Chichester Cathedral
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Chichester Cathedral in Chichester, West Sussex, England is an Anglican Cathedral.
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[edit] 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 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 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 21 February 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 is the grave of the composer Gustav Holst and the Gothic "Arundel tomb" referred to in a poem by Philip Larkin.
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.
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.[citation needed] 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)
[edit] Dean and Chapter
The Dean is the Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling.[1] Educated at the University of Exeter and Cuddesdon College, Frayling has lectured on inter-faith and political reconciliation. Formerly Canon Precentor of Liverpool Cathedral, he was appointed Dean of Chichester in September 2002.[1]
Chichester's Precentor is Canon Tim Schofield.[2] Educated at Durham University and Christ's College, Cambridge, Schofield taught music at Exeter School before his ordination. Before his 2006 appointment to Chichester, he held ministry in Exeter and St Albans.[2]
Installed on 30 September 2007, the Chancellor is the Reverend Canon Dr Anthony Cane.[3] Dr Cane has previously been University Chaplain at Brighton, Adult Training Officer in the Diocese of Exeter and Adult Education Officer for Chichester.[3]
The Treasurer is Canon Peter Kefford.[4] For 20 years a parish priest in Southwark, London and Chichester Dioceses, Kefford was appointed to the Cathedral Chapter in 2001.[4]
Lay members of the chapter are Mrs Sara Stonor and Dr John Dalgleish.
[edit] Cathedral Organists
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[edit] Organist and Master of the Choristers
[edit] Sarah Baldock
Finalist in the 1998 Calgary International, and prizewinner at the 2000 Odense and 2002 Dallas International Organ Competitions, Sarah Baldock is a popular soloist in the UK and abroad. Performances have included concertos with the City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and Hampshire Youth Orchestras and solo concerts in the Channel Islands, Europe, USA and Canada. Educated as a music scholar at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London, and as Organ Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge, she won top prizes in the RCO diploma examinations and a bursary for postgraduate study with David Sanger and Thomas Trotter.
In 1998 Sarah moved to Winchester Cathedral where she founded the Girls’ Choir and in 2002 became Assistant Director of Music, accompanying the Choir in daily services, tours, broadcasts and recordings. During her time in Winchester she was accompanist to the Waynflete Singers and Organ Performance Tutor at Southampton University. She has been a faculty member of the Calgary, Edinburgh and Oundle Organ Courses, and involved in education projects at the Royal Festival Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Sarah has directed choral workshops in the UK, USA, Norway and Sweden. In 1998 she released a solo CD on the Marcussen organ in Tonbridge School Chapel for Herald, and two other recording projects are underway.
[edit] Assistant Organist
[edit] Mark Wardell
Mark 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.
[edit] 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 Organ Scholar is Colin Gray
[edit] The Cathedral Choir
The choir consists of 14 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.
[edit] Notable Former and Present Members of the Congregation
- Patricia Routledge ~ English actress and singer,
- Morris Maddocks ~ Former Bishop of Selby †,
- Anne Maddocks ~ wife of Morris Maddocks and assistant organist of the Cathedral †,
- David Hurley ~ countertenor in the King's Singers,
- Sir Peter Blake ~ famous yachtsman †.
[edit] 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] Gallery of images
 Chichester Cathedral, illustrated circa 1650 |
 Cross section as in 1815 |
 West aspect of Chichester Cathedral |
 Chichester Cathedral West Front, South Transept, Tower and millennium statue of Saint Richard |
 Chichester Cathedrals C14th Bell Tower |
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Dean - The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling. Chichester Cathedral. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
- ^ a b The Precentor. Chichester Cathedral. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
- ^ a b The Reverend Canon Dr Anthony Cane. Chichester Cathedral. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
- ^ a b The Canon Treasurer - Canon Peter Kefford. Chichester Cathedral. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
[edit] External links
- Chichester Cathedral – official website
- Bell's Cathedrals: Chichester (1901) by Hubert C. Corlette - from Project Gutenberg
- Around Chichester Cathedral in 22 Described Images
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