TQ1906 : Lancing College Chapel - East end
taken 9 years ago, near to Brighton City Airport, West Sussex, England
Lancing College is a Christian foundation in the Anglican tradition founded in 1848 by the remarkable Nathaniel Woodward ( Wikipedia: Link ). It remains a highly successful and respected independent school, and still has a strong religious emphasis, with attendance at Chapel compulsory for all its c.550 pupils aged between 13 and 18, which these days includes about 40% girls. Originally the school was only open to boys, and the staff had to be single, but girls were admitted in 1970.
The school's own website here: Link
The college has some outstanding buildings, most notably the dramatic EH Grade I listed Link Chapel. This tour de force of Victorian Gothic architecture was designed by R H Carpenter in 1868 in the C13th French Gothic style - highly unusual in Britain, though Cf. Arundel Cathedral Link just a few miles distant.
Interestingly, the Master Builder of this Chapel was William Blackford Woodard, the third son of the founder, Nathaniel Woodard.
On entering the nave of the chapel, its most noticeable feature is its soaring height - about 90' (27m) to the top of the vaults. The external height of the building is c. 50m (160'). Turning back to look westwards, the next remarkable feature is the giant Rose Window, which at 32' diameter is the largest in Britain; while the building as a whole is the largest school chapel anywhere in the world.
Although the Chapel is the undoubted star of the college, the academic buildings are very fine too - with three of them being listed by English Heritage, viz.
The Great School - Grade II* Link
The East & West Quadrangles - Grade II* Link
Fields House - Grade II Link