its
holistic heritage… creating a panorama of the unfolding Christian narrative.”
32Also don’t miss the exotic carved angels with raised wings just
below the Great East Window. The entire Choir in fact seems to be divided
in half, Catholic north and Protestant south, stitched together by the Great
West Window of love.
