Lambeth Palace: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Official London residenceArchbishop of theCanterbury's ArchbishopLondon of Canterburyresidence}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=SeptemberMay 20132024}}

While the original residence of the Archbishoparchbishop of Canterbury was in his [[episcopal see]], [[Canterbury|Canterbury, Kent]],<ref name="world and its people">{{cite book |last=Dunton |first=Larkin |title=The World and its People |url=https://archive.org/details/worldanditspeop05duntgoog |publisher=Silver, Burdett |year=1896 |page=[https://archive.org/details/worldanditspeop05duntgoog/page/n45 37]}}</ref> a site originally called the Manor of Lambeth or Lambeth House was acquired by the [[diocese]] around [[Anno Domini|AD]] 1200 and has since served as the archbishop's London residence. The site is bounded by [[Lambeth Palace Road]] to the west and [[Lambeth Road]] to the south, but unlike all surrounding land is excluded from the [[parish]] of [[Lambeth North (UK Parliament constituency)|North Lambeth]]. The garden park is [[listed building|listed]] and resembles [[Archbishop's Park]], a neighbouring public park; however, it was a larger area with a notable [[orchard]] until the early 19th century. The former church in front of its entrance has been converted to the [[Garden Museum]]. The south bank of the Thames along this reach, not part of historic London, developed slowly because the land was low and sodden: it was called [[Lambeth Marsh]], as far downriver as the present [[Blackfriars Road]]. The name "Lambeth" embodies ''"hithe"'', a landing on the river: archbishops came and went by water, as did [[John Wycliff]], who was tried here for [[heresy]]. In the [[Peasants' Revolt]] of 1381, the palace was attacked.

The oldest remaining part of the palace is the chapel which was built in the [[English Gothic architecture#Early English Gothic (late 12th–late 13th centuries)|Early English Gothic]] architectural style. [[Lollard]]s' Tower, which retains evidence of its use as a prison in the 17th century, dates from 1435 to 1440. The front is an early [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]] brick [[gatehouse]] built by [[Cardinal (CatholicismCatholic Church)|Cardinalcardinal]] [[John Morton (archbishop)|John Morton]] and completed in 1495. [[Reginald Pole|Cardinal Pole]] lay in state in the palace for 40 days after he died there in 1558. The [[ficus|fig]] tree in the palace courtyard is possibly grown from a slip taken from one of the ''White Marseille'' fig trees here for centuries (reputedly planted by Cardinal Pole). In 1786,<ref>[[Andrew Ducarel|Andrew Coltee Ducarel]], ''History and Antiquities of the Palace of Lambeth'', 1786 (as ''Biblioteca Topographica Britannica'', vol. II pt 5, 1790)</ref> there were three ancient figs, two "nailed against the wall" and still noted in 1826 as "two uncommonly fine... traditionally reported to have been planted by Cardinal Pole, and fixed against that part of the palace believed to have been founded by him. They are of the white Marseilles sort, and still bear delicious fruit. ...On the south side of the building, in a small private garden, is another tree of the same kind and age."<ref>Thomas Allen, ''The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Lambeth'' 1826:229, paraphrasing Ducarel.</ref> By 1882, their place had been taken by several massive offshoots.<ref>"It were a grave omission to pass over unnoticed the 'Lambeth fig-trees.' Two of extraordinary size, supposed to have been planted by Cardinal Pole, formerly stood near the east end of the old garden front: they have long ago died, but three or four thriving offshoots, now grown into venerable trees, may still be seen basking on the sunny side of the Great Hall" (John Cave-Browne, ''Lambeth palace and its associations'', 1882:310); "It was Cardinal Pole who is said to have planted the two fig-trees in Lambeth garden, which were still to be seen in 1806, while slips taken from the original plants are now flourishing trees." (Robert Sangster Rait and Caroline C. Morewood, ''English episcopal palaces (province of Canterbury)'', 1910:74)</ref> The notable orchard of the medieval period has somewhat given way to a mirroring public park adjoining and built-up roads of housing and offices. The palace gardens were [[Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England|listed grade II]] in October 1987.<ref name=NHLE1000818>{{NHLE|num=1000818|desc=Lambeth Palace |grade=II|access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref>

The [[great hall]] was completely ransacked, including the building material, by Cromwellian troops during the [[English Civil War]]. After the [[English Restoration|Restoration]], it was completely rebuilt by archbishopArchbishop [[William Juxon]] in 1663 (dated) with a late Gothic [[hammerbeam roof]]. The choice of a hammerbeam roof was evocative, as it reflected the High-Church Anglican continuity with the Old Faith (the King's ([[Charles II of England|Charles II]]) [[James II of England|brother]] was an avowed Catholic) and served as a visual statement that the [[English Interregnum|Interregnum]] was over. As with some Gothic details on University buildings of the same date, it is debated among architectural historians whether this is [[Gothic Revival architecture#Survival and revival|"Gothic survival"]] or an early work of the "Gothic Revival". The diarist [[Samuel Pepys]] recognised it as "a new old-fashioned hall".

Among the portraits of the archbishops in the Palacepalace are works by [[Hans Holbein the Younger|Hans Holbein]], [[Anthony van Dyck]], [[William Hogarth]] and Sir [[Joshua Reynolds]].{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

New construction was added to the building in 1834 by [[Edward Blore]] (1787–1879), who rebuilt much of [[Buckingham Palace]] later, in neo-Gothic style and it fronts a spacious quadrangle. The buildings form the home of the archbishop, who is ''regarded as the [[exfirst officioamong equals]]'' a member ofin the [[HouseAnglican of LordsCommunion]], and is regarded as the ''[[firstex among equalsofficio]]'' ina member of the [[AnglicanHouse Communionof Lords]].

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Image:Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge 1897.jpg|Map of 1897, showing Lambeththe Palacepalace acrossopposite the River Thamesriver from theWestminster [[Houses of Parliament]]Palace, with [[Lambeth Bridge]] and [[Westminster Bridge]] overcrossing the river.

Image:Microcosm of London Plate 048 - Lambeth Palace edited.jpg|The Guard Room

Image:'Lambeth Palace', c1685 MoL.jpg|Lambeth Palace from the south circa {{Circa|1685.}}

Within the palace precincts is '''Lambeth Palace Library''', the official library of the Archbishoparchbishop of Canterbury, and the principal repository of records of the [[Church of England]]. It describes itself as "the largest religious collection outside of the [[Vatican Library|Vatican]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/about-lambeth-palace |title=Lambeth Palace |website=The Archbishop of Canterbury |access-date=9 October 2020 }}</ref>

The library was founded as a public library by Archbishop [[Richard Bancroft]] in 1610, and was historically located within the main Palace complex. A new purpose-built library and repository opened in 2021. This is located at the far end of the Palace gardens, with its entrance on Lambeth Palace Road, and was designed by [[Wright & Wright Architects|Wright & Wright]]. In addition to the existing library collections, it houses the archival collections of various Church of England institutions formerly held at the '''Church of England Record Centre''' (opened 1989) in [[Bermondsey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NewHistory Libraryof Newsthe Library |publisher=Lambeth Palace Library |url=https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.orginfo/content/newabout-lambeth-palace-library/history-projectof-the-library/ |access-date=428 AprilJanuary 20202024 }}</ref>

The library contains an extensive collection of material relating to ecclesiastical history, including the archives of the archbishops dating back to the 12th century, and those of other church bodies and of various [[Anglican]] missionary and charitable societies. Manuscripts include items dating back to the 9th century. The library also holds over 120,000 printed books. In 1996, when [[Sion College]] Library closed, Lambeth Palace Library acquired its important holdings of manuscripts, pamphlets, and pre-1850 printed books.

* [[Lambeth Homilies]] (c.{{circa|1200}})

Immediately outside the gatehouse stands the former parish church of St Mary-at-Lambeth which was preserved by a campaign led by John and [[Rosemary Nicholson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Garden Museum |url=https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/the-museum/history/museum/ |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=Garden Museum}}</ref> The tower dates from 1377 (repaired in 1834); while the body of the church was rebuilt in 1851 to the designs of [[Philip Hardwick]].<ref name=NHLE1000818/> Older monuments were preserved, including the tombs of some of the gardeners and plantsmen [[John Tradescant the elder]] and [[John Tradescant the younger|his son of the same name]], and of Admiral [[William Bligh]]. St Mary's was deconsecrated in 1972, when the parish was absorbed into the surrounding parish of North Lambeth which has three active churches, the nearest being [[St Anselm's Church, Kennington]] Cross.<ref>[https://www.achurchnearyou.com/search/?lat=51.49&lon=-0.12 Map of North Lambeth parish] A Church Near You church finder -– [[Church of England]]</ref><ref>[http://www.achurchnearyou.com/lambeth-mission-st-mary/ Lambeth Mission St Mary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331133552/http://www.achurchnearyou.com/lambeth-mission-st-mary/ |date=31 March 2016 }} A Church Near You church finder -– [[Church of England]]</ref> The Museum of Garden History (now the [[Garden Museum]]) opened in the building in 1977, taking advantage of its Tradescant associations.

During the renovation works of 2016, a previously unknown crypt was discovered, containing 30 coffins.<ref name="crypt">{{cite news|last1=Brinkhurst-Cuff|first1=Charlie|title=Remains of five archbishops found near Lambeth Palace|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/16/remains-of-five-archbishops-discovered-near-lambeth-palace-canterbury|access-date=16 April 2017|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=16 April 2017}}</ref> Amongst these were those of five [[Archbishopsarchbishops of Canterbury]], including Canterbury—[[Richard Bancroft]], [[Thomas Tenison]], [[Matthew Hutton (archbishop of Canterbury)|Matthew Hutton]], [[Frederick Cornwallis]], and [[John Moore (archbishop of Canterbury)|John Moore]], as—as well as that of [[John Bettesworth]], [[Dean of the Arches]].

Lambeth Palace is home to the [[Community of Saint Anselm]], an [[Anglican religious order]] that is under the patronage of the Archbishoparchbishop of Canterbury.<ref name="Lodge2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.welby.launches.monastic.community.at.lambeth.palace/65148.htm |title=Archbishop Welby launches monastic community at Lambeth Palace |last=Lodge |first=Carey |date=18 September 2015 |publisher=[[Christian Today]] |language=en |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>

*{{Official website|https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/about-lambeth-palace}}

*[https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.orginfo/ Lambeth Palace Library official website]