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Truro Cathedral

Coordinates:50°15′51″N05°03′04″W/ 50.26417°N 5.05111°W/50.26417; -5.05111
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Truro Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Truro Cathedral is located in Cornwall
Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral
Location within Cornwall
50°15′51″N05°03′04″W/ 50.26417°N 5.05111°W/50.26417; -5.05111
LocationTruro, Cornwall
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
TraditionHigh Church
Websitetrurocathedral.org.uk
History
Former name(s)The Parish Church of St Mary's, Truro
Consecrated1887
Architecture
Architect(s)J. L. Pearson
StyleGothic Revival
Years built1880–1910
Specifications
Number oftowers4
Number ofspires3
Spire height76m (crossing), 61m (western)
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseTruro(since 1876)
Clergy
Bishop(s)Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St. Germans and acting Bishop of Truro[1]
DeanSimon Robinson (dean-designate)
PrecentorSimon Griffiths
Canon ChancellorAlan Bashforth
Canon(s)2 vacancies
Laity
Director of musicJames Anderson-Besant
Listed Building– Grade I
Official nameTruro Cathedral
Designated29 December 1950
Reference no.1205377

TheCathedral of the Blessed Virgin Maryis aChurch of Englandcathedral in the city ofTruro,Cornwall. It was built between 1880 and 1910 to aGothic Revivaldesign byJohn Loughborough Pearsonon the site of the parish church of St Mary. It is one of three cathedrals in theUnited Kingdomfeaturing three spires.[a]

History and description[edit]

A stained glass window depicting the founding of the cathedral

TheDiocese of Trurowas established in December 1876, and its first bishop,Edward White Benson,was consecrated on 25 April 1877 atSt Paul's Cathedral.[2]

Construction began in 1880 to a design by the leadingGothic RevivalarchitectJohn Loughborough Pearson.Truro was the first Anglican cathedral to be built on a new site in England sinceSalisbury Cathedralin 1220. It was built on the site of the 16th-century parish church ofSt Mary the Virgin,a building in thePerpendicular stylewith a spire 128 feet (39 m) tall.[3]The final services in St Mary's were held on Sunday 3 October 1880 and the church was demolished that month, leaving only the south aisle, which was retained to serve as the parish church.[4]From 24 October 1880 until 1887 a temporary wooden building on an adjacent siteserved as the cathedral.The seats were free and unappropriated, accommodated fewer than 400 people and was extremely hot in summer and cold in winter. It was in this building that Benson introduced the new evening service ofNine Lessons and Carolson Christmas Eve, 1880.[5]

The choir and transepts were complete by October 1887. The service of consecration took place on 3 November, performed by E. W. Benson, by then Archbishop of Canterbury. His successor as Bishop of Truro,George Wilkinson,and twenty other bishops were also present, together with civic representatives and diocesan clergy, and about 2,000 other people.[6]The central tower was finished by 1905 and the building was completed with the opening of the two western towers in 1910. J. L. Pearson died in 1897 and his son Frank took over the project. Frank Loughborough Pearson's other works includeSt Matthew's, Aucklandin New Zealand.

The Cathedral across theTruro River
Looking west from the choir, towards the nave and the west rose window

Pearson's design combines theEarly Englishstyle with certain French characteristics, chiefly spires and rose windows. Its resemblance toLincoln Cathedralis not coincidental; Pearson had been appointed as Lincoln Cathedral's architect and the first Bishop of Truro, Edward Benson, had previously been Canon Chancellor at Lincoln. The central tower and spire stands 250 feet (76 m) tall, while the western towers reach to 200 feet (61 m). Four kinds of stone were used:Mabegranite for the exterior, andSt Stephen's granite for the interior, with dressings and shafts ofBathandPolyphant stone.The spires and turret roofs are of stone, except for a copper spire over the bell tower at west end of St Mary's Aisle. The other roofs are of slate.[7]The cathedral is vaulted throughout.[8]Nathaniel Hitchwas responsible for the decorative sculpture, including thereredos.

The original south aisle of St Mary's Church survives, incorporated into the south-east corner of the cathedral and known as St Mary's Aisle. It still functions as the city centre'sparish church.Three brasses were described by Edwin Dunkin in 1882: those of Cuthbert Sydnam (1630), Thomas Hasell (1567) and George Fitzpen, rector of the parish. As the cathedral is dedicated to theBlessed Virgin Mary,it has noLady Chapel.A Jesus Chapel and the Chapel of Unity and Peace are reserved for quiet and prayer throughout the day. There was nochapter houseuntil 1967, when the opportunity to enlarge the building on the south-east arose. The architect of the new building was John Taylor.[3]

Truro Chapter Act 1878
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to make provision for the foundation of a Dean and Chapter for the Bishopric of Truro, and for the transfer to the Cathedral Church of Truro of one of the Canonries in the Cathedral Church of Exeter; and for other purposes connected therewith.
Citation41 & 42 Vict.c. 44
Dates
Royal assent8 August 1878
Other legislation
Repealed byTruro Cathedral Measure 1959
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Upon the foundation of Truro Cathedral, Bishop Benson was authorised to establish 24 honorary canonries. In 1878 a new act of Parliament authorised the bishop to establish residentiary canonries. In 1882 an existing canonry was transferred to Truro from Exeter whose income enabled the provision of two canonries at Truro. In 1906 the office of sub-dean was endowed, but the position of dean was still held by the bishop, at least until 1925. This remained the case until it became possible to fund the office of dean.[9]The Victorian acts of Parliament which apply to the cathedral are theBishopric of Truro Act 1876(39 & 40 Vict.c. 54), theTruro Chapter Act 1878(41 & 42 Vict.c. 44), and theTruro Bishopric and Chapter Acts Amendment Act 1887(50 & 51 Vict.c. 12).[10]Preaching duties in the cathedral are shared out among the bishop, residentiary canons and honorary canons.[11]

TheRoyal MaundyService was held in the cathedral in 1994 when QueenElizabeth IIpresented 134Cornish peoplewith the traditional Maundy money.[12]

Restoration[edit]

The two western towers

In 2002 the cathedral embarked on what was hoped to be a fifteen-year project to restore the east end, the west front and the central tower and spire. Each of the projects would be undertaken as funds allowed. The east end restoration repaired stonework and damage to the iron work on the stained glass windows. From 2004, a year-long project saw the restoration of the massive west front and towers. In 2009 and 2010 work on the central tower and spire began.

Restoration work is being carried out by W. R. Bedford; Stuart Aston, managing director, said that the problem is theBath Stoneused on the more decorative areas of the cathedral, has not stood up well to the salts and sand in the maritime climate of Cornwall. Erosion of the stonework has left much of the exposed stonework in such a damaged condition that it resembles honeycomb. Funding for the restoration of the tower and spire has been partly met by grants fromEnglish Heritage,Friends of Truro Cathedral, theHeritage Lottery Fund,the Tanner Trust, the cathedral itself and by public subscription. The "Save Our Spire" campaign has raised nearly £50,000 towards the cost.[citation needed]

Governance[edit]

A plan of Truro Cathedral, 1900

The cathedral is governed by a three-tier structure as set out in the Cathedral Measure and Statutes. The chapter (comprising the dean, three residentiary canons and three chapter canons), the cathedral council and the college of canons.

Dean and chapter[edit]

As of 3 October 2022:[13]

  • Dean— Simon Robinson (interim since October 2022, announced as permanent dean 17 August 2023) to be installed in Autumn 2023.[14]
  • Canon chancellor — Alan Bashforth (since 2014 installation)
  • Canon precentor — Simon Griffiths (since 2016 installation)
  • Canon missioner — vacant since 2014
  • Diocesan canon — vacant since April 2020; Barley was canon pastor andpriest-in-chargeofTresillianandPenkevilandrural deanofPowder[15]

Organs[edit]

The organ

TheFather Willisorgan of 1887 is widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in the country. "It is not easy, even today, to think how the magnificence of the Willis organ in Truro Cathedral could be improved" wrote W. L. Sumner in his 1952 bookThe Organ.It was built in 1887 in London and arrived in Cornwall by boat. It has an almost identical specification to the organ he built a year earlier for the then parish church of St Michael, Coventry (laterCoventry Cathedral). Both instruments have the standard Willis hallmarks—tierce mixtures on Great and Swell, characterfulgedacktson the Choir, and a small but telling pedal division.

Apart from the addition of the electric blower in the 1920s, no major work was done until 1963, when thegrandson of the original buildercarried out a conservative restoration, at a cost of some £17,000. Before this time, theorgan consolewas situated high up within the main case of the instrument, necessitating a walk of two or three minutes up a spiral staircase in the north transept. The action was a mixture of Barker lever, pneumatic and tracker. There were very few playing aids and contact between the organist and choir, some 40 feet (12 m) below, would have been almost impossible. In 1963, the organ committee decided to keep the original tonal scheme and voicing, and move the console over on to the south side in a new gallery placed above the choir stalls to a design by the architect John Phillips. Here the organist can hear the instrument properly, and maintain close contact with the choir.

The other main organ in the cathedral is a two-manual instrument in St Mary's aisle, the sole remnant of the former parish church. It was originally built byRenatus Harrisand was installed in Truro in 1750 by John Byfield.[16]It was re-installed in the temporary church in 1880, but was significantly rebuilt and reduced in size in 1887 for installation in its current location.[17]There is also a four-stop continuo organ by Kenneth Tickell.[18]

In 2012,Tim Ricebacked the 125-year anniversary appeal to support Truro Cathedral's choir and music.[19]

Organists[edit]

See also:List of musicians at English cathedrals
Organist and Master of the Choristers
Assistant Organists
Organ Scholars
  • Luke Bond1998–1999 (later Assistant Organist 2008–2017)
  • Christopher Teel 1999–2000
  • Andrew Senn 2000–2001
  • Nicholas Wearne 2001–2002 (later Assistant Organist atSt Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh)
  • Michael Phillips 2002 (later director of music and organist at St Luke's Episcopal Church, Dallas, currently Organist at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Austin, U.S.A.)
  • Tom Wilkinson 2003–2004 (currently Organist atUniversity of St Andrews)
  • Claire Cousens 2004–2005
  • Tom Little 2005–2006
  • David Moore 2006–2007 (later assistant director of music atHampstead Parish Church,London)
  • Shiloh Roby 2007–2008 (later organ scholar ofSt Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin)
  • Joshua Hales 2008–2009 (later organ scholar atExeter College, Oxford)
  • Donald Hunt 2009–2010 (currently assistant organist atSt Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh)
  • Sachin Gunga 2010–2011 (currently Sub-Organist atPortsmouth Cathedral)
  • Edward Symington 2011–2012 (afterwards organ scholar atWestminster Cathedral)
  • Harry Meehan 2012–2013 (afterwards organ scholar atThe Queen's College, Oxford)
  • Rachel Mahon 2013–2014 (currently Director of Music atCoventry Cathedral)
  • James Orford 2014–2015 (later organ scholar atSt Paul's Cathedral)
  • Joseph O’Berry 2015–2016
  • Käthe Wright Kaufman 2016–2017
  • William Fairbairn 2017–2018
  • Carolyn Craig 2018–2019
  • Manuel Piazza 2019–2020
  • Alden Wright 2021–2022
  • Tom Dilley 2022–2023
  • Jeremiah Mead 2023–2024

Bells[edit]

Aringof ten bells was cast in 1909 byJohn Taylor & Coof Loughborough: the tenor bell weighs 33cwt-3qr-10lb (3790lb).[25]Four further bells, also cast by Taylor, were installed in 2011: two completing the original ring to twelve, and two smaller ones to give the option of a lighter sound.[26]In addition there are six bells in the Green Tower, previously in St Mary's Parish Church, of which five form a chiming peal. A planned greatbourdon bellfor the south-west tower was never made.[27][28]

Choir[edit]

Truro Cathedral has had an unbroken choral tradition dating from 1876. The present-day choir has twelve adult singers who are either lay vicars or choral scholars, accompanied by either eighteen boy choristers or eighteen girl choristers. After the closure ofTruro Cathedral Schoolin 1982, the cathedral no longer has a dedicated cathedral school. Instead, the choristers are awarded bursaries to attendTruro School.[29][30]

Girl choristers were first admitted to the cathedral choir in 2015.[31]OnInternational Women's Dayin 2017 they appeared for the first time in a broadcast of theBBC Radio 3programmeChoral Evensong.The service included the first performance of two new works, namely a set ofcanticlesbyDobrinka Tabakovaand a set of responses by Sasha Johnson-Manning.[32]The cathedral's girl choristers were also among those selected to sing at thecoronation of Charles III and Camillain 2023.[33]

The choir appeared on the 2019 season ofBritain's Got Talent.[34]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^the others beingLichfield CathedralandSt Mary's Cathedralin Edinburgh.Lincoln Cathedralalso had three spires, originally, but the centre spire collapsed in 1549.

References[edit]

  1. ^"Who we are".Truro Diocese. 30 October 2023.
  2. ^"Consecration of the Bishop of Truro".Church Times.No. 744. 27 April 1877. p. 245.ISSN0009-658X.Retrieved26 December2016– via UK Press Online archives.
  3. ^abPevsner, Nikolaus; Enid Radcliffe (1970).Cornwall.p. 234.
  4. ^"Closing Services In The Old Parish Church Of St Mary, Truro, The Pro-Cathedral".The Cornishman.No. 118. 14 October 1880. p. 5.
  5. ^Brown, H. M. (1976)A Century for Cornwall.Truro: Blackford; pp. 32–33, 38
  6. ^Brown (1976); pp. 33, 43
  7. ^Historic England."Truro Cathedral (1205377)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved2 June2011.
  8. ^Pevsner, Nickolaus; Enid Radcliffe (1970).Cornwall.p. 233.ISBN978-0-14-071001-4.
  9. ^Cooper, Canon (chancellor) "The restoration of the Cornish bishopric", in:The Cornish Church Guide.Truro: Blackford, 1925; pp. 30–50 (the bishop was still dean in 1925)
  10. ^The Cornish Church GuideTruro: Blackford, 1925, p. 48
  11. ^The Cornish Church Guide.Truro: Blackford, pp. 48–49
  12. ^"Mary Ann Winn 1925–2006".St Tudy (parish website). Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2012.Retrieved21 April2011.
  13. ^Truro Cathedral — Governance & ChapterArchived1 January 2021 at theWayback Machine(Accessed 1 January 2021)
  14. ^"Ellen and Lynda".
  15. ^"New Dean of Truro Announced".
  16. ^"Organ of St Mary's Truro".Cambridge University.
  17. ^"Organ of St Mary's Truro".Cambridge University.
  18. ^"Organ of St Mary's Truro".Cambridge University.
  19. ^"Sir Tim Rice supports Truro Cathedral's choir".BBC News Cornwall. 28 November 2012.
  20. ^Cornishman;Wednesday 28 April 1920
  21. ^Scholes, Percy A. (1970)The Oxford Companion to Music,10th ed. London: Oxford U.P.; p. 123b (afterwards organist of New College Oxford; Durham Cathedral; and St Paul's Cathedral; knighted 1968)
  22. ^"Cathedral News".Dean and Chapter of Truro. Archived fromthe originalon 6 February 2005.
  23. ^Thornsby, Frederick W., ed. (1912)Dictionary of Organs and Organists.Bournemouth: Logan; p. 339
  24. ^Thornsby (1912); p. 336
  25. ^Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers.2000.Retrieved1 June2011.
  26. ^"Truro Cathedral bells ring again".BBC News.27 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2015.Retrieved1 June2011.
  27. ^Dove, R. H. (1982).A Bellringer's Guide to the Church Bells of Britain and Ringing Peals of the World(6th ed.). Aldershot: Viggers; p. 111.
  28. ^Brown, H. M. (1976)A Century for Cornwall.Truro: Blackford; p. 54
  29. ^"Music: Truro Cathedral Choir".trurocathedral.org.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 23 December 2004.
  30. ^"Girl Choristers for Truro Cathedral Choir".Diocese of Truro.5 August 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2016.Retrieved16 December2016.
  31. ^"First girl choristers for Truro Cathedral".BBC.11 October 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2019.Retrieved20 June2018.
  32. ^"BBC Radio 3 – Choral Evensong, Truro Cathedral on International Women's Day".Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2017.Retrieved8 March2018.
  33. ^Royal Family, "New music commissions for the coronation service at Westminster Abbey",17 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  34. ^Shannon Hards (25 May 2019)."Shock as Truro Cathedral Choir don't make it through to Britain's Got Talent finals".Cornwall Live.Retrieved4 June2024.

Further reading[edit]

  • Cooper, Sydney, Canon of Truro (1925) "The Restoration of the Cornish Bishopric". In:Cornish Church Guide.Truro: Blackford; pp. 30–50
  • Henderson, Charles (1925) "Truro St Mary V." In:Cornish Church Guide.Truro: Blackford; pp. 209–10

External links[edit]

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