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Ripon Cathedral

Coordinates:54°8′5″N1°31′12″W/ 54.13472°N 1.52000°W/54.13472; -1.52000
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Ripon Cathedral
The west front of the cathedral
Ripon Cathedral is located in North Yorkshire
Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral
Shown within North Yorkshire
54°8′5″N1°31′12″W/ 54.13472°N 1.52000°W/54.13472; -1.52000
OS grid referenceSE 31446 71129
LocationMinster Road,Ripon,North YorkshireHG4 1QT
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
TraditionLiberal Anglo-Catholic[1]
WebsiteOfficial website
History
StatusCathedral (since 1836)
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I
StyleAnglo-Saxon,Gothic(Early English)
Years built1160–1547
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseLeeds(since 2014)
Clergy
DeanJohn Dobson
PrecentorMichael Gisbourne
Canon ChancellorBarry Pyke (Educator)
CanonPastorAilsa Newby
Laity
Director of musicDrRonny Krippner
Organist(s)Tim Harper
Cathedral with its two west towers (left) and its central tower

TheCathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid,commonly known asRipon Cathedral,and until 1836 known asRipon Minster,is acathedralinRipon,North Yorkshire,England. Founded as a monastery by monks of theIrish traditionin the 660s, it was refounded as aBenedictinemonastery bySt Wilfridin 672. The church becamecollegiatein the tenth century, and acted as a mother church within the largeDiocese of Yorkfor the remainder of the Middle Ages.[2]The present church is the fourth, and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. In 1836 the church became the cathedral for theDiocese of Ripon.[3]In 2014 the Diocese was incorporated into the newDiocese of Leeds,and the church became one of three co-equal cathedrals of theBishop of Leeds.

The cathedral is notable architecturally for itsgothicwest front in theEarly Englishstyle, considered one of the best of its type, as well as theGeometriceast window.[3]The seventh-century crypt of Wilfrid's church is a significant example of early Christian architecture in England.[3]The cathedral has Grade Ilisted buildingstatus.

Background[edit]

There has been a stone church on the site since 672, whenSaint Wilfridreplaced the previous timber church of the monastery at Ripon (a daughter house ofSaint Aidan's monastery atMelrose) with one in the Roman style. This was one of the earlieststonebuildings erected in theKingdom of Northumbria.[4]Thecryptdates from this period.[5]

History[edit]

The nave

Today's church is the fourth to have stood on this site.[6]Saint Wilfrid brought stonemasons, plasterers and glaziers from France and Italy to build his greatbasilicain AD 672. A contemporary account byStephen of Ripontells us:

In Ripon, Saint Wilfrid built and completed from the foundations to the roof a church of dressed stone, supported by various columns and side-aisles to a great height and many windows, arched vaults and a winding cloister.[7]

Saint Wilfrid was buried in this church near the high altar. Devastated by the English kingEadredin AD 948 as a warning to theArchbishop of York,[8]only the crypt of Wilfrid's church survived but today this tiny 7th-century chapel rests complete beneath the later grandeur of ArchbishopRoger de Pont l’Evêque's 12th century minster.[9]A secondminstersoon arose at Ripon, but it too perished – this time in 1069 at the hands ofWilliam the Conqueror.Thomas of Bayeux,firstNormanArchbishop of York, then instigated the construction of a third church, traces of which were incorporated into the later chapter house of Roger's minster.[10]

TheEarly Englishwest front was added in 1220, its twin towers originally crowned with wooden spires and lead.[11]The east window was built as part of a reconstruction of the choir between 1286–8 and 1330, and was described by architecture criticPevsneras a 'splendid' example of the series of large Decorated gothic windows constructed in Northern England.[12]Major rebuilding had to be postponed due to the outbreak of theWars of the Rosesbut resumed after the accession ofHenry VIIand the restoration of peace in 1485.[13]The crossing tower was rebuilt after it collapsed in an earthquake in 1450 but was never completed. Between 1501 and 1522 the nave walls were raised higher and the aisles added. The church's thirty-fourmisericordswere carved between 1489 and 1494.[14]The same (Ripon) school of carvers also carved the misericords atBeverley MinsterandManchester Cathedral.[15]But in 1547, before this work was finished,Edward VIdissolved Ripon's college of canons. All revenues were appropriated by the Crown and the tower never received its last perpendicular arches. It was not until 1604 thatJames Iissued hisCharterof Restoration.

During the Civil War, much of the stained glass was smashed and some of the statues were destroyed.[16][17]

Cathedral status[edit]

The minster finally became a cathedral (the church where the Bishop has hiscathedraor throne) in 1836, the focal point of the newly createdAnglicanDiocese of Ripon– the first to be established since theReformation.[18]

Dean and chapter[edit]

As of 30 December 2020:[19]

  • Dean–John Dobson(since 14 June 2014 installation)[20]
  • Canon Precentor – Michael Gisbourne (since 16 September 2018 installation)[21]
  • Canon Educator (i.e.Canon Chancellor) – Barry Pyke (since 11 September 2016 installation;[22]previously called "Canon for Rural Engagement and Education" )
  • Canon Pastor – Ailsa Newby (since June 2017;[23]Newby is also The Lady Newby by her marriage to the Liberal politicianLord Newby)[24]

Music[edit]

See also:List of musicians at English cathedrals § Ripon Cathedral

The current director of music is DrRonny Krippner,with Tim Harper as assistant director of music.[25]

Organ[edit]

The cathedral has a fine organ byHarrison and Harrison,which is a rebuild of the original Lewis instrument dating from 1878.[26]The organ is on the screen and has casework byGilbert Scott.A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[27]The organ last underwent a major refurbishment in 2013. These works included a thorough cleaning and repair of all pipe work.[28]

Organists[edit]

In 1447, the organ at Ripon Cathedral was played by a priest, Thomas Litster.[29]Notable organists have included composersCharles Harry MoodyandRonald Edward Perrin.

Bells[edit]

Aringof 12 bells with an additional 'flat sixth' bell is hung in the south-west tower. Adiatonicring of ten bells was cast in 1932, and three additional bells were installed in 2008 with two newtreblesbeing added to give a diatonic ring of twelve, and an additional 'flat sixth' bell to give a light ring of eight.[30]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Blagdon-Gamlen, P. E. (1973)The Church Travellers Directory.London: Church Literature Association; p. 75
  2. ^"History of the Secular and Diocesan Boundaries in Yorkshire"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 10 March 2016.Retrieved3 May2017.
  3. ^abcPevsner, Nikolaus; Metcalf, Priscilla (2005).The Cathedrals of England: The North and East Anglia.London: The Folio Society. p. 255.
  4. ^Wilkinson 1974,p. 3.
  5. ^Hallett 1901,p. 75.
  6. ^"Ripon Cathedral (Dean and Chapter) Archive – Library | University of Leeds".explore.library.leeds.ac.uk.Retrieved15 July2020.
  7. ^James, Sara N. (2016). "1: Missionaries, monks and marauders: Pre-Conquest England, the heptarchy-Edward the Confessor, C 600–1066".Art in England: the Saxons to the Tudors, 600–1600.Oxford: Oxbow Books. p. 10.ISBN978-1-78570-223-5.
  8. ^Hallett 1901,pp. 10–11.
  9. ^Hallett 1901,p. 121.
  10. ^Wilkinson 1974,p. 6.
  11. ^Wilkinson 1974,p. 10.
  12. ^Pevsner, Nikolaus (2009). Leach, Peter; Minnis, John (eds.).Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North.New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 637–658.ISBN978-0300126655.
  13. ^Wilkinson 1974,p. 19.
  14. ^Wilkinson 1974,p. 22.
  15. ^Wood, Juanita (1999).Wooden images: misericords and medieval England.London: Associated University Press. p. 25.ISBN0-8386-3779-5.
  16. ^Tate, Lesley (28 March 2019)."Fallen angel prompts £1000,000 restoration work at Ripon Cathedral".Craven Herald.Retrieved15 July2020.
  17. ^Historic England."Ripon Minster (Cathedral Church of St Peter and Wilfrid) (1150164)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved15 July2020.
  18. ^Hallett 1901,p. 36.
  19. ^"Ripon Cathedral – Clergy & Staff".Archived fromthe originalon 19 September 2020.Retrieved30 December2020.
  20. ^"Installation of Canon John Dobson as Dean of Ripon".Archived fromthe originalon 28 May 2014.Retrieved27 July2014.
  21. ^"New Canon Precentor for Ripon".Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2019.Retrieved2 February2019.
  22. ^"Ripon Cathedral service sheet"(PDF).11 September 2016. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 January 2018.Retrieved16 January2018.
  23. ^"Canon Ailsa returns to Northern Roots | Ripon Cathedral".riponcathedral.info.20 June 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 1 July 2017.Retrieved20 June2017.
  24. ^Anon (2016)."Newby, Richard Mark".Who's Who.A & C Black.doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U29365.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
  25. ^"The Music Department".Ripon Cathedral.Archivedfrom the original on 6 October 2014.Retrieved27 October2014.
  26. ^Boeringer, James (1989).Organa britannica: organs in Great Britain 1660–1860: a complete edition of the Sperling notebooks and drawings in the Library of the Royal College of Organists.London: Bucknell University Press. p. 343.ISBN0-8387-1894-9.
  27. ^"Yorkshire, North, Ripon, Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Wilfrid [N07116]".National Pipe Organ Register.British Institute of Organ Studies.Retrieved24 October2023.
  28. ^Hersey, Frank (7 February 2014)."Ripon Cathedral celebrates restored organ with a weekend of music".infoweb.newsbank.Retrieved14 July2020.
  29. ^West, John E. (1899).Cathedral organists past and present: a record of the succession of organists of the cathedrals, chapels royal, and principal collegiate churches of the United Kingdom, from about the period of the reformation until the present day. / With biographical notes, extracts from the chapter books, anecdotes.London: Novello. p. 70.OCLC729755533.
  30. ^Baxter, Emma."Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers Latest News".Yacr.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2014.Retrieved27 October2014.

Sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Werronen, Stephen (2017).Religion, Time and Memorial Culture in Late Medieval Ripon.Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer.ISBN978-0-86193-345-7.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRipon Cathedral.
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