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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.
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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.
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