Dr. Trevelyan's Da Vinci Conversation

Saturday, June 10, 2006

The Priory of Finchelsea, XXV

Llandaff Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Cardiff, is located in the little village of Llandaff, just outside the Welsh capital. During its long history it has suffered the ravanges of Owain Glyndwr, the elements, and the Luftwaffe, who dropped a number of bombs on it during the Second World War. Still, it is a majestic structure, if rather tiny for a cathedral (in this it is typical of Welsh Cathedrals, all of which are kind of tiny).
Lil Barton rather liked it. The mismatched towers on the West front, one in genuine 15th century Perpendicular Gothic, the other in the ornate and fanciful Victorian Gothic of J.P. Seddon, a somewhat eccentric Welsh architect who believed that the creation of his own personal version of Gothic was far more authentic than the mere aping of medieval styles. He had a point.
The party entered the cathedral through the great west door. Although it was the middle of the day, that cathedral was almost deserted, just a young man sitting at the souvenir desk reading an uplifting book in Welsh. Sumner looked around, an expression of senile satisfaction on his face.
"Aha!" he exclaimed. "Here we are! Look around! Centuries of history look down on us!"
Lil thought that what actually looked down on her was Epstein's 'Christ in Majesty', which she hated.
"Any reason we're in Cardiff? she asked suspiciously.
"The Priory of Finchelsea has a long connection with Cardiff. And wait until you see the Lady Chapel!"
"I can hardly wait," Lil muttered sarcastically under her breath. Arcos poked her.
"Do I detect unhappiness in your sweet voice, Lilian?"
"Sure. But Okay, I'll follow you."
She did, wishing she was somewhere else - like in her own garden at home.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home