Arundel Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard is a Roman Catholic cathedral
in Arundel
, West Sussex
, England
. Dedicated in 1873 as the Catholic parish
church of Arundel, it was not designated a cathedral until the foundation of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
in 1965. It now serves as the seat of the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
.
The Cathedral's location, construction, design, and dedication owe much to the Howard Family
, who, as Dukes of Norfolk
and Earls of Arundel
are the most prominent English Catholic family, and rank first (below the royal family
) in the Peerage of England
.
In 1868, forty years after the foundation of Roman Catholic parishes became again legal, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
commissioned architect Joseph Hansom
to design a new Roman Catholic sanctuary as a suitable counterpart to Arundel Castle. The architectural style of the cathedral is French Gothic
, a style that would have been popular between 1300 and 1400—the period in which the Howards and the Dukes of Norfolk rose to national prominence in England. The building is Grade I listed, and regarded as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the country.
While Arundel Castle
has been the seat of the Howards' ancestors since 1102, Roman Catholic worship was suppressed in Arundel and elsewhere in England by the Conventicle Act
of 1664. Thus, all churches and cathedrals in England were transferred to the Church of England
in the period before the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.
The church was originally dedicated to Our Lady
and St Philip Neri
, but in 1971, following the Canonisation of Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel
and the reburial of his relic
s in the Cathedral, the dedication was changed to Our Lady and St Philip Howard.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Arundel
Arundel
Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Dedicated in 1873 as the Catholic parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
church of Arundel, it was not designated a cathedral until the foundation of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese in southern England covering the counties of Sussex and Surrey. The diocese was established on 28 May 1965, having previously been a part of the larger Archdiocese of Southwark.-Bishops:There have been four...
in 1965. It now serves as the seat of the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
The Bishop of Arundel and Brighton is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in the Province of Southwark, England.The bishop's official residence is Bishop's House, The Upper Drive, Hove, East Sussex....
.
The Cathedral's location, construction, design, and dedication owe much to the Howard Family
Howard family
The Howard family is an English aristocratic family founded by John Howard who was created Duke of Norfolk by Plantagenet monarch Richard III of England in 1483. However, John was also the eldest grandson of the 1st Duke of 1st creation...
, who, as Dukes of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...
and Earls of Arundel
Earl of Arundel
The title Earl of Arundel is the oldest extant Earldom and perhaps the oldest extant title in the Peerage of England. It is currently held by the Duke of Norfolk, and is used by his heir apparent as a courtesy title. It was created in 1138 for the Norman baron Sir William d'Aubigny...
are the most prominent English Catholic family, and rank first (below the royal family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
) in the Peerage of England
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
.
In 1868, forty years after the foundation of Roman Catholic parishes became again legal, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, , styled Baron Maltravers until 1856 and Earl of Arundel and Surrey between 1856 and 1860, was a British Unionist politician and philanthropist...
commissioned architect Joseph Hansom
Joseph Hansom
Joseph Aloysius Hansom was a prolific English architect working principally in the Gothic Revival style, who invented the Hansom cab and was one of the founders of the eminent architectural journal, The Builder, in 1843....
to design a new Roman Catholic sanctuary as a suitable counterpart to Arundel Castle. The architectural style of the cathedral is French Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, a style that would have been popular between 1300 and 1400—the period in which the Howards and the Dukes of Norfolk rose to national prominence in England. The building is Grade I listed, and regarded as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the country.
While Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror...
has been the seat of the Howards' ancestors since 1102, Roman Catholic worship was suppressed in Arundel and elsewhere in England by the Conventicle Act
Conventicle Act 1664
The Conventicle Act of 1664 was an Act of the Parliament of England that forbade conventicles...
of 1664. Thus, all churches and cathedrals in England were transferred to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in the period before the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.
The church was originally dedicated to Our Lady
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
and St Philip Neri
Philip Neri
Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:...
, but in 1971, following the Canonisation of Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel
Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel
Saint Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel was an English nobleman. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales...
and the reburial of his relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s in the Cathedral, the dedication was changed to Our Lady and St Philip Howard.
Related Images
- Cathedral exterior image 1 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/5/5d/Arundel_Cathedral.jpg
- Cathedral exterior image 2 http://www.arundel.org.uk/images/cathedral2.JPG
- St. Philip Howard image http://www.savesphschool.co.uk/images/st-philip-howard.jpg
External links
- Arundel Cathedral Website http://www.arundelcathedral.org/welcome.htm
- Friends of Arundel Cathedral http://www.arundelcathedralfriends.org/welcome.htm