Richard and Leicester
Richard and Leicester
Hi to everyone. I've been following this forum for several months but have never posted. My name is Kay Wade, and I live in California. I've long be interested in the Plantagenets, and Richard in particular. Of course I have no vote in what happens to Richard, but I'm pulling for Leicester. I understand sentimental feelings about York, but I suspect that once he became king he'd have expected to end up in Westminster or Windsor.
Leicester Cathedral has an established connection to Richard. They've had a memorial to him since 1980, when a large tablet was placed in the chancel floor. They keep a portrait of Richard nearby. Every year they host a memorial service on the Sunday nearest to August 22.
They have come up with a stunning design for the tomb. As it happens, the cathedral has for years been planning major renovation. It's only because they were already planning major changes to the fabric of the cathedral that they were able to adapt the plans to create a special space for Richard's tomb.
The memorial is quite elegant and is prominently located in the heart of the cathedral. The Dean of Leicester Cathedral discusses the plans in a video that can be accessed from the cathedral website. (On the homepage, just below the welcome from the Dean, there's a heading "Latest News." The second heading below that is "A Video Update from the Dean." He speaks very respectfully of Richard and talks about the honor of providing the final resting place for the king. The website also provides sketches of how the proposed memorial will look in place in the cathedral. It's very beautiful.
The situation is a bit tentative because the court case isn't settled yet. However, a major project like preparing a tomb and a memorial service for a king can't be thrown together at the last minute. They've had to start work while keeping their fingers crossed that their efforts won't go in vain. As I said, I'm pulling for Leicester. York Minster is so spectacular that any one tomb can get overwhelmed by all the surrounding splendor. On the other hand, Leicester is planning an elegant memorial, has commissioned two stained glass windows, and is developing an educational area with information on his life. As I mentioned, they've been honoring him for over thirty years.
The cathedral grounds are being re-landscaped, and the city of Leicester plans to move their statue of Richard to the new Cathedral Gardens. Just across the Gardens from the cathedral there will be access to the city's new Richard III museum. All of this will provide a good opportunity for visitors to see Richard's story told in a respectful way. The museum will naturally charge a fee, but there will be no charge for access to the cathedral or to Cathedral Gardens.
Leicester plans a whole week of activities leading up to the memorial service, and the Richard III Society will be planning some of the events. Early in the week Richard's coffin will be formally received at the cathedral by the Dean. Richard will then lie in state for several days while people have an opportunity to pay their respects. The cathedral has commissioned a textile artist to design and create a pall to cover the coffin.
The Franciscans would have conducted a requiem mass for Richard at the time of his burial, but it was necessarily a low-key event. This time round Leicester Cathedral is planning a service suitable for a king – high-ranking clergy, fancy vestments, organ, choir, royalty, government officials – all the trappings. It comes rather late, of course, but the timing is good. A lot of people are now open to taking a new look at Richard's story.
I think Leicester's plans for the cathedral historic area will provide a wonderful opportunity for people to get a new view of Richard. And from listening to the Dean speak about the king and about the sanctity of Christian burial, I can't imagine the cathedral will allow access to Richard's body once he's safely reinterred. I don't think the University's appalling conduct should counter the fact that Leicester Cathedral has an established history of honoring Richard and treating him with respect and that they are planning an elegant memorial that is very prominently located in the church. I'm inclined to think that Leicester museum/cathedral/garden combination provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn about Richard.
Greetings to all,
Kay Wade
Re: Richard and Leicester
Hi to everyone. I've been following this forum for several months but have never posted. My name is Kay Wade, and I live in California. I've long be interested in the Plantagenets, and Richard in particular. Of course I have no vote in what happens to Richard, but I'm pulling for Leicester. I understand sentimental feelings about York, but I suspect that once he became king he'd have expected to end up in Westminster or Windsor.
Leicester Cathedral has an established connection to Richard. They've had a memorial to him since 1980, when a large tablet was placed in the chancel floor. They keep a portrait of Richard nearby. Every year they host a memorial service on the Sunday nearest to August 22.
They have come up with a stunning design for the tomb. As it happens, the cathedral has for years been planning major renovation. It's only because they were already planning major changes to the fabric of the cathedral that they were able to adapt the plans to create a special space for Richard's tomb.
The memorial is quite elegant and is prominently located in the heart of the cathedral. The Dean of Leicester Cathedral discusses the plans in a video that can be accessed from the cathedral website. (On the homepage, just below the welcome from the Dean, there's a heading "Latest News." The second heading below that is "A Video Update from the Dean." He speaks very respectfully of Richard and talks about the honor of providing the final resting place for the king. The website also provides sketches of how the proposed memorial will look in place in the cathedral. It's very beautiful.
The situation is a bit tentative because the court case isn't settled yet. However, a major project like preparing a tomb and a memorial service for a king can't be thrown together at the last minute. They've had to start work while keeping their fingers crossed that their efforts won't go in vain. As I said, I'm pulling for Leicester. York Minster is so spectacular that any one tomb can get overwhelmed by all the surrounding splendor. On the other hand, Leicester is planning an elegant memorial, has commissioned two stained glass windows, and is developing an educational area with information on his life. As I mentioned, they've been honoring him for over thirty years.
The cathedral grounds are being re-landscaped, and the city of Leicester plans to move their statue of Richard to the new Cathedral Gardens. Just across the Gardens from the cathedral there will be access to the city's new Richard III museum. All of this will provide a good opportunity for visitors to see Richard's story told in a respectful way. The museum will naturally charge a fee, but there will be no charge for access to the cathedral or to Cathedral Gardens.
Leicester plans a whole week of activities leading up to the memorial service, and the Richard III Society will be planning some of the events. Early in the week Richard's coffin will be formally received at the cathedral by the Dean. Richard will then lie in state for several days while people have an opportunity to pay their respects. The cathedral has commissioned a textile artist to design and create a pall to cover the coffin.
The Franciscans would have conducted a requiem mass for Richard at the time of his burial, but it was necessarily a low-key event. This time round Leicester Cathedral is planning a service suitable for a king – high-ranking clergy, fancy vestments, organ, choir, royalty, government officials – all the trappings. It comes rather late, of course, but the timing is good. A lot of people are now open to taking a new look at Richard's story.
I think Leicester's plans for the cathedral historic area will provide a wonderful opportunity for people to get a new view of Richard. And from listening to the Dean speak about the king and about the sanctity of Christian burial, I can't imagine the cathedral will allow access to Richard's body once he's safely reinterred. I don't think the University's appalling conduct should counter the fact that Leicester Cathedral has an established history of honoring Richard and treating him with respect and that they are planning an elegant memorial that is very prominently located in the church. I'm inclined to think that Leicester museum/cathedral/garden combination provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn about Richard.
Greetings to all,
Kay Wade
