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Chichester Cathedral
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Chichester Cathedral, illustrated circa 1650
Chichester Cathedral in Chichester, West Sussex, England is an Anglican Cathedral.
History
Chichester Cathedral has superposed 'Norman' (English Romanesque) arcades in the nave and choir, with much Early English (Early Gothic) building. The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner rated it 'the most typical English cathedral' (Buildings of England: Sussex). The nave is unusual in that its aisles were doubled in the 13th century. Chichester is the only mediæval cathedral in England with a separate bell tower, like a campanile, and also the only one visible from the sea.The cathedral of the Holy Trinity at Chichester was founded in 1075, after the seat of the bishop was transferred to the town from nearby Selsey. It was consecrated in 1108 under Bishop Ralph de Luffa but a subsequent fire created a need for substantial rebuilding, which was not completed until 1184. The cathedral was reconsecrated in 1199. This was not the last stage in its development, by a long way. Richard de la Wyche, (Saint Richard of Chichester in the Anglican Communion), who was bishop from 1245 to 1253, was buried in the cathedral, where his shrine was a place of pilgrimage, until it was ordered destroyed in 1538, during the first stages of the English Reformation. Further damage to the cathedral had been done by fire after the second consecration, and much rebuilding was carried out in the Early English style. The original wooden ceiling had burnt out, and the sublimely simple present vaulting replaced it. The spire, which was originally built in the 14th century, was repaired in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren and survived a lightning strike in 1721. However, its construction from poor-quality local stone led to its sudden collapse on February 21 1861, miraculously without loss of life. It was immediately rebuilt by George Gilbert Scott, and now rises to a height of 82 metres.
The cathedral has many other unique features. Under the floor of the nave are the remains of a Roman mosaic pavement, which can be viewed through a glass window. Also in the interior are the grave of the composer Gustav Holst and the Gothic "Arundel tomb" referred to in a famous poem by Philip Larkin.
Despite its age, the cathedral contains several modern works of art, including tapestries by John Piper and Ursula Benker-Schirmer, a window by Marc Chagall, a painting by Graham Sutherland "Noli me Tangere", and a reredos for the St John the Baptist's Chapel by Patrick Procktor.]]
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Cross section as in 1815.
St. Mary's Hospital Almshouses in Chichester, which are linked to the Cathedral, are thought to be the oldest in Britain, dating back to the 13th century. Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, composed for the cathedral, are among his finest music.
The city of Chichester, though it retains two main cross streets laid out by the Romans, has always been small enough for the city's entire population to fit inside the cathedral at once:
I cannot say much of Chichester, in which, if six or seven good families were removed, there would not be much conversation, except what is to be found among the canons, and the dignitaries of the cathedral. —Daniel Defoe, A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain (1724)
The Chapter
The Dean
The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling was born in South London. He trained for retail management, but changed career and became a welfare office at Pentonville prison. In response to a vocation to the ordained ministry, he studied theology at Exeter University and completed his training at Cuddesdon College, Oxford. After parish ministry in Peckham and Tooting, he moved to Liverpool in 1983 as Canon Precentor of the cathedral. Four years later he became Rector of the ancient city centre parish of Our Lady and St Nicholas, where he stayed for fifteen years.Nicholas has become noted for his work for reconciliation, not only between faith communities but also between Britain and Ireland. His book Pardon and Peace has been highly acclaimed, and he has lectured and spoken on reconciliation in Switzerland, Ireland, the United States and Israel/Palestine. During his time in Liverpool, he was chairman of the Welfare Organisations Committee of Liverpool Council of Voluntary Service, of the Religious Advisory Panel of BBC Radio Merseyside and of the Mersey Mission to Seafarers.
He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Liverpool in 2001, and an honorary Fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University in 2003. Nicholas was appointed Dean of Chichester in September 2002. He chairs the Social Responsibility Advisory Group in Chichester diocese.
The Precentor
The Precentor of the Cathedral is the Canon with special responsibility for the Liturgy and Music Department. He works closely with the Organist and Master of the Choristers, the Priest Vicar and the Liturgy and Music Administrator to oversee the arrangement and content of worship in the Cathedral. He also shares, with the Priest Vicar, the responsibility for the singing of the daily Choral Evensong. Working with the Cathedral Deacon and the Chaplain he co-ordinates the pastoral care of the Cathedral community.Canon Tim Schofield was born in 1954. Before Ordination he read music at Durham University and after a teacher training year at Christ's College, Cambridge went to teach music at Exeter School in Devon. Following the call to Ordination Tim went to train at Lincoln Theological College. Before coming to Chichester in 2006 Tim spent 23 years in parish ministry in the dioceses of St Albans and Exeter.
Tim is a Bishops' advisor for the selection of candidates for ministry and has also been involved for many years with the spiritual direction network. He is married to Julie and they have three sons.
The Chancellor
Chichester Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chancellor. The Revd Dr Anthony Cane will be joining the Cathedral Chapter in September.Anthony Cane is currently Adult Education Officer for the Chichester Diocese, a post he took up in 2001. Prior to this he was a Parish Priest and Adult Training Officer in the Diocese of Exeter, and before that, University Chaplain at the University of Brighton.
Anthony is looking forward to his new role and says: “I am thrilled to be joining the team of people that make Chichester Cathedral not only a place of great historic significance and beauty, but also a centre of excellence in worship, education and outreach. I look forward to sharing in the life of the Cathedral and all it contributes to the city, the wider community, and the parishes and deaneries of the diocese.”
Anthony was appointed by John Hind, Bishop of Chichester, who said: “I am delighted that Anthony Cane has accepted my invitation to succeed Peter Atkinson as Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral. As a former university chaplain and member of the diocesan adult education team he will bring considerable experience to the Cathedral’s ministry of teaching and outreach, and to the important task of welcoming the thousands of people who visit every year.”
Nicholas Frayling, Dean of Chichester, is also looking forward to Anthony’s arrival: “We are all delighted that Anthony will be joining us at the Cathedral. His gifts are just what we need at this time in the Cathedral's life, and we look forward to welcoming the whole family in due course.”
The Treasurer
The Treasurer's responsibilities have nothing to do with money! - but he does have a general responsibility for the Treasury which is looked after on a day to day basis by the sub-treasurer. Sharing in the governance of the Cathedral he takes a share in Residential duties but he is primarily employed by the Diocese of Chichester as Adviser for Ministry and Director of Ordinands. These responsibilities include the discernment of vocations - both lay and ordained - the development and training of people towards ordination, continuing development of those who are ordained and other general matters to do with how ministry is developing in the diocese of Chichester.Appointed in 2001, Canon Peter Kefford was a parish priest for 27 years in the dioceses of Southwark, London and Chichester and an Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Chichester for 16 years.
Organs and Organists
The Organ
The organ at Chichester Cathedral contains pipework by many famous English builders, including Renatus Harris, George Pike England and the Hill family. Originally mounted on the rood screen, it was moved to the north transept shortly before the disastrous collapse of the spire in 1861, thus escaping serious damage.The magnificent double case, designed by Dr. Arthur Hill, was added in 1888, incorporating some decorated display pipes from the 1678 instrument by Harris. It is one of the finest examples of Hill’s work but unfortunately was never more than a façade, leaving the sides and back of the instrument exposed. When Hele of Plymouth finally enlarged the organ in the early years of the 20th century, the Swell box was cantilevered precariously backwards, and the appearance from the aisles and transept left much to be desired.
In its final form, the organ had three manuals and 35 stops, although a small fourth manual had been prepared for by Hill, but never installed. From 1904 the action was tubular pneumatic, although the stops had been converted to electric operation in the 1950s. It was the failure of this final modification which led to the unreliability which brought about the temporary abandoning of the instrument between 1973 and 1986. During this time, the services were accompanied by an Allen electronic organ, now transferred to the west end for occasional use in concerts (the console and speakers are hidden at triforium level on the south side)
The restoration and enlargement of 1985-6 was carried out by NP Mander & Sons Organ Builders Ltd, following their admired rebuilding of the organ of St Paul's Cathedral, London (1972-1977). The current specification comprises 62 speaking stops over 4 manuals, pedal, and a 'Nave' division located in the second bay of the Nave at triforium level, also playable from a separate moveable console in the Nave. Both key and stop actions are mechanical - extremely unusual for an 'old' cathedral organ in this country.
The organ is renowned for its sweet tone and moderate volume, allowing a full range of colours - including the 32' Contra Fagotto - to be used for choral accompaniment.
List of past Cathedral Organists
Organist and Master of the Choristers
'''Alan ThurlowAlan Thurlow was born in Essex and read music at Sheffield University before going to Emmanuel College, Cambridge for a period of research into pre-reformation English Church musc. In 1973 he was appointed Sub-Organist at Durham Cathedral, serving first under Dr Conrad Eden and later under Richard Lloyd and combining his Cathedral duties with those of Director of Music at the Chorister School and part-time Lecturer in Music at Durham University.
In 1980 he was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers. During his time at Chichester, he has been responsible for the restoration of the Cathedral’s historic organ. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Friends of Pallant House Gallery, an Organ Adviser for the Diocese of Chichester and an area representative for the Royal School of Church Music. He has travelled with the Cathedral Choir and the RSCM to France, Holland, Germany, South Africa and the United States, and was recently appointed Chairman of the Organs Advisory Committee of the Council for the Care of Churches. In 1995 and 1996 he served as President of the Cathedral Organists’ Association.
In 2005, the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth Doctorate of Music on Alan Thurlow, in recognition of his services to the world of church music, especially in Chichester Cathedral.
It has been annouced that for 27 years Dr.Alan Thurlow has directed the choir, and that on Easter Day 2008, Alan will retire.
Assistant Organist
'''Mark WardellMark Wardell was born in 1968 and studied the organ with Clifford Hartley. In 1987 he was elected Organ Scholar at Royal Holloway College, London, and while there travelled Europe as a recitalist, accompanist and soloist with the college choir and recorded a set of improvisations for German Television.
In 1990 he moved to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle as Organ Scholar, working under Christopher Robinson. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Nicholas Danby, and took master-classes with David Sanger and Ton Koopman.
From 1992 to 1997, Mark was Organist and Assistant Music Master at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham featuring on a number of recordings of choral and organ music for IMP Classics. Since September 1997 he has been Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral. Away from Sussex, Mark has toured with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has performed as a continuo player with the European Chamber Orchestra. He pursues an active recital schedule, with recent venues including Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
Organ Scholar
In common with nearly all cathedrals in the UK, Chichester appoints an organ scholar each year to take a share of the playing of services in the cathedral and the training of the choristers and probationers in the Prebendal School. The Organ Scholarship is a one year non-renewable post usually held by someone in their gap year between school and university, or in the first couple of years after graduation. The Organ Scholar gives a solo recital in the Cathedral during the course of the year.The Cathedral Choir
The choir consists of 12 Choristers, 4 Probationers & 6 Lay Vicars, working alongside the three organists detailed above.Chichester Cathedral Choir, although a small foundation, is one of the most respected Cathedral choirs in the country, and is particularly noted for the beautiful and gentle tone which it produces in the sympathetic acoustic of the Cathedral.
The choristers and probationers are educated at the Prebendal School, where as well as their singing, choristers learn the piano and an orchestral instrument, spending at least eighteen hours a week on musical performance. The Lay Vicars are all professional singers.
On stage the Choir has appeared with artists as diverse as Petula Clark, Richard Stilgoe, the King’s Singers, the Cambridge Buskers, the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and Cantabile. Television appearances have included Placido’ Domingo’s Christmas Choice and Rumpole of the Bailey. In 1985 their recording of Cathedral Music by Geoffrey Burgon won a Critics Choice of the year Award in Gramophone Magazine.
The Choir regularly tours abroad, and in recent years has visited France, Northern Bavaria (Bamberg, Bayreuth, Nurenberg and Wurzburg), and makes frequent visits to Chartres. In spring 2005, the Choir made a successful tour to South Africa.
Popular music
Unusually for a cathedral, Chichester has hosted a performance by a rock band, Pink Floyd, who played at the funeral of their manager, Steve O'Rourke. Other performers to have played there include Bob Geldof, Rolf Harris and The Hollies.See also
External links
- Official website
- Illustrated biography of St. Richard of Chichester; photos of the cathedral.
- Photo repertory and bibliography.
- Bell's Cathedrals: Chichester (1901) by Hubert C. Corlette - from Project Gutenberg
- A history of Chichester Cathedral choristers and choir school
- Around Chichester Cathedral in 22 Described Images
- Flickr images tagged Chichester Cathedral
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