St Albans Cathedral II
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Author : William Morris

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      Though the Committee for the restoration of St Albans Cathedral have determined to
      alter that church by putting a high-pitched roof on the nave in the place of the
      present flat one, the Committee of our Society cannot give up all hope that the
      public in general may yet interest itself in the matter, and refuse to support a
      scheme regarded by so many archaeologists as rash and destructive: in this hope we
      beg the favor of space in your columns to enable us to protest once more against
      what at the least we must call a dangerous alteration of an ancient and famous
      building.
    
    
      Into the artistic matter of the relative advantage of ahigh or a low roof in the
      abstract, and the respective merits of the earlier or later styles represented at
      St Albans, we do not wish to enter, conceiving that both this as well as the
      archaeological point of dispute as to whether the church once had a high-pitched
      roof is beside the question: the point that we wish to lay before the public is
      that the church is already covered with a roof which can be repaired so as to be
      thoroughly substantial without risking the stability of the walls, and without
      altering the architectural character of the building, or making it other than it
      has grown to be through a long period of interesting history: of that history the
      present roof is a genuine part; it conceals or injures nothing more artistic or
      splendid than itself; the long unbroken line of parapet of mixed materials fitted
      to this roof must be allowed by everyone to hold its place among strong and
      remarkable architectural effects, the loss of any one of which would be a loss to
      the variety and interest of art. To replace this roof with a high-pitched one is an
      undertaking involving so much expense that the Restoration Committee shrink from
      the task of raising money to carry out the work with proper materials, and propose
      to use deal and slate instead of the present oak and lead. If this is done it will
      lay on the future guardians of St Albans a heavy burden of expenses for the repair
      of such perishable substitutes: but whatever material is used, the proposed new
      roof will involve possible danger to the fabric of the walls, and certain change in
      some of their architectural features, such as the parapets for instance: nor can we
      hide from ourselves that under cover of these necessary (and in any case
      regrettable) changes, the mistaken zeal of the restorers will probably lead to
      quite unnecessary changes most destructive to the artistic and historical interest
      of the building. We fear, in short, that it will end in the entire modernizationof
      this great monument; a result which we are sure the public in general, even that
      portion of it which is not specially interested in archaeology, will heartily
      regret.
    
    
      With this fear in our minds we wish to appeal to the public to notice that the
      opinion of archaeologists and artists is at least divided on the matter; we wish to
      point out to it that the risk of loss to the nation through possibly mistaken
      alteration is greater out of all proportion to its advantages than the risk
      incurred by possibly mistaken inaction. If the fabric of St Albans Abbey is
      watchfully, constantly and reverently repaired, it will not be too late, when the
      views of our Society are proved to be wrong beyond all question, to put a
      high-pitched roof on the nave; or indeed to pull down the whole church and rebuild
      it: but if the proposed alteration take place, and it be found some few years hence
      that our views are reasonable, as we confidently think it will be, then indeed it
      will be all too late for reparation, and no regrets will wish back the inimitable
      work of our forefathers, which our rashness and egotism will have destroyed
      forever.
    
    
      Unpublished letter to the Times, 26 August 1878. 
    


     From : Marxists.org

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     St Albans Cathedral II -- Added : February 20, 2021

     St Albans Cathedral II -- Updated : January 07, 2022

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