Chelmsford Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Chelmsford Cathedral in the county town of Chelmsford
, Essex
, England
is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin
, St Peter
and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford
was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford
.
The church of St Mary the Virgin in Chelmsford was probably first built along with the town eight hundred years ago. It was rebuilt in the 15th and early 16th centuries, with walls of flint
rubble, stone and brick
. There is also a tower and spire
with a ring of thirteen bells, 12 of which were cast by John Warner and Sons at Cripplegate. The nave
was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, after it had partially collapsed. The stained-glass
windows were all installed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The south porch was extended in 1953 to mark Anglo-American friendship after the World War II
and the many US airmen
stationed in Essex. In 1954, the cathedral was additionally dedicated to Saints Peter and Cedd. In 1983, the interior of the cathedral was extensively refurbished, with a new floor, seating, altar, Bishop's throne, font
and artwork. In 1994 and 1995 two pipe organ
s were installed, the first in the nave and the second in the chancel
.
In 2000 a sculpture of "Christ in Glory", by Peter Eugene Ball
, was placed above the chancel arch.
In 2004 two further major works of art were commissioned, and are now in place: Mark Cazelet's "Tree of Life" painting in the North Transept, and Philip Sanderson's altar frontal in the Mildmay Chapel.
The cathedral celebrates its links with Thomas Hooker
, who was Chelmsford Town Lecturer between 1626 and 1629. He fled to the New World because of his Puritan
views and founded the town of Hartford
, Connecticut
and was one of the founders of American democracy
.
The cathedral enjoys close links with The Cathedral School, St Cedd's School, King Edward VI Grammar School
and Chelmsford County High School for Girls
. Many of the cathedral's boy and girl choristers attend these schools. On 7 February 2000, whilst the Dean, The Very Reverend Peter Judd was Chairman of Governors, The Cathedral School became the first school in England and Wales to be threatened with a S15. Warning Notice under the Schools Standard and Framework Act because of the threat to pupil safety from the school's failure to follow the required child protection procedures.
A specification of the organs can be found at the National Pipe Organ Register.
See also the List of Organ Scholars at Chelmsford Cathedral.
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, 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...
is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin
St Mary the Virgin
-Churches:* St Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury* St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn Hamlet* St Mary the Virgin, Brighton* St Mary the Virgin, Barnes* St Mary the Virgin, Bathwick* St Mary the Virgin, Gillingham, Dorset* St Mary the Virgin, Henbury...
, St Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford
Diocese of Chelmsford
The Diocese of Chelmsford is a Church of England diocese, part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers Essex and the five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest, and is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of...
was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford
Bishop of Chelmsford
The Bishop of Chelmsford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford in the Province of Canterbury.The current bishop is the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, the 10th Bishop of Chelmsford, who signs Stephen Chelmsford...
.
History
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
rubble, stone and brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
. There is also a tower and spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
with a ring of thirteen bells, 12 of which were cast by John Warner and Sons at Cripplegate. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, after it had partially collapsed. The stained-glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows were all installed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The south porch was extended in 1953 to mark Anglo-American friendship after the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the many US airmen
Airman
An airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank...
stationed in Essex. In 1954, the cathedral was additionally dedicated to Saints Peter and Cedd. In 1983, the interior of the cathedral was extensively refurbished, with a new floor, seating, altar, Bishop's throne, font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
and artwork. In 1994 and 1995 two pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s were installed, the first in the nave and the second in the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
.
In 2000 a sculpture of "Christ in Glory", by Peter Eugene Ball
Peter Eugene Ball
Peter Eugene Ball is an English sculptor. He is best known for his religious work which can be seen in churches and cathedrals throughout Britain...
, was placed above the chancel arch.
In 2004 two further major works of art were commissioned, and are now in place: Mark Cazelet's "Tree of Life" painting in the North Transept, and Philip Sanderson's altar frontal in the Mildmay Chapel.
The cathedral celebrates its links with Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
, who was Chelmsford Town Lecturer between 1626 and 1629. He fled to the New World because of his Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
views and founded the town of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and was one of the founders of American democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
The cathedral enjoys close links with The Cathedral School, St Cedd's School, King Edward VI Grammar School
King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford)
King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It takes pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 — from Year 7 to 11 the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form .The present headteacher is Thomas...
and Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford County High School for Girls, or "CCHS", is a selective grammar school for girls aged 11–18 located in Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is one of the most consistently high-achieving secondary schools in the UK, regularly scoring in the top 5 schools for both GCSE and A-level results.In...
. Many of the cathedral's boy and girl choristers attend these schools. On 7 February 2000, whilst the Dean, The Very Reverend Peter Judd was Chairman of Governors, The Cathedral School became the first school in England and Wales to be threatened with a S15. Warning Notice under the Schools Standard and Framework Act because of the threat to pupil safety from the school's failure to follow the required child protection procedures.
Music
- The Cathedral Music Department led by the Director of Music includes the Assistant Director of Music, Organ Scholar, Music Secretary and Choir Matron.
- The Cathedral Choir consists of twenty boys (aged 7–13) and twelve men. The choir sings the daily choral services and Choral Eucharist, Matins (monthly) and Choral Evensong on Sundays. The men of the choir are made up of professional Lay Clerks, Choral Scholars and volunteer 'Singing Men'.
- The Cathedral Consort consists of fourteen girls (aged 11–18). They sing Choral Evensong every Tuesday and frequently join the men of the Cathedral Choir for other choral services and concerts.
- The Voluntary Choir was formed in 2001 and frequently sings at cathedral services often during the holiday periods after Christmas, Easter and through the Summer.
Cathedral Organs
- The Nave Organ is situated at the west end of the cathedral under the Tower. It is a four-manual instrument with mechanical action built by Mander OrgansMander OrgansMander Organs is an English pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in London. Although well known for many years in the world of organ building, they achieved wider notability in 2004 with their refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall's Father Willis organ....
in 1994. - The Chancel Organ is a two manual mechanical instrument built by Mander OrgansMander OrgansMander Organs is an English pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in London. Although well known for many years in the world of organ building, they achieved wider notability in 2004 with their refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall's Father Willis organ....
in 1995. It incorporates 19th century pipework Hill and Holdich and is widely admired for its character and versatility. The Nave Organ's Great, Swell, Solo and Pedal divisions can be played via an electric link from the Chancel Organ console.
A specification of the organs can be found at the National Pipe Organ Register.
Directors of Music
- 182? Charles AmbroseCharles AmbroseCharles Ambrose was an English organist, composer, choir director, and music educator who was active in his native country during his early career and later in Canada. His compositional output was small, consisting of a few sacred works and pieces for solo organ and piano...
- 1876 Frederick Frye
- 1945 Roland Middleton (later Organist of Chester CathedralChester CathedralChester Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, and is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly St Werburgh's abbey church of a Benedictine monastery, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
) - 1949 W Stanley VannStanley VannWilliam Stanley Vann FRCO, ARCM was an English composer, organist, choral conductor, and choir trainer, primarily in the Anglican cathedral tradition.-Early life:...
(later Master of the Music at Peterborough CathedralPeterborough CathedralPeterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, whose statues look down from the...
) - 1953 Derrick Edward Cantrell (later Organist of Manchester CathedralManchester CathedralManchester Cathedral is a medieval church on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. The cathedral's official name is The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester...
) - 1962 Philip Stevens LedgerPhilip LedgerSir Philip Ledger CBE is a British classical musician and academic. He is best-known for his tenure as director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge between 1973 and 1982 and as director of Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama from 1982 until his retirement in 2001...
(later Director of Music at King's College, CambridgeKing's College, CambridgeKing's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
) - 1965 John Willam Jordan
- 1981 Graham Elliott
- 1999 Peter Nardone
Assistant Organists
- Geoffrey Becket
- 1963 John Jordan
- 1966 Peter Cross
- 1968 David Sparrow
- 1986 Timothy Allen
- 1996 Neil Weston
Assistant Directors of Music
- 1999 Edward Wellman
- 2003 Robert Poyser (later Director of Music at Beverley MinsterBeverley MinsterBeverley Minster, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire is a parish church in the Church of England. It is said to be the largest parish church in the UK....
) - 2008 Tom Wilkinson (later Organist at the University of St AndrewsUniversity of St AndrewsThe University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, Scotland) - 2009 Oliver Waterer
See also the List of Organ Scholars at Chelmsford Cathedral.
External links
- Official site
- http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/doc/k/known%20maintained%20schools%20that%20have%20been%20threatened%20with%20or%20have%20received%20a%20warning%20notice%20under%20section%2015%20of%20the%20school%20standards%20and%20framework%20act%201998%20%20march%202006.doc
- Essex Chronicle newspaper article, Thursday July 14, 2011, P4-5.