Centennial of the Leslie Lindsey Memorial Chapel

On Saturday, September 28, the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates presided and preached this sermon at our service celebrating the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Lindsey Chapel.  Given by Anne and William Lindsey in memory of their daughter Leslie Hawthorne Lindsey Mason, it was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence on 1 October 1924, when The Rt. Rev. Charles L. Slattery preached.  For more about the history of its design, construction, windows, and furnishings, please see our guide.

Although our exquisite Lady chapel has suffered physical insults over the past century, it has been faithfully restored.  Thanks to Julian Bullitt this timeline of its vicissitudes and to him,  Peter Johnson, the late Samuel Mygatt, Michael Scanlon, Michael Shea, and many others for its support and maintenance.   It was designed by Sir Ninian Comper and constructed by the firm of Allen & Collens.  Angelo Lualdi carved the oak tympanum over its entrance, which appears above in Julian Bullitt’s photo.

  • 1947.  Its coal boiler was removed, and its heating was connected to our main boilers.
  • 1964.  An arsonist’s fire damaged its chancel and organ.
  • 1967.  Renovations costing $137,000 covered:   
    • Restoration of the pulpit-side choir stalls
    • Repairing the ceiling bosses
    • Cleaning the altar screen
    • Ventilation of the attic
    • Replacement of the supply wiring to the chandeliers.
  • 1984. Three statues were stolen from its altar screen.
  • 1998 
    • Exterior restoration fixed decades of water infiltration.
    • The flat-seamed, copper, roof sections behind the parapets still needed attention in 2003 and 2008.  They were finally rebuilt with expansion joints in 2015. 
  • 2010.  Stolen statues of saints Genevieve, Eulalia, and Theresa were re-carved by Simon Verity.  See Restored Reredos for details.
  • 2017.  Christine Thompson restored the reredos.
  • 2012–22 
    • Incandescent lights were replaced with LEDs.
    • The main blower-shaft, bearings, and attic fan were replaced.  
  • 2023–24 
    • The electrical system was inspected for weaknesses. 
    • Since its original wiring had preceded the common use of wire-nuts in 1927, its joined wires are often soldered and wrapped with two types of electrical tape.