Derby Cathedral
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derby Cathedral is a cathedral church in the City of Derby, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Derby, and with a surface area of around 10,950 sq ft is the smallest Anglican cathedral in England.[1]
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[edit] History
The original church was founded by King Edmund I in about 943 as a royal collegiate church; however, there is no trace of its existence today. The current cathedral dates from the fourteenth century, although it appears to be based on an earlier medieval building, which drawings show was about the same size as the present church. It may be that it became structurally unstable and was pulled down. The tower dates from 1510 to 1530 and was built in the popular perpendicular gothic style of the time. The rest of the building was rebuilt in a classical stype to the designs of James Gibbs of 1725.
The building became a cathedral by Royal Charter in 1927, unusual because Derby remained a town at the time. Previously it was known as All Saints' Church.
[edit] Trivia
The cathedral contains the oldest ring of ten bells in the United Kingdom. Other treasures include an eighteenth-century nave with a wrought iron screen by Robert Bakewell, the memorial to Bess of Hardwick, and the Cavendish brasses, including those of Henry Cavendish and Georgiana Spencer, the wife of one of the Dukes of Devonshire.
The cathedral tower is 64.8 metres tall, and as such was (until 1927) the second tallest non-cathedral church tower in England after Boston Stump. It is now the third tallest (Anglican) cathedral church tower in England after Liverpool and Canterbury.
In 2005, it was discovered that several Peregrine falcons had taken up residence on the Cathedral Tower. In 2006 a nesting box was installed, and it is believed that the falcons made a nest in this box in April.
[edit] Organs and Organists
[edit] Organ
In 1939 an organ was installed by John Compton of London, which was used until being overhauled in 1992. [2]
[edit] Organists
- 1921 A G Claypole
- 1930 Alfred Wilcock
- 1933 George Heath-Gracie
- 1958 Wallace Ross
- 1983 Peter Gould
[edit] Gallery
 The Nave |
 The Altar |
 Chi-rho on the Altar |
 The Interior |
 The Crypt |
 The Nave |
 The Cathedral |
[edit] References
- ^ Christ Church Cathedral - Miscellany. Christ Church, Oxford. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.
- ^ Cathedral of All Saints, Irongate. National Pipe Organ Register. Retrieved on March 30, 2007.
