|
|
A Millennium Gift to Rochester Cathedral
The Provincial Grand Master, the Right Worshipful Brother John Bonomy OBE.JP, some time ago invited his Brethren within the Province to put forward suggestions as to the manner in which the Millennium might be celebrated. Several sound ideas were presented to the Provincial Grand Master and his Executive. In particular, one imaginative suggestion was that the Province might respond to a financial appeal by the Dean and Chapter of Rochester for the creation of a Baptistry adorned with an appropriate fresco within the embrasure in the North Nave Transept. Further discussions took place. Most significantly it was agreed with the Provincial Grand Master of West Kent, the Right Worshipful Brother William Bryan, that as the Diocese of Rochester embraces both Provinces of East and West Kent this would be a joint project undertaken by all the Masons of Kent. The sum of £20,000 was donated by each Province, which, converted into a paid covenant, provides a magnificent donation of approximately £50,000. Drafts of the proposed fresco by the artist Sergei Fyodorov were subsequently sent out to each Province by the Dean, the Very Reverend Edward Shotter, who has taken a great personal interest in the objective. Sergei Fyodorov, a leading Russian iconographer now resident in England, is a person whom the Dean considers understands the spirituality required and who possesses a spirituality of his own. His work, which has been exhibited on many occasions, is considered to have a continuity of style between paintings found in western Europe and current paintings in eastern Europe. It is considered that his work and the design of the fresco (illustrated here) will make a major contribution to ecclesiastical mural painting in this country. Some of his work can be seen at the restored Danilov Monastery, the headquarters of the Moscow Patriarchate, two icons in the Nave of Westminster Abbey and nine icons in Winchester Cathedral. The artist does not seek to impose Russian or Orthodox spirituality but to express the spirituality inherent in the Diocese of Rochester. Following the statutory requirements of submitting the full proposal to the Cathedrals' Fabric Commission for England, the concept has been warmly received and approved, particularly noting the 'magnificent benefaction by the Masonic Provinces of East and West Kent to meet the cost of the fresco'. Rochester Cathedral has one of the finest Norman Naves in this country and the fresco in the North Nave Transept will complement this architectural style. So much English Romanesque mural painting has been lost, not least at Rochester - the second oldest See - that this fresco will be a significant step in the continuing process of beautifying the interior and enhancing the worship in the Cathedral. The fresco, as can be seen from the illustration, has Baptismal themes - the baptism of Jesus by St John the Baptist; the baptism of King Ethelbert (who gave the land on which the Cathedral is built) by St Augustine of Canterbury; and with the baptism of some two thousand Anglo Saxons. Church art is accessible at all times. The fresco would thus be seen by thousands of visitors to the Cathedral (including each year some 20,000 school children and students who attend structured teaching visits) and by individual pilgrims and worshippers. This gives some indication of the likely substantial impact and effect, and not least of all, much national interest which the fresco will receive. The Christian catechism teaches us that the sacrament is 'an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace'. This is a philosophy which is mirrored by all Masons in our fraternity worldwide and which reminds us of the tenets of the Craft. This splendid contribution by the Masons of Kent is a wonderful opportunity for practising those tenets as a lasting memorial and even more appropriate in that Rochester, like so many other Cathedrals subsequently built, was the home for many, many years of the Operative Masons. To this day, many masons' 'marks' can be seen in the Cathedral. We can look forward with eagerness to the completion of the work (which will be video recorded through its various stages as this particular style of work as undertaken is rare), and to the formal Service of Dedication some time during the year 2000. All the Masons of Kent can be justly proud to be publicly associated with this important Millennium project. Charity, ever lovely in itself, is one of the brightest jewels that can adorn the whole of our Masonic profession. . . Michael R Bailey Deputy Grand Superintendent.
SEPTEMBER 2001 Update:- After a considerable period of perceived inactivity, the Millennium Project for East and West Kent Provinces, namely the Rochester Cathedral Fresco, is now making real progress. As previously reported, £20,000 was donated by the Masonic Provinces of East and West Kent, which when converted into a paid covenant provides a sum of approximately £50,000 to cover the cost. Further to these donations, a final enquiry was made as to whether or not the two Provinces would be able to meet the cost of the unexpected plaster work (hereunder referred to). This request has been met so as to enable the whole of the work to be undertaken by a single benefactor. The grossed up donation now stands at approximately £77,000. A major project of this nature, where the enhancement of an ancient building of such architectural significance is the principal objective, is wrought with inherent problems. The nature of such problems cannot be fully conceived until commencement of the work. In protecting the existing fabric of the Cathedral, the Dean and Chapter have a statutory duty to conduct a full survey of all aspects of work undertaken. During the early stages, scaffolding was erected in order to repair the masonry architraves to the embrasure. In the course of the preparatory work, traces of medieval paintings were discovered. This necessitated a consultation with the Cathedral Surveyor of the Fabric who recorded the findings for the historical archives of the building. Thankfully there was no such trace of the painting within the embrasure itself. The scaffolding then had to be dismantled in order that a physical inspection of the floor of the transept could be carried out. This was to ascertain the load bearing requirements for the font. During the course of these investigations, a late 17th early 18th century burial vault was discovered. Again, an inspection and recording was carried out by the Cathedral Surveyor. Following on from this, the embrasure wall had to be prepared in order for the particular kind of plaster compound to be applied in readiness for the painting. This was an extremely important element of the work to be executed and required enquiries to be made in Russia and Italy. This special compound has now been fully applied. Painting in this true fresco style, relies on the carbonation of the slaked lime in the plaster to bind the pigments to the surface. This irreversible chemical reaction occurs from the surface inwards. Very few pigments are suitable for use in true fresco. Most are either incompatible or require an organic binder for the required optical effects. This work has to retain its colour and vibrancy for a considerable number of years, hence the great importance placed on this particular stage of the work. During this period, the artist, Sergei Fyodorov, a leading Russian iconographer, produced, in his studio within the Cathedral Precincts, life size draft cartoons of the characters to be portrayed in the Fresco. This was the preparatory stage prior to pinpricking them to the embrasure wall and sketching out the human forms of the figures. The description of the process thus far illustrates the considerable amount of work which has been undertaken and perhaps is not readily recognised or appreciated as an integral part of the execution of the Fresco. Sergei has now painted, as a test piece, his first human form on the well prepared wall. He now requires the painting to rest and dry out for a period of at least eight weeks before satisfying himself that the plaster compound is of the required standard for the whole of the work. Thereafter, and subject to the test piece proving satisfactory in all respects, it is hoped that the artist will be able to proceed further with the whole of the undertaking at the beginning of September 2001. It is hoped that this will lead to a completion, in principle, by the end of the current year. The artist is committed to excellence and the detailed work undertaken so far provides evidence of this commitment. Preliminary arrangements are in hand with regard to the special Service of Dedication to take place in the Cathedral. The Dean will be liaising with the Provincial Grand Masters of both Provinces. It is also pleasing to learn that an anthem by John Tavener (who composed the 'Song to Athena' for the thanksgiving service for the late Princess Diana) has been commissioned for the service of dedication. The Dean of Rochester, the Very Reverend Edward Shotter has accepted the Provincial Grand Masters invitation to attend the Provincial Officers Mess to be held on Thursday 18th October at the Winter Gardens, Margate. He will be given the opportunity of addressing the Mess after lunch. This should be a most enjoyable in informative occasion at which it is hoped that many Provincial Officers will be in attendance so that all Lodges and Holy Royal Arch Chapters can be fully represented. All of the Brethren and their families of both Provinces have much to look forward in the forthcoming celebration of this marvellous Millennium Project. Michael R Bailey Deputy Grand Superintendent.
OCTOBER 2001 Update:- NO RUSH FOR COMPLETION OF FRESCO Members who were attended the Provincial Officers Mess on 18th October 2001 will have heard our guest speaker the Dean of Rochester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Edward Shooter, talk about the progress of the Fresco. Much of what he covered at the meeting complemented the article in the September edition of 'The Provincial' by WBro Michael Bailey Deputy Grand Superintendent. Clearly the complicated technicalities and the logistics involved in this major project are probably more than was readily anticipated at the onset. It was, however, a most interesting and informative talk. It gave the Brethren present the opportunity to meet the Dean and, as a consequence, get nearer to this wonderful millennium offering from all the Freemasons of Kent. It was reassuring that the Dean and the Provincial Grand Master shared the view that it is more important to get the project right that to be worrying too much about when it will be completed. It is hoped that the upper part showing the baptism of Christ by St John the Baptist will be completed this year and the lower part showing the Baptism of King Ethelbert of Kent next year. |
|
The
Province of East Kent is blessed with two fine Cathedrals within
its Masonic boundaries - Canterbury, the first great See (an area
under the authority of a Bishop or Archbishop) and Rochester.
This 'little sister' as it is affectionately referred to by Canterbury,
was founded in the year 604. The year 2004 has great significance
for both Rochester, celebrating the 1400th anniversary of its
foundation, and the Province of East Kent, celebrating the Masonic
Trust for Girls and Boys Festival with a target of £5,000,000.