HOME       ART & ARCHITECTURE       CATHEDRAL LIFE       MUSIC       EVENTS       SHOP     TEXT ONLY   LISTEN TO MUSIC
  VISITOR INFORMATION       CHILDREN'S AREA       HOW YOU CAN HELP      SITE GUIDE  

Art & Architecture > Cathedral Tour >



Chapel of St Andrew and the Saints of Scotland

St Andrew was a fisherman, the brother of St Peter, one of the first disciples to be called by the Lord. He is represented on the west wall, in his traditional colours of blue and white; opposite him is the diagonal cross on which he was crucified. On either side of this cross are the words spoken by St Andrew at his martyrdom.

The emblem of Scotland, the thistle, can be found in the Chapel decoration.
Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland: most of the marbles in the Chapel come from Scotland, and the thistle - the emblem of Scotland - can be seen on top of the Chapel grille. Either side of the altar are reliefs of four Scottish saints - Ninian, Margaret, Bride and Columba, while the names of other saints of Scotland are carved around the walls of the Chapel.

The furniture of the Chapel is especially fine. Superbly crafted in ebony and ivory, the stalls and kneelers are the work of Ernest Gimson, a leader in the Arts and Crafts movement.

The decoration of the Chapel follows the tradition of Byzantine art, recalling the fact that St Andrew is also patron saint of Greece. The central lamp, and the grille, include representations of the ostrich egg, the Byzantine symbol of eternity.


A reliquary of St Andrew is found in the altar decoration.
Above the arches are represented six towns associated with St Andrew and his relics. Constantinople (of which he was the first bishop) is shown with the great church of Haghia Sophia - one of the main inspirations for Westminster Cathedral. To the left is Bethsaida, birthplace of St Andrew, and to the right Patras, where he was exiled. The opposite wall shows
St Andrews, Scotland, Amalfi, in southern Italy, where his body was taken, and the basilica of St Ambrose in Milan, which contains relics of the Saint. In this Chapel, relics of St Andrew are housed behind the small celtic cross above the altar.


Fish and other sea creatures can be found in the Chapel floor
St Andrew's trade as fisherman is recalled in the mosaic of the ceiling, designed to resemble fish scales, and by the floor, where a river is depicted meandering alongside fish and sea-life.

Lord, we pray for
the people of Scotland
Bless them with peace
and prosperity.
Help us all, like St Andrew,
To hear Jesus' call to be his disciple,
And to make his gospel known in our world


Continue the tour of the Cathedral >

< Previous section


The byzantine design is much in evidence in the Chapel.


St Andrew the fisherman depicted in the wall mosaic.






 

© Westminster Cathedral 2002   |   Credits  |   Glossary   |   Privacy and Legal

Westminster Cathedral   42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW   United Kingdom
Email us Tel: 020 7798 9055   Fax: 020 7798 9090   Registered Charity Number 233699