English architect (1827–1907)
George Frederick Bodley
RA (14 March 1827 – 21 October 1907) was an English
Gothic Revival
architect . He was a pupil of
Sir George Gilbert Scott , and worked in partnership with
Thomas Garner for much of his career. He was one of the founders of
Watts & Co.
Personal life
Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D., of Edinburgh, physician at
Hull Royal Infirmary ,
Hull , who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town,
Brighton ,
Sussex , England. George's eldest brother, the Rev. W.H. Bodley, became a well-known
Roman Catholic preacher and a professor at
St Mary's College ,
New Oscott , Birmingham.
He married Minna F.H. Reavely, daughter of Thomas George Wood Reavely, at
Kinnersley Castle in 1872. They had a son, George H. Bodley, born in 1874.
Career
Blue plaque on Harley Street, London
Bodley was articled to the architect Sir
George Gilbert Scott , a relative by marriage, under whose influence he became imbued with the spirit of the
Gothic revival , and he became known as the chief exponent of
14th-century English Gothic , and the leading ecclesiastical architect in England.
[1] He is regarded as the leader of the resurgence of interest in English and
Northern European late-medieval design. Noted for his pioneering design work in the
Queen Anne revival ,
[2]
Bodley became acquainted with
William Morris in the late 1850s, and in the 1860s his commissions for stained glass and ecclesiastical decoration helped ensure the success of Morris's firm, Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., founded in 1861. Bodley is said to have designed two of Morris's early wallpapers. By the late 1860s Bodley had become disenchanted with Morris, and for stained glass turned to the firm of
Burlison and Grylls , founded in 1868, for the glass in his later churches, notably
St Augustine's Church ,
Pendlebury , near
Manchester (designed 1870) and the
Church of the Holy Angels ,
Hoar Cross in
Staffordshire (designed 1871–72). Bodley worked with his lifelong friend, the stained glass designer
Charles Eamer Kempe . They collaborated on projects including:
St John the Baptist, Tuebrook in Liverpool;
Queens' College Chapel , Cambridge; All Saints,
Danehill, East Sussex and the
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park in
Nottinghamshire .
[2] His alterations to St Stephen's Church,
Gloucester Road, London , the architect and president of
RIBA ,
Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel said tamed the work of its founding 'rogue' Victorian architect,
Joseph Peacock .
[3]
Partnership with Thomas Garner
From 1869 he worked in a twenty-eight-year partnership with
Thomas Garner , designing collegiate buildings in
Oxford and
Cambridge , country houses and churches throughout the
British Isles . One cathedral was completed to his design:
St David's Cathedral, Hobart in
Tasmania ,
Australia (first design, 1865; revised 1891; building completed 1936). In 1906 Bodley designed with his pupil
Henry Vaughan the
Washington National Cathedral in
Washington, D.C. He also designed
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco in 1862, and again for its post-1906 earthquake replacement but it was adapted by his partner after his death.
As well as Vaughan, Bodley and Garner's pupils included the garden designer
Inigo Thomas who specialised in formal gardens with geometrical plans in 17th- and 18th-century styles, which suited the houses that Bodley and Garner renovated for wealthy clients.
In 1874 Bodley founded
Watts & Co. with Garner and
George Gilbert Scott Jr. Bodley, Garner, and Scott all lived on
Church Row in Hampstead in the 1860s and 70s.
[4]
[2]
His secular work included the
London School Board offices, and in collaboration with Garner, the new buildings at
Magdalen College, Oxford , and
Hewell Grange , Worcestershire (for
Lord Windsor ).
Liverpool Cathedral competition
In 1902 Bodley was an assessor for the competition to design
Liverpool Cathedral which selected a design by the young
Giles Gilbert Scott . When construction of the cathedral began in 1904, Bodley was appointed to oversee Gilbert Scott's work, but had no direct part in its design.
Late works
One of Bodley's final architectural works was the chapel at
Bedford School , the foundation stone of which was laid on 18 May 1907 by
Lord St John of Bletso . Building took a year, the chapel was consecrated in July 1908, but by which time Bodley had died. The other was the
St Chad's parish church ,
Burton upon Trent . Work started in 1905 and the church was consecrated in 1910. After Bodley's death his partner Cecil Greenwood Hare took over the project; his contribution was the design of an octagonal choir vestry.
Royal Academy
Bodley exhibited at the
Royal Academy from 1854. He was elected an associate of the academy in 1881 and a full academician in 1902.
Other activities
As well as being an architect, he was a
draughtsman , a connoisseur of art, published a volume of poems in 1899, inspired art works by painters such as
John Melhuish Strudwick and designed
wallpaper and
chintzes for Watts & Co.
[1] He served as prime warden of the
Fishmongers' Company in 1901–02. In early life he had been in close alliance with the
Pre-Raphaelites , and he did a great deal to improve public taste in domestic decoration and furniture.
[1]
Death
Bodley died on 21 October 1907 at
Water Eaton, Oxfordshire and is buried in the churchyard of the
Church of St James, Kinnersley , Herefordshire.
Gallery
The Church of All Saints, Selsley
The Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross
St Mary's Church, Eccleston
Richly decorated
Arts and Crafts interior of All Saints', Cambridge.
Alternative exterior view of All Saints', Cambridge
St John the Baptist Church, Tue Brook
St Alban's Church, Sneinton, Nottingham
The Lady Chapel of
Liverpool Cathedral .
St Matthew's Church, Chapel Allerton, Leeds
St Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln , is the combined work of three eminent architects - nave and chancel by Sir
Arthur Blomfield (1870), south aisle by
Temple Moore (1914) and the chancel decoration by Bodley (1884).
Bedford School Chapel, 1908 - his last work
Works
New churches
1854–56 Christ Church, Long Grove, Herefordshire (now named
Llangrove )
1854–58 St John the Baptist Church, Dimmelsdale,
France Lynch ,
Gloucestershire
1855
Church of St Michael and All Angels ,
Brighton ,
Sussex
1857–74
St Salvador's Church, Dundee , Scotland
1860–68
All Saints' Church ,
Selsley , Gloucestershire
1861–62
St Martin on the Hill ,
Scarborough , Yorkshire
1861–65
St Wilfrid's Church ,
Haywards Heath ,
Sussex
1861–66 St Stephen's Church,
St Peter Port ,
Guernsey with
Benjamin Ferrey
1862 St Mary & St Mary Magdalene's Church, Brighton (
demolished 1963 )
1863–70
All Saints' Church , Jesus Lane,
Cambridge
1865–71 St Simon's Church,
St Helier ,
Jersey
1867–70
Church of Saint John the Baptist, Liverpool
1867–74 All Saints' Church, Falsgrave,
Scarborough ,
Yorkshire
1868–70
Church of Saint John the Baptist, Liverpool
1868–1936
St David's Cathedral, Hobart
1871–73 St Michael's Church,
Folkestone ,
Kent with
Thomas Garner (now demolished)
1871
St Augustine's Church ,
Pendlebury near
Manchester ,
Lancashire with Thomas Garner
1872
Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross ,
Staffordshire with Thomas Garner
1874
St John the Divine, Kennington , London (interior)
1879–85
St Michael's Church ,
Camden Town , London with Thomas Garner
1880–86
St German's Church ,
Roath ,
Cardiff with Thomas Garner
1885–86
St Alban's Church, Sneinton ,
Nottinghamshire with Thomas Garner
1885-86
St Lawrence's Church, Ecchinswell , Hampshire with Thomas Garner
1886
Marlborough College chapel with Thomas Garner
1886–89
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park , Nottinghamshire
1887–95 St Saviour's Church,
Splott ,
Cardiff with Thomas Garner
1889–92 Ascension Church,
Woodlands ,
Dorset with Thomas Garner
1889–92
St Mary of Eton Church ,
Hackney Wick , London with Thomas Garner
1891
Queens' College chapel, Cambridge
1892–93 St Mary's Church,
Horbury , Yorkshire with Thomas Garner
1892–94
St Aldhelm's Church, Poole , Dorset with Thomas Garner
1892–94 St Luke's Church, Warrington, Lancashire with Thomas Garner
1892–95 St Aidan's Church,
Skelmanthorpe , Yorkshire with Thomas Garner
1894–95
Holy Innocents Church, South Norwood
1894–1902 St John the Evangelist,
Iffley Road ,
Oxford
1897 St Matthew's Church
Chapel Allerton ,
Leeds , Yorkshire
1898–1902 All Saints' Church,
Weston-super-Mare ,
Somerset
1899
St Mary's Church, Eccleston ,
Cheshire
1899
St Bride's Church, Glasgow , Scotland
1901
Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road ,
South Kensington , London with
Cecil Greenwood Hare
1901 Mission Church,
Hadley End , Staffordshire
1901–10 St Boniface's Church,
Chandler's Ford ,
Hampshire
1903–04 St Aidan's Church,
Bristol ,
Gloucestershire
1903–04 St Edward's Church,
Holbeck , Leeds (demolished 1984)
1903–10
St Chad's Church, Burton-on-Trent ,
Staffordshire with Cecil Greenwood Hare
1905 St Faith's Church,
Brentford , London with Cecil Greenwood Hare
1905–06 The Paraclete Church,
Hom Green ,
Ross-on-Wye ,
Herefordshire
1905–06
Church of the Annunciation, Bournemouth , with
Giles Gilbert Scott
1906–07
Bedford School chapel
1907
Washington National Cathedral ,
Washington, D.C. , United States, with
Henry Vaughan
Church repairs, alterations and furnishings
1859–63 St James' Church,
Bicknor ,
Kent : new vestry, porch and roof, reseating and repairs to walls
1863–65 All Saints' Church,
Coddington, Nottinghamshire : rebuild
1864–65 St James' Church,
Wigmore, Herefordshire : repairs
1864–67
Jesus College Chapel , Cambridge: repairs
1866–69 St Michael & All Angels Church,
Kingsland, Herefordshire : repairs
1868–70 St Mary's Church,
Almeley ,
Herefordshire , with
Thomas Garner : repairs
1868–70 St Nicholas's Church,
South Kilworth ,
Leicestershire : repairs
1870–71 St Mary the Virgin,
Barnsley , Yorkshire: repairs
1870–73 St Michael's Church,
Lyonshall ,
Herefordshire : repairs
1871–72 St Mark's Church,
Bilton, Warwickshire , with Thomas Garner: new north aisle, transept and organ chamber, with reseating, reflooring and general repairs to roofs and walls
1871–72
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Keyworth ,
Nottinghamshire : repairs
1871–72 St Laurence's Church,
Rowington ,
Warwickshire , with Thomas Garner: repairs
1873
St Swithun's Church, East Retford
Nottinghamshire : Chantry chapel rebuilt
1873–75
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Plumtree ,
Nottinghamshire , with Thomas Garner: decoration and new organ case
1873–79 St Michael's Church,
Shalbourne , Berkshire, with Thomas Garner, new south aisle: reseating and general
restoration
1874
St Helen's Church, Brant Broughton ,
Lincolnshire : new chancel and repairs
1874–78
St Peter & St Paul's Church ,
Langham, Rutland , with Thomas Garner: repairs to roof, walls, tower and belfry
1876–79 St Laurence's Church,
Oxhill, Warwickshire , with Thomas Garner: repairs
1876–88
St Wilfrid's Church, Hickleton , Yorkshire
1880 St Swithun's Church,
Leonard Stanley ,
Gloucestershire
1880–83
St Laurence's Church, Frodsham , with Thomas Garner: restoration
1881–84 All Saints' Church,
Nettleham ,
Lincolnshire , with Thomas Garner: new vestry and organ chamber, rebuilding and enlargement of chancel, rebuilding of porch and general repairs
1882–90 All Saints' Church,
Bedworth ,
Warwickshire , with Thomas Garner: rebuild
1884
St Mary's Church, Clifton ,
Nottinghamshire
1885
St Michael's Church, Kirk Langley ,
Derbyshire , with Thomas Garner: restoration
[7]
1886–88 St Manakneu's Church,
Lanreath ,
Cornwall , with Thomas Garner: repairs
1887
Church of St Giles ,
Wimborne St Giles ,
Dorset , remodelling in the Gothic style
[8]
1889–91 St Giles' Church,
Mountnessing ,
Essex , with Thomas Garner: new vestry/organ chamber, four new nave windows, reseating and general repairs to roof and walls
1889–92 St John the Baptist Church,
Epping ,
Essex , with Thomas Garner: rebuild
1890
St John the Divine, Kennington , London (interior)
1890
St Mary's Church, Nottingham (chapter house)
1890 St Saviour's Church, Ellerby Road,
Leeds : addition of Pusey chapel.
1890–99 St Andrew's Church,
Chelmondiston ,
Suffolk , with Thomas Garner: enlargement
1891–1905 All Saints' Church,
St Paul's Walden , Hertfordshire, with Thomas Garner: new vestry, new west window in south aisle, reseating and general repairs to roof and walls
1892 Holy Trinity Church,
Markbeech , Kent: new chancel
1892
St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge : new chancel, rood screen and reredos
1895 St Martin's Church,
Womersley ,
Yorkshire : rood screen and loft, nave and chancel roof decoration
1897
St George in the Meadows, Nottingham : added chancel
1898
St Bartholomew's Church, Wilmslow : clerestory added to chancel
1898–1903
Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford : refurbishment of main tower
1898–1905 St Bartholomew's Church,
Reading ,
Berkshire : new chancel, north chapel, vestry and chapel at east end of south aisle
1898–1905
St Paul's Church, Bedford : reorder chancel, restore choir stalls and new rood screen
1899–1901
All Saints' Church, East Horndon ,
Essex : repairs
1899–1904
St Carantoc's Church, Crantock ,
Cornwall , with
Edmund Harold Sedding : repairs
1900–01 St Nicholas' Church,
Little Bowden ,
Northamptonshire : repairs
1901 St Peter's Church,
Hartshorne, Derbyshire : enlargement
1901 St Mary's Church,
Whitkirk ,
Leeds : rebuilt
1902–05 St Mary the Virgin,
Barton Mills ,
Suffolk : repairs
1903
St Stephen's, Gloucester Road , London, with
Walter Tapper : new reredos and other alterations
1903–04 Christ Church,
Mold Green ,
Kirkheaton , Yorkshire: new chancel, vestry & organ chamber
1904
St Bartholomew's Church, Elvaston repairs and rebuilding of the chancel
1905–07 St Nicholas' Church,
Skirbeck ,
Lincolnshire : new vestries, organ chamber and porches, several new windows, rebuilding of chancel, reseating and general repairs
1906
Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Souldern : dismantled and rebuilt bell tower and tower arch
1906 Holy Angels Church, Lilliput Road,
Poole ,
Dorset : rood screen, choir stalls and organ case
1906
St Barnabas Church , Pimlico, London: reredos, rood screen and (with Hill and Son) organ case
[11]
1907
St Barnabas Church, Hove : reredos
1907–09
All Saints' Church, Kedleston : north aisle
St Paul's, Burton upon Trent : alterations
Secular buildings
References
^
a
b
c One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain :
Chisholm, Hugh , ed. (1911). "
Bodley, George Frederick ".
Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 110.
^
a
b
c
"George Frederick Bodley (1827–1907)" (PDF) . Bodley & Kempe Centenary: A celebration of Victorian church art and design .
The Churches Conservation Trust . 1 July 2007. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 10 November 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2008 .
^
Historic England .
"Details from listed building database (1293603)" .
National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 24 October 2013 .
^ Hall, Michael (2016) [2004]. "Bodley, George Frederick".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/31944 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
Historic England .
": Church of St Michael, Kirk Langley (Grade I) (1109095)" .
National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 21 November 2012 .
^ "
Wimborne St. Giles ," in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 5, East , (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1975), 92-104. British History Online , accessed May 18, 2022
^
"St Barnabas Church - Guide" .
^
Williamson et al. 2019 , p. 425.
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