THE LADY CHAPEL

Great mediaeval churches allowed for two places of honour to the east of the choir. The "feretory" immediately behind the sanctuary was reserved for the shrine of the patron saint, whilst beyond this, forming an eastern extension of the main building, would be the principal chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the creation by Scott of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the feretory at Downside, which had been intended for the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett, became an ambulatory carrying people behind the Blessed Sacrament chapel. It opens up into a flight of steps leading into the Lady Chapel.

The Lady Chapel was actually built before the choir thanks to the generous bequest of Madame Aurelia de Paiva. It was opened in 1888. In 1898 the chapel was redesigned under the supervision of Ninian Comper. It is a fine example of his work. A larger altar was put in place in the fifteenth century style with tester, roodscreen riddel posts and an alabaster-gilt reredos displaying scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary.

The altar frontal is specially woven French cloth of gold with unusual black orphreys in reference to the text on the upper part of the frontal (I am black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon).

The stained glass windows in the chapel are also by Ninian Comper and were put in place as funds became available over a period of 27 years from 1899. The windows show Old Testament figures who prefigure Jesus and Mary, scenes from the life of Mary, the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the three Marys of the New Testament.