Our festival visits took us the the Museum and Chapel at Bar Convent.
The Bar Convent is England’s oldest convent, founded in 1686 and still active with
a resident religious community. It was established as a school for girls, and the
fine 18th century buildings now house a Museum, Library & Archives. It also operates as a conference/training centre and hotel.
The chapel was built in 1769 under Reverend Mother Ann Aspinal, by Thomas Atkinson. Because the laws against Catholics were still in force, various precautions were taken: the magnificent neo-classical dome is hidden from the outside by a pitched roof; the only windows are onto a private garden; there are a number of exits and a priest’s hiding hole.
The altar was newly made for the bi-centenary in 1969. It was adapted for the new liturgy following the Second Vatican Council, but incorporates the Pelican in her Piety (symbolic of the Blessed Sacrament) and the heads of the cherubs from Atkinson’s altar.
@silverhorn Thank you. This is the last of our mini series as we set up set up certain rules for us as a family to obey when doing 365. We do return to York and its history fairly often - we can't resist as we live with such a valuable resource. Katharine
@angelat Thanks. I can understand why you thought that. Although I find the reredos impressive its not really to my taste. Fairly typical of its period though. Katharine
I like the history, thanks for sharing it!