Image of The Presentation of the Christ child in the Temple by Jean Baptiste Jouvenet
The Presentation of the Christ child in the Temple by Jean Baptiste Jouvenet

Paintings and carvings

The Chapel contains both beautiful works of art and fine carvings.

In the North Transept is The Presentation of the Christ child in the Temple, painted by Jean Baptiste Jouvenet (c. 1700), and formerly used as the Chapel’s altar-piece from 1796 to1846.

In the Inner Chapel is a large depiction of The Last Supper, an example of the art of the Venetian School (attributed to Leandro Bassano, late seventeenth century, given in 1898). The painting was  orginally intended for a guild chapel, with the top-right hand corner of the painting including four of the guild’s members looking in, but now adorns the south wall of the nave.

The majority of the richly carved choir stalls and screen are nineteenth century reconstructions of the sixteenth century Chapel furnishings. However, three carved figures survived from the 1500s - two doctors of divinity and a bishop - and were incorporated into stall ends within the Inner Chapel. These were used as models by James Rattee, a young Cambridge joiner and wood-carver, when making the stalls between 1848 and 1849.

Another remnant of the Chapel's woodwork can be seen at the end of the Master's stall within the Inner Chapel, showing Bishop Alcock at prayer. 

Hear from our people

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    Luis

    Chapel clerk

    My time in Cambridge has been full of exciting moments, good memories, and amazing people. When I first embarked on postgraduate studies, I never imagined I would be becoming part of the Chapel community at Jesus College. However, after my first attendance to an evensong I decided I wanted to take an active role in what for me was a complete new experience; even when I had always been an active member of my church back at home, Jesus College Chapel was an enthralling environment in which other people like...

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    Chapel clerk
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    Ben

    Choral Scholar

    I’ve had an amazing time singing at Jesus over my four years in College. It’s been an absolutely central part of my university experience, and has helped me grow as a student, a musician, and a person. The Chapel and Choir community is friendly, supportive, and diverse, and the high musical standard means that singing at Jesus is the perfect balance of challenging and rewarding. It’s a great way to be really involved with college life, from matriculation evensong at the start of the year to graduation at the end...

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    Choral Scholar
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    Matthew

    Choral Scholar

    Singing at Jesus has been a highlight of my time at university so far, because I have the privilege of singing amazing choral music with other passionate and talented singers. As a member of the College Choir and the Lower Voices, I have the opportunity to sing with our women undergraduates in the College Choir and also with the boy choristers in the Chapel Choir, which offers valuable exposure to some great repertoire. I’ve taken part in some really exciting projects despite COVID disruption, with highlights including three performances of...

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    Choral Scholar