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Derby Cathedral

Coordinates:52°55′29″N1°28′38″W/ 52.9248°N 1.4773°W/52.9248; -1.4773
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Derby Cathedral
Cathedral Church of All Saints
East view of the cathedral
Derby Cathedral is located in Derby Central
Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral
Location in Derby
52°55′29″N1°28′38″W/ 52.9248°N 1.4773°W/52.9248; -1.4773
LocationDerby, Derbyshire
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Previous denominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.derbycathedral.org
History
Former name(s)All Saints' Church, Derby (6thcentury – 1927)
Consecrated1927
Architecture
StyleGothic,Neoclassical
Years builtc. 1530–1725renovated 1969–1975, 2015–2016
Specifications
Number oftowers1
Tower height212 feet (65 m)
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseDerby(since 1927)
Clergy
DeanPeter Robinson
PrecentorRichard Andrews
Laity
Director of musicAlexander Binns
Organist(s)Edward Turner (Assistant Director of Music)
Listed Building– Grade I
Official nameCathedral Church of All Saints
Designated20 June 1952
Reference no.1228277
The cathedral from Irongate
Interior of the nave
Alabaster memorial to John Lawe, inscribed in Latin: "Under this lies John Lawe, once a Canon of the Collegiate Church of All Saints, Derby, and Sub-Deacon of the same, who died in the year of Our Lord 1400. cuius animae propicietur deus amen"
Tomb effigy of Bess of Hardwick (Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury)
Derby Cathedral SE window. One of a pair of windows, designed by Ceri Richards (1965), symbolising "All Saints" and "All Souls"
Juvenile peregrine falcon and Derby Cathedral tower, south side
Female peregrine falcon on nest platform installed on Derby Cathedral's mediaeval tower in 2006
Passageway to organ room

The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby,better known asDerby Cathedral,is acathedralchurch in the city ofDerby,England. In 1927, it was promoted from parish church status to that of a cathedral, creating a seat for theBishop of Derby,which newseewas created in that year. The original church of All Saints was founded in the mid-10th century as a royal collegiate church, dedicated to All Saints. The main body of the church as it stands today is a Georgian rebuilding byJames Gibbs,completed in 1725. The tower dates from the 16thcentury, and aretroquirewas added in the 20thcentury.

History[edit]

All Saints' Church[edit]

The original church, dedicated to All Saints, was probably built in about 943 by theAnglo-SaxonKingEdmund Ias a royal collegiate church, of which building no trace survives. Following theNorman Conquestof 1066, and according to theDomesday Bookof 1086, it belonged to the king, and was served by a college of seven priests.[1]

The Saxon building probably became structurally unstable, and was therefore demolished. A new building was constructed in the 14thcentury, which surviving drawings show was about the same size as the present building. In 1510–1532, the surviving 212-foot (65 m) tower was built in thePerpendicular Gothicstyle.[1][2]On top of the tower are twelve large sculptedgrotesqueanimal figures, three per face, and the sculpted stone head of aGreen Mancan be seen on each side of the main West Door at the base of the tower. The tower is built with Ashover Grit sandstone, sourced from nearbyDuffield Bankquarry.

One of the two heads ofGreen Men,one each side of the main west entrance of Derby Cathedral

in 1556, during the persecutions ofProtestantsduring the reign of QueenMary(1553–1558),Joan Wastewas tried for heresy within the Church of All Saints, and was executed on the Burton Road in Derby.[3]

The fabric of the church appears to have deteriorated severely from about 1650, and was in a ruinous state in 1700. In February 1723 the vicar, Dr Michael Hutchinson, having decided that a new building was required, made the decision unilaterally to demolish the church, and employed a gang of workmen to accomplish the task overnight. Having accepted thisfait accomplihanded to them, the Mayor and Corporation of Derby commenced fundraising for the building of a new church by inviting subscriptions for the purpose, and made the first donation themselves. Dr Hutchinson expended much effort in fundraising, which exertion may have adversely affected his health. He made a significant personal financial contribution to the fund, and his efforts are recorded on a memorial tablet in the South Aisle. Having encountered numerous disputes, Hutchinson eventually resigned in 1728 and died about eighteen months later, leaving numerous outstanding debts.

With the original 1530s tower retained, the rest of the church was rebuilt to a Neo-Classical design made in 1725 by the architectJames Gibbs.In hisBook of Architecture,Gibbs wrote as follows regarding All Saints' Church: "It is the more beautiful for having no galleries, which, as well as pews, clog up and spoil the insides of churches... the plainness of this building makes it less expensive, and renders it more suitable to the old steeple".[4]To offset the rather austere interior, Gibbs introduced a wrought ironchancel screen,extending across the entire width of the church, manufactured by the local iron-smith and gate-makerRobert Bakewell,but not completed until five years after the new church was opened. The first sermon was preached in the new church on 25November 1725.[5]

ByOrder in Councilon 1July 1927, All Saints' Church became a cathedral.[6][7]The new building was later extended eastwards with the addition of aretroquiredesigned bySebastian Comper,constructed between 1967 and 1972.[8]

The cathedral was registered as a charity on 9April 2024, with the Registered Charity Number 1207768.

Monuments and furnishings[edit]

The cathedral's treasures include the 18th-centurywrought ironrood screenmanufactured byRobert Bakewell,for which he was paid £157.10.0d (150guineas);[9][a]a monument with effigy ofBess of Hardwick,ofHardwick Hall;andmonumental brassesof her descendants theCavendish family(later theDukes of Devonshire), including brasses ofHenry Cavendishand ofGeorgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.The entrance gates, moved to the cathedral from StMary's Gate in 1957, were also made by Robert Bakewell.[1]The gates were refurbished in 2012, and renamed the Queen ElizabethII Gates to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.[10]Notable 20th-century additions are stained-glass windows designed byCeri Richards,and a bronze crucifix byRonald Pope.[1]

Clock and carillon[edit]

In 1927 a new clock was installed byJohn Smith & Son,Derby clockmakers, replacing one reputed to have been made by George Ashmore in 1738, but by then so worn as to be beyond its useful life. Until March 1976 this timekeeper and associated parts had been mechanically driven by heavy weights that had to be wound manually, some of them daily. This work had been undertaken by John Smith's for many years, but rising costs caused the authorities to install an automatic winding mechanism to both the clock and thecarillon,which sounds the bells.[11]

Derby Cathedral's clock has two dials, one facing West along StMary's Gate, and one facing South down Irongate. Both are of stone and are 8feet in diameter. They were restored and gilded in 1964, then again in the early 21stcentury. The 1964 restoration proved beyond doubt that the long metal tubes driven through the tower walls to operate the clock mechanism were actually gun barrels (cavalry carbines) dating from the1745 'uprising' of Bonnie Prince Charlie.[11]

The carillon is the mechanical instrument that drives the tunes played upon the cathedral's bells each day. It was installed by John Smith of Derby in 1931 to replace a machine of similar design, dating from the 17thcentury and subsequently enhanced towards the end of the 17thcentury byGeorge Sorocold,a Derby millwright. The current machine plays a tune three times a day, and the seven tunes it plays are changed automatically each day. It is known that the tunes of the original machine were varied over the years, first byJohn Whitehurstat various times between 1745 and 1762, and then by John Smith in 1873.

There is documentary evidence to show that John Whitehurst was paid £3.3.0d (3guineas)[a]for winding and care of the clock and carillon, although he is known to have paid from this sum the amount of £1.11.6d (1½gns.)[a]to a MrFrost, who did the actual daily winding of the carillon.[11]

On 3July 1976, one of the less well-known carillon tunes was replaced with the melody of "The Derby Ram",a regimental march associated with theSherwood Foresters,so that it would become a permanent reminder of the Regiment's association with the town and county of Derby.[11]

The tunes are currently played at 9am, 12noon and 6pm as follows:

  • Sunday —Thaxted
  • Monday — Truro
  • Tuesday — The Shady Bowers
  • Wednesday — All Saints
  • Thursday — Lass of Paittie's Mill
  • Friday —The Highland Laddie
  • Saturday — The Derby Ram

They can be listened to live on a local webcam feed. (The previous carillon played at 3, 6, 9, and 12 both night and day.)

Tower and bells[edit]

Derby Cathedral has the oldestringof ten bells in the world. Most of them have been there since 1678, when the number of bells was increased from six to ten. The largest bell weighs 19cwt (965kg), its note is D-flat and it is over 500 years old — older than the tower itself.[1]It is believed that it came fromDale AbbeyinErewashinDerbyshireat theDissolution of the Monasteries.The youngest bell, no.3, is dated 1693, so all the bells are over 300 years old. Bell no.8 was inAshbourneparish church until 1815. Acarillonin the tower uses the same bells to provide a tune at 9am, 12noon and 6pm.[12]The bells used to hang in a wooden frame; when the church became a cathedral in 1927, the bells were retuned and rehung at a lower level in a new metal frame.

On 28October 1732, a Frenchman called Gillinoe 'flew' down on a rope from the top of All Saints' steeple. He did this on a number of occasions, landing variously at StMichael's church and at the bottom of StMary's Gate. On one occasion an ass was sent down the rope, but it broke under the weight and a number of onlookers were injured.[13]

On 25July 1940, a wartimebarrage balloonbroke loose from its moorings during a heavy storm and, as it floated past, its chain caught round one of the pinnacles on the tower and demolished the top half of the pinnacle.[14][15]

In late 2005, it was discovered that a pair ofperegrine falconshad taken up residence on the cathedral tower. In 2006 a nesting platform was installed, and they nested there in April of that year. Webcams were installed in 2007, 2008 and 2013 to enable the birds to be seen at close range without being disturbed by human contact. The same pair successfully reared chicks every year up to and including 2016. However, on 27March 2017 it became clear that a new male had taken over the nesting platform and ousted his predecessor who, by that time, was at least 14years old. It is not known whether the first male died of old age, or was chased away or killed by the new one after a fight. The female accepted the new male and together they produced, somewhat later than in previous years, four eggs, three of which successfully hatched into one male and two female chicks.[16]

In 2009, more than 150 members of the Derby Mountain Rescue Team abseiled down the tower for charity.[17]Further sponsored abseils have taken place every year since, and in 2012 this included the Assistant Curate, Andy Trenier, and the Dean of Derby Cathedral,Dr John Davies.[18][19]

Cathedral Centre[edit]

The Derby Cathedral Centre is opposite the west doors on Irongate. It was opened byQueen Elizabeth II.It once included a café, a bookshop and an exhibition space, featuring work by local artists,[20]but since March 2020 the shop and café have remained closed. The Cathedral Centre also houses the cathedral offices and meeting rooms.[21]

In 2017, the Cathedral Café won the annual Derby Food and Drinks Award for Best Customer Service.[22]

Burials[edit]

Cathedral clergy[edit]

Dean and Residentiary Canons[edit]

As of June 2023:[23]

  • Dean—Peter Robinson(since 20July 2020 installation)[24]
  • Canon for Liturgy (i.e. Precentor) — vacancy
  • Canon for Community Learning — Carla Vicêncio Prior (since 16 October 2022 installation)

Other clergy[edit]

  • Cathedral Chaplain — Adam Dickens (since 3March 2014; Chaplain to theUniversity of Derby)
  • Associate Priest — Michael Futers
  • Associate Priest — Dwayne Engh

Music[edit]

Organs and organists[edit]

Organ[edit]

The organ

In 1939, an organ was installed byJohn Comptonof London, although it did not gain its impressive case (designed by Sebastian Comper) until 1963. It is played from a four-manual console in the Consistory Court area of the cathedral, and was overhauled in 1992.[25]In 1973, an additional instrument was installed in the new retroquire (east end) by Cousans of Lincoln.[26]

Organists[edit]

Between April 2013 and December 2014, Canon Peter Gould undertook a musical pilgrimage of 270 churches, in which he raised £7,478.78 over 39tour days, performing to a collective audience of over 3,500 people. During the tour, three church organs were found to be in a poor state.[27]

On 4January 2015, Canon Peter Gould resigned as Director of Music and was succeeded by Hugh Morris,[28]who was previously director of music atChristchurch Priory.The current Director of Music, Alexander Binns, started on 1 May 2019. Binns was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in April 2024.[29]Edward Turner has been a member of staff at Derby Cathedral since 1September 2017, and is currently Assistant Director of Music.[30]

See also:List of musicians at English cathedrals

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^abcA guinea was a 'unit of account', with a value of 21shillings (one pound and one shilling), used for professional fees and the like.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdeBowler, Tony (23 June 1994). "A towering presence".Derby Express.
  2. ^Pepin, David (2004).Discovering Cathedrals.Shire Discovering Series. Vol. 112 (7 ed.).Osprey Publishing.p. 60.ISBN0-7478-0597-0.
  3. ^"The MARTYRDOME of JOANE WASTE. A blinde Woman in the Towne of Darbie".Foxe's Book of Martyrs.1563. Archived fromthe originalon 14 February 2012.
  4. ^Gibbs, James (1739).A Book Of Architecture Containing Designs of Buildings and Ornaments(Second ed.). London. p. viii.
  5. ^Derby Cathedral Official Guide, 2014.
  6. ^Order in Council founding The Bishopric of Derby (S.I. 1927/624)
  7. ^"No. 33290".The London Gazette.1 July 1927. p. 4207.
  8. ^Pevsner, Nikolaus(1986).The Buildings of England: Derbyshire(2nd ed.). Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin. p. 168.ISBN9780140710083.
  9. ^Mallender, Margaret (c. 1979).Information sheet: the records of the cathedral of All Saints, Derby.Cathedral of All Saints.
  10. ^"Restored Gates will be renamed".Derby Cathedral. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2012.Retrieved7 June2012.
  11. ^abcdHoward Smith, J E (July 1976).Cathedral Information Sheet: "Derby Cathedral Clock".Derby: Derby Cathedral.
  12. ^"Derby Cathedral".Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers. Archived fromthe originalon 30 June 2013.Retrieved3 March2012.
  13. ^Glover, Stephen (1829).History of the County of Derby Part 2.p. 609.
  14. ^The Story of the cathedral church of All Saints Derby.The British Publishing Co Ltd, Gloucester. n.d. p. 26.
  15. ^"Ominous storms lashed Derby on the eve of war".Derby Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved23 January2015.
  16. ^"The Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project".Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. 13 June 2016.Retrieved16 June2016.
  17. ^"Cathedral Abseil".Derby Mountain Rescue Team.Retrieved11 February2010.
  18. ^"Daredevil duo's leap of faith as they prepare to abseil cathedral".Derby Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2014.Retrieved18 December2014.
  19. ^"Dean and Curate abseil down Derby Cathedral tower".The Church of England Newspaper.Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2021.Retrieved18 December2014.
  20. ^Welcome to our Visitor Centre,derbycathedral.org,retrieved11 June2012[permanent dead link]
  21. ^cathedral centre,derbycathedral.org, archived fromthe originalon 26 June 2012,retrieved11 June2012
  22. ^"A closer look at the winners of Derby Food and Drink Awards 2017".derbytelegraph.10 October 2017.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved11 October2017.
  23. ^Derby Cathedral — Who's Who(Accessed June 2023)
  24. ^King, Dave."Peter Robinson installed as Dean of Derby – Diocese of Derby".derby.anglican.org.
  25. ^"Cathedral of All Saints, Irongate (Compton)".National Pipe Organ Register.Retrieved30 March2007.
  26. ^"Cathedral of All Saints, Irongate (Cousans)".National Pipe Organ Register.Retrieved20 February2009.
  27. ^"unknown".Outlook.Derby Cathedral. December 2014. p. 27.{{cite magazine}}:Cite uses generic title (help)
  28. ^"Hugh Morris".Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2018.Retrieved31 May2018.
  29. ^"The Royal Academy of Music Announces its Associate Honours 2023-2024".Royal Academy of Music.Retrieved19 April2024.
  30. ^"Ed Turner".Retrieved31 May2018.

External links[edit]

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