Monks Interpret Historical Details for Mansion in May
Posted May 24, 2012
Two monks of St. Mary’s Abbey, Fr. Benet Caffrey and Fr. Gabriel Coless, lent their expertise to interpreting the artifacts of Glynallyn Castle in Morristown, site of the16th Mansion In May Designer Showhouse and Gardens, sponsored by the Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center.
Modeled after a medieval English Tudor castle, Glynallyn was built in 1913- 1917, during New Jersey’s Gilded Age, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over 20,000 visitors have toured the historic castle and gardens during the month of May, as the home was opened to the public for the first time.
Glynallyn Castle is full of artistic details - with 575 windows, many of them stained glass, numerous stone sculpted mantles and statues, carved wood paneling, and artistic, literary and religious motifs throughout the castle. “When you have a historic mansion ornamented with hundreds of artistic details, you feel a certain responsibility to understand their meaning and significance,” said Valerie Marr, Mansion In May History Committee Chair. “Father Benet was very helpful to us in translating the Latin inscriptions and literary references that appear in many of the stained glass windows. Fr. Gabriel’s expertise in medieval and religious art helped us interpret the symbols carved into the stone mantels and depicted in the stained glass windows. All of this great research has enhanced the tour for our Mansion In May visitors.”
Proceeds from Mansion In May benefit the new Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center at Morristown Medical Center. “Our cause is meaningful to so many. It has inspired great generosity surrounding this Mansion In May,” said Prudence Pigott P'06, '11, Publicity Chair for Mansion In May. “We feel excited about reaching our goal of raising $1 million for the new inpatient hospice center.”
Over 1,000 volunteers make Mansion In May possible, and quite a few of them are former Delbarton moms who honed their event planning and fundraising skills during their years as active members of the Delbarton Mothers' Guild. Among them are Design Committee Chairs Cathy Biczak P'99, Louetta Shioleno P'00 , and Sue Kiernan P'03, Women’s Association President Beth Wipperman P'97, '02, Website Manager Carol Tourgee P'07, Gala Chair June Meehan P'07, Treasurer Barb Hoyt P'08, and Chair of the Mansion Search Committee Anne Rooke P'08, to name a few.
Mansion In May is open until May 31. Advance sale tickets are $30 here. You have just a few days left to visit this year’s Mansion with historical details confirmed by two monks, Fr. Benet and Fr. Gabriel, from St. Mary's Abbey.
