James Rice Buckley

Sir William Goscombe John, 1860-1952

Unveiled 1926

Bronze on a granite pedestal

By Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, Wales

James Rice Buckley had been Vicar of Llandaff from 1878 to 1913, and then Archdeacon of Llandaff from 1913 to 1924. In this entirely natural, unposed likeness, he seems to be stepping out again towards the Cathedral which he had served for so many years. There are several other works by this Cardiff-born sculptor in and around the cathedral, including a fine war memorial on the green, and a dignified bronze plaque for Buckley inside the cathedral (see the well-illustrated record for John at the government's National Archives site); but there is an affection here that speaks of Goscombe John's local roots and knowledge of his subject. NB The placing of this statue is important, and contributes much to its effect (cf. Martin Jennings's much more recent statue of Sir John Betjeman at St Pancras Station, in London).

Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009.

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