Watts Mortuary Chapel
Encyclopedia
The Watts Mortuary Chapel is a Gothic Revival chapel
and mortuary located in the village of Compton in Surrey
.
As a follower of the Home Arts and Industries Association
, set up by Earl Brownlow in 1885 to encourage handicrafts among the lower classes, when Compton Parish Council created a new cemetery
, local resident artist Mary Fraser-Tytler, the wife of Victorian era
painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts
, offered to design and build a new mortuary chapel. The chapel was the Wattses' contribution to this characteristically Victorian
preoccupation with social improvement through creative enlightenment.
Leading a group of local amateurs and enthusiasts, many of whom later went on with Mary to found the Compton Potters' Arts Guild
, it was constructed between 1896 and 1898 with virtually every village resident involved. Essentially circular, from the outside it has the look of a Roman
Italianate Chapel; local villagers were invited to decorate the chapel under her guidance, resulting in an interior which is a merger of Angel
s and Arthurian Legend
meets Edward Burne-Jones
. Each member of Mary's evening class
, led by Louis Deuchars
, had a separate job, with 74 Compton villagers taking part. G. F. Watts paid for the project, and also painted a version of The All-Pervading
for the altar
only three months before he died.
The graves include Arts and Crafts movement
type sayings, including "The Morning Stars Sang Together," and inside the chapel "Their hope is full of immorality but the soul of the righteous are in the hands of God."
Members of the Huxley family including Aldous Huxley
are buried within the Chapel grounds.
The chapel is open between 9am and 5pm each day (closes at sunset in winter).
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and mortuary located in the village of Compton in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
As a follower of the Home Arts and Industries Association
Home Arts and Industries Association
The Home Arts and Industries Association was an organisation that functioned as a precursor to the Art Workers Guild in the development of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain. It was founded in 1884 by Eglantyne Louisa Jebb who was inspired by an initiative of Charles Godfrey Leland in...
, set up by Earl Brownlow in 1885 to encourage handicrafts among the lower classes, when Compton Parish Council created a new cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, local resident artist Mary Fraser-Tytler, the wife of Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts, OM was a popular English Victorian painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life...
, offered to design and build a new mortuary chapel. The chapel was the Wattses' contribution to this characteristically Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
preoccupation with social improvement through creative enlightenment.
Leading a group of local amateurs and enthusiasts, many of whom later went on with Mary to found the Compton Potters' Arts Guild
Compton Potters' Arts Guild
The Compton Potters' Arts Guild was a pottery, founded by and based at the Surrey home of Scottish artist, Mary Fraser Tytler.-Background:A follower of the Home Arts and Industries Association, set up by Earl Brownlow in 1885 to encourage handicrafts among the lower classes, Fraser-Tytler, the wife...
, it was constructed between 1896 and 1898 with virtually every village resident involved. Essentially circular, from the outside it has the look of a Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
Italianate Chapel; local villagers were invited to decorate the chapel under her guidance, resulting in an interior which is a merger of Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s and Arthurian Legend
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
meets Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
. Each member of Mary's evening class
Evening Class
Evening Class is a novel by Maeve Binchy. It was adapted as the award-winning film Italian for Beginners by writer-director Lone Scherfig, who failed to formally acknowledge the source, although at the very end of the closing credits is the line 'with thanks to Maeve Binchy'.-Plot introduction:A...
, led by Louis Deuchars
Louis Deuchars
Louis Reid Deuchars was a Scottish artist and sculptor.Born in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, he attended Glasgow School of Art from 1887 to 1888. During his time in the city he was working as a stained-glass painter, possibly for a firm of decorators, such as J & W Guthrie. His series of...
, had a separate job, with 74 Compton villagers taking part. G. F. Watts paid for the project, and also painted a version of The All-Pervading
The All-Pervading
The All-Pervading is an allegorical painting produced between 1887 and 1890 by the English artist George Frederic Watts. Influenced by the Sibyls of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, it symbolises the spirit Watts saw as governing "the immeasurable expanse". He presented it to the Tate Gallery in 1899...
for the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
only three months before he died.
The graves include Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
type sayings, including "The Morning Stars Sang Together," and inside the chapel "Their hope is full of immorality but the soul of the righteous are in the hands of God."
Members of the Huxley family including Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
are buried within the Chapel grounds.
The chapel is open between 9am and 5pm each day (closes at sunset in winter).
External links
www.wattschapel.co.uk- Watts Chapel at Guildford CouncilGuildford (borough)Guildford is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. It is named after Guildford where its council is based....
- Watts Chapel