St Alfege - history of the church
III : Damage to the church in 1941
During the Second World War, on the night of 19 March 1941, incendiary devices dropped by enemy planes lodged in the roof causing a blazing mass of timbers and molten lead to collapse into the nave. The destruction seemed complete but fortunately the walls and tower were undamaged. The 1552 organ console was left intact, protected by its casing, and it can still be seen today. Restoration of the entire church proved possible, though costly. The work was entrusted to Professor Richardson RA (later Sir Albert Richardson PRA) who determined to follow the principles laid down by Hawksmoor.
The first task was to collect from among the debris every surviving fragment of capitals, cornices and plaster mouldings and to make full-scale drawings of these relics. Where possible, the original materials have been reinstated but some new and excellent work had to be carefully blended in with the old.
- Woodwork
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All the old wood recovered was cleaned by a special process, and this treatment has produced the glorious warm tone of the oak which is now seen in all its beauty. Much of the original carving was attributed to Grinling Gibbons; one or two of the Corinthian capitals now surviving in the supporting pillars of the galleries may be from the hand of the master, and his work in the Chancel was preserved.
- Pulpit
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Pulpit The pulpit is entirely new and is a copy of that destroyed in 1941; for reasons of expense, it was not possible to reproduce all the elaborate carving of the original by Grinling Gibbons. The replica is a worthy example of modern craftsmanship.
- Royal Arms
- The Stuart Royal Arms are copied from fragments of the Coat of Arms destroyed in 1941; the supporters from the old Pew were salvaged, too, and are to be seen set on either side of the West arch.
- Ceiling and Roof
- One of the glories of the Hawksmoor design was the oval ceiling which was suspended from the tie-beams without additional support from the floor. The ceiling has been completely restored, and the oval enrichment accurately reproduced. The reconstruction of the ceiling required oak beams of 12 inches by 12 inches section; such timber was found at Hungerford in Berkshire, and 24-foot lengths were scarfed together in situ to form the six main 72-foot beams. This faithful reproduction of 18th century building technique is almost unparalleled.
- Chancel
- The main pilasters at the East end and the apse were originally painted by Sir James Thornhill who was also responsible for the work on the more famous Painted Hall of the neighbouring Royal Naval College. After the 1941 holocaust, it appeared that all Thornhill's work had been obliterated; but when the artist engaged on the restoration, Mr Glyn Jones, came to prepare the wall surfaces, he found that beneath the grime much of Thornhill's work remained on the pilasters. By minute study of Thornhill's other paintings, Mr Glyn Jones was able to reconstruct the exact technique Thornhill had employed and to discover the pigments he had used. It has thus been possible to restore the original paintings both of the pilasters and of the trophies in the middle of the side walls. The roof of the apse presented greater problems; the remains of this remarkable example of Thornhill's illusionist painting were fragmentary. In recreating this design, Mr Glyn Jones had to follow the masterly balancing of the tones of the original so that, from wherever one views the result, the shadows appear consistent and the illusion of relief work is complete.
- Wrought-iron work
- The wrought-iron work of the altar rails and of the gallery rails to the north and south of the altar are original. The designs are attributed to Jean Tijou whom Hawksmoor had met in connection with the great gates and screen for St Paul's Cathedral; unfortunately, the name of the smith who actually executed the work is unknown.
- Benefaction Boards
- The Benefaction Boards north and south of the chancel on the East Wall were first installed in the medieval church in 1707, three years before the fatal storm of 1710. They were transferred to the present church in 1718 and were hung on the staircases to the galleries. Their siting ensured their preservation in 1941. They can almost be said to sum up in themselves the post-Reformation history of the church. The first entry on the South Board records the establishment of Queen Elizabeth's College by William Lambard; this was the first public charity to be founded in England after the Reformation.
The College was rebuilt in 1817 and still stands on the original site opposite the subsequently erected Railway Station. In 1613 is recorded the foundation of Trinity Hospital by the Rt Hon Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton. The Hospital still flourishes on the riverfront just east of the Royal Naval College and provides for a Warden and 21 inmates. The name of John Roan appears in 1643 when he bequeathed his estate to teach and clothe poor boys; his school was rebuilt in 1926 on a site at the top of Maze Hill overlooking Greenwich Park. The foundation of the Royal Hospital by King William III and Queen Mary is recorded in 1694. On the opposite Board, the most notable entries are those in the years 1809/1815 when the Jubilee Almshouses were founded and endowed to commemorate the fiftieth year of the reign of King George III. These Almshouses in Greenwich High Road were rebuilt in 1974.
I : The early church
II : The building of the new church
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