As you enter the North Tower doors and step into the narthex, turn around and look up. There you will see the sculptural frieze above. John Angel sculpted it. The carver is not known, but a good chance it was the Ardolino’s. They did much of John Angel’s work in the 1930’s. This area is currently not available to the public. Thanks to Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide, for paving the way for photo journalist Robert F. Rodriguez to take these detailed images of the John Angel friezes in the narthex.
Many of these are historical figures from the crusades. Tom Fedorek has noted Godfrey de Bouillon, Richard I, “The Lionhearted”, leader of the Third Crusade who reconquered Jerusalem, and Peter the Hermit.
Inside the South Portal
Just inside the south portal in the narthex is a second frieze sculpted by John Angel. Turn and look up. This one is drawn from pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The installation date was 1931.
Here again Tom Fedorek pointed out the Wife of Bath and some of the other pilgrims based on how Chaucer describes them in the Canterbury Tales. We have noted throughout Angel’s sculpture at the Cathedral that the historical and liturgical accuracy of his work is well informed.
This intricate work truly adds to the fact that John Angel was a gifted sculptor. If we can ever attribute these works definitively to the carver or carvers we will add that to this blog post.
The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian churches consisting of the entrance/vestibule . Traditionally, the narthex was a part of the church building but not considered part of the church proper.
The narthex is an enclosed space before arriving at the main worship place (the nave). Penitents and catechumens were not permitted to worship with other christians in the main worship space until they had completed orientation or reorientation to christian life. Today, this gathering place functions as an interface between the church and the world, a space for welcoming.
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- Many thanks to the combined efforts of Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide, and Robert F. Rodriguez, Photo Journalist and photo chronicler of the Cathedral for showcasing the John Angel friezes in the narthex.