Memorial to Thomas Rymer Jones
King's College Chapel, University of London
c. 1880
Brass
Views of the chapel and other memorials
Photograph and text Jacqueline Banerjee
Thomas Rymer Jones was a long-serving Professor of Comparative Anatomy who must have "operated" deep in the basement of the college and who held that: "It is man's place to be a student not the critic of creation, his simple duty and his highest privilege consisting in the endeavour to derive from the contemplation of the Creator's attributes a clearer knowledge of himself" — a shot across the bows of Darwinism, perhaps? Professor Jones must have been doctrinally sound, because the college historian particularly mentions his "blameless years" in office (Hearnshaw 293). But he was by no means a dull teacher. On the contrary, he was "a skilful dissector and lecturer" (Schwartz), whose passionate regard for God's handiwork made him a populariser of natural history. Amongst his publications were "Notes on the Dissection of a Tiger" (1834), and The Animal Creation: A Popular Introduction to Zoology (1865). No wonder he was given such a lively and intricately-worked memorial, with depictions of exotic animal life. These memorials all remind us of great souls long gone, and of the importance to the college, from its inception, of its medical school and associated studies.
References
"A Brief History of King's College Chapel at the Strand" (College publication).
Hearnshaw, F. C. The Centenary History of King's College London. London: Harrap, 1929.
Last modified 10 October 2007