Truro Cathedral
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Truro Cathedral  |
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| Truro Cathedral | |
| Dedication | The Blessed Virgin Mary |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Broad Church |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Truro St Mary |
| Deanery | Powder |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Dean | Rev Christopher Hardwick |
| Canon | Perran Gay |
| Other | |
| Organist/Director of Music | Robert Sharpe |
| Organist | Christopher Gray |
| Website | www.trurocathedral.org.uk |
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro in Cornwall. It was the first all-new Gothic cathedral to be built in Britain for 600 years since Salisbury Cathedral was started in 1220 and is the largest example in the British Isles of the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during the nineteenth century.
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[edit] History
Construction began in 1880 on the site of the sixteenth-century parish church (St Mary the Virgin) to a design by the noted ecclesiastical architect John Loughborough Pearson, a leading figure of the 19th Century Gothic Revival. The cathedral's three massive towers and spires were a feature which had been unique in England to Lichfield Cathedral since Lincoln Minster lost its three lead spires in a storm in 1549. Truro's resemblance to Lincoln, if not striking, but neither was it coincidental. Pearson had been appointed as Lincoln's Cathedral Architect and the first Bishop of Truro, Edward Benson, had previously been Chancellor at Lincoln. The central tower and spire is 250 feet (76 metres) tall, while the western towers reach to 200 feet (61 metres).
One particularly unusual feature of the cathedral is the fact that an original aisle of St Mary's church is still contained within the South-East corner of the cathedral. It was given a tower and spire of its own as part of the building of the new cathedral, which can be seen on the east side of the South-West transept. Because the Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it has no need for a Lady Chapel, so, instead, a Jesus Chapel (also known as a Blessed Sacrament Chapel) was built in its place. A further unusual feature is the non-alignment of the cathedral's nave and chancel, which can be clearly seen by visitors at either end of the building. This was due to site constraints; the cathedral is built in a densely-populated central site with houses and shops packed closely about on all sides, in a manner more reminiscent of a Continental European cathedral, rather than an English one. However, this was a trait common to many medieval churches (thought to symbolise Christ's head leaning to one side on the cross), so Pearson would have been pleased to incorporate such a feature into the building.
Foundation stones were laid in 1880 and the first section of the cathedral was consecrated in 1887. The central tower was completed by 1905 and the building was completed with the opening of the two western towers in 1910. Pearson died in 1897 and the work of his architectural practice was continued by his son, Frank. The Cathedral attracts over 200,000 visitors a year and was the location for the first service of Nine Lessons and Carols, devised by E.W. Benson for Christmas Eve, 1880. In 2002 the East End was completely renovated and restored with some of the ornate Bath stone replaced with harder wearing Syerford stone. In 2005 the West Front was restored similarly. Both projects were supervised by MRDA Architects of London, the Cathedral architects.
[edit] Organs
A fine new organ of four manuals and forty-five stops built by Henry Willis was installed in 1887, since when it has seen very little alteration. One of many built to a standard design, the combination of its superb voicing and the Cathedral's fine acoustics have given it a reputation as one of the finest organs in the world. More of its history can be seen on its page on the Cathedral website, while its specification can be seen on its entry on the National Pipe Organ Register.
The other main organ in the Cathedral is a two-manual instrument in the St. Mary's Aisle, the sole remnant of the former Parish Church. It was originally built by Renatus Harris and was installed in Truro in 1750 by John Byfield [1]. 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 [2]. There is also a four-stop continuo organ by Kenneth Tickell [3].
[edit] Organists
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[edit] Photo gallery
 The Cathedral seen from the South-West |
 The Cathedral seen from the East in 1913 |
 The Cathedral in 1905, before completion of the central tower. The former South Aisle of the old church (St. Mary's Aisle) can be seen in the foreground. |
 The Cathedral seen from the South-East. The St. Mary's Aisle can be seen in the foreground, plus the tower with which Pearson provided it. |
 The West Front |
 The West front seen at night |
 The two West towers, seen at sunset. |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official site
- The specification of the Willis organ on the National Pipe Organ Register
- Truro Cathedral fullscreen QTVR panoramas
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