Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral | ||
---|---|---|
Cathedral Church of All Saints | ||
Style Gothic, Neoclassical | | |
Years built | c. 1530–1725 renovated 1969–1975, 2015–2016 | |
Specifications | ||
Number of towers | 1 | |
Tower height | 212 feet (65 m) | |
Administration | ||
Province | Canterbury | |
Diocese | Derby (since 1927) | |
Clergy | ||
Dean | Peter Robinson | |
Precentor | Richard Andrews | |
Laity | ||
Director of music | Alexander Binns | |
Organist(s) | Edward Turner (Assistant Director of Music) | |
Listed Building – Grade I | ||
Official name | Cathedral Church of All Saints | |
Designated | 20 June 1952 | |
Reference no. | 1228277 |
The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby, better known as Derby Cathedral, is a cathedral church in the city of Derby, England. In 1927, it was promoted from parish church status to that of a cathedral, creating a seat for the Bishop of Derby, which new see was created in that year. The original church of All Saints was founded in the mid-10th century as a royal collegiate church, dedicated to All Saints. The main body of the church as it stands today is a Georgian rebuilding by James Gibbs, completed in 1725. The tower dates from the 16th century, and a retroquire was added in the 20th century.
History
All Saints' Church
The original church, dedicated to All Saints, was probably built in about 943 by the
The Saxon building probably became structurally unstable, and was therefore demolished. A new building was constructed in the 14th century, which surviving drawings show was about the same size as the present building. In 1510–1532, the surviving 212-foot (65 m) tower was built in the
in 1556, during the persecutions of
The fabric of the church appears to have deteriorated severely from about 1650, and was in a ruinous state in 1700. In February 1723 the vicar, Dr Michael Hutchinson, having decided that a new building was required, made the decision unilaterally to demolish the church, and employed a gang of workmen to accomplish the task overnight. Having accepted this
With the original 1530s tower retained, the rest of the church was rebuilt to a Neo-Classical design made in 1725 by the architect
By
Monuments and furnishings
The cathedral's treasures include the 18th-century
Clock and carillon
This section relies largely or entirely upon a single source.(August 2021) ) |
In 1927 a new clock was installed by John Smith & Son, Derby clockmakers, replacing one reputed to have been made by George Ashmore in 1738, but by then so worn as to be beyond its useful life. Until March 1976 this timekeeper and associated parts had been mechanically driven by heavy weights that had to be wound manually, some of them daily. This work had been undertaken by John Smith's for many years, but rising costs caused the authorities to install an automatic winding mechanism to both the clock and the carillon, which sounds the bells.[11]
Derby Cathedral's clock has two dials, one facing West along St Mary's Gate, and one facing South down Irongate. Both are of stone and are 8 feet in diameter. They were restored and gilded in 1964, then again in the early 21st century. The 1964 restoration proved beyond doubt that the long metal tubes driven through the tower walls to operate the clock mechanism were actually gun barrels (cavalry carbines) dating from the 1745 'uprising' of Bonnie Prince Charlie.[11]
The carillon is the mechanical instrument that drives the tunes played upon the cathedral's bells each day. It was installed by John Smith of Derby in 1931 to replace a machine of similar design, dating from the 17th century and subsequently enhanced towards the end of the 17th century by George Sorocold, a Derby millwright. The current machine plays a tune three times a day, and the seven tunes it plays are changed automatically each day. It is known that the tunes of the original machine were varied over the years, first by John Whitehurst at various times between 1745 and 1762, and then by John Smith in 1873.
There is documentary evidence to show that John Whitehurst was paid £3.3.0d (3 guineas)[a] for winding and care of the clock and carillon, although he is known to have paid from this sum the amount of £1.11.6d (1½ gns.)[a] to a Mr Frost, who did the actual daily winding of the carillon.[11]
On 3 July 1976, one of the less well-known carillon tunes was replaced with the melody of "The Derby Ram", a regimental march associated with the Sherwood Foresters, so that it would become a permanent reminder of the Regiment's association with the town and county of Derby.[11]
The tunes are currently played at 9 am, 12 noon and 6 pm as follows:
- Sunday — Thaxted
- Monday — Truro
- Tuesday — The Shady Bowers
- Wednesday — All Saints
- Thursday — Lass of Paittie's Mill
- Friday — The Highland Laddie
- Saturday — The Derby Ram
They can be listened to live on a local webcam feed. (The previous carillon played at 3, 6, 9, and 12 both night and day.)
Tower and bells
Derby Cathedral has the oldest
On 28 October 1732, a Frenchman called Gillinoe 'flew' down on a rope from the top of All Saints' steeple. He did this on a number of occasions, landing variously at St Michael's church and at the bottom of St Mary's Gate. On one occasion an ass was sent down the rope, but it broke under the weight and a number of onlookers were injured.[13]
On 25 July 1940, a wartime barrage balloon broke loose from its moorings during a heavy storm and, as it floated past, its chain caught round one of the pinnacles on the tower and demolished the top half of the pinnacle.[14][15]
In late 2005, it was discovered that a pair of peregrine falcons had taken up residence on the cathedral tower. In 2006 a nesting platform was installed, and they nested there in April of that year. Webcams were installed in 2007, 2008 and 2013 to enable the birds to be seen at close range without being disturbed by human contact. The same pair successfully reared chicks every year up to and including 2016. However, on 27 March 2017 it became clear that a new male had taken over the nesting platform and ousted his predecessor who, by that time, was at least 14 years old. It is not known whether the first male died of old age, or was chased away or killed by the new one after a fight. The female accepted the new male and together they produced, somewhat later than in previous years, four eggs, three of which successfully hatched into one male and two female chicks.[16]
In 2009, more than 150 members of the Derby Mountain Rescue Team abseiled down the tower for charity.[17] Further sponsored abseils have taken place every year since, and in 2012 this included the Assistant Curate, Andy Trenier, and the Dean of Derby Cathedral, Dr John Davies.[18][19]
Cathedral Centre
The Derby Cathedral Centre is opposite the west doors on Irongate. It was opened by
In 2017, the Cathedral Café won the annual Derby Food and Drinks Award for Best Customer Service.[22]
Burials
- Bess of Hardwick
- Henry Cavendish
- Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
- John Lombe
- William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough
- William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
- Charlotte Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington
Cathedral clergy
Dean and Residentiary Canons
As of June 2023:[23]
- Dean — Peter Robinson (since 20 July 2020 installation)[24]
- Canon for Liturgy (i.e. Precentor) — Richard Andrews (since 2 September 2018 installation)[25]
- Canon for Community Learning — Carla Vicêncio Prior (since 16 October 2022 installation)
- Diocesan Canon — Nicky Fenton (also Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby)
Other clergy
- Cathedral Chaplain — Adam Dickens (since 3 March 2014; Chaplain to the University of Derby)
- Associate Priest — Michael Futers
- Associate Priest — Dwayne Engh
Music
Organs and organists
Organ
In 1939, an organ was installed by John Compton of London, although it did not gain its impressive case (designed by Sebastian Comper) until 1963. It is played from a four-manual console in the Consistory Court area of the cathedral, and was overhauled in 1992.[26] In 1973, an additional instrument was installed in the new retroquire (east end) by Cousans of Lincoln.[27]
Organists
Between April 2013 and December 2014, Canon Peter Gould undertook a musical pilgrimage of 270 churches, in which he raised £7,478.78 over 39 tour days, performing to a collective audience of over 3,500 people. During the tour, three church organs were found to be in a poor state.[28]
On 4 January 2015, Canon Peter Gould resigned as Director of Music and was succeeded by Hugh Morris,[29] who was previously director of music at Christchurch Priory.
On 1 September 2017, Edward Turner joined the staff at Derby Cathedral as organist.[30]
See also
- List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
- Grade I listed churches in Derbyshire
- Grade I listed buildings in Derbyshire
- Listed buildings in Derby (Arboretum Ward)
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e Bowler, Tony (23 June 1994). "A towering presence". Derby Express.
- ISBN 0-7478-0597-0.
- ^ "The MARTYRDOME of JOANE WASTE. A blinde Woman in the Towne of Darbie". Foxe's Book of Martyrs. 1563. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012.
- ^ Gibbs, James (1739). A Book Of Architecture Containing Designs of Buildings and Ornaments (Second ed.). London. p. viii.
- ^ Derby Cathedral Official Guide, 2014.
- ^ Order in Council founding The Bishopric of Derby (S.I. 1927/624)
- ^ "No. 33290". The London Gazette. 1 July 1927. p. 4207.
- ISBN 9780140710083.
- ^ Mallender, Margaret (c. 1979). Information sheet: the records of the cathedral of All Saints, Derby. Cathedral of All Saints.
- ^ "Restored Gates will be renamed". Derby Cathedral. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d Howard Smith, J E (July 1976). Cathedral Information Sheet: "Derby Cathedral Clock". Derby: Derby Cathedral.
- ^ "Derby Cathedral". Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ Glover, Stephen (1829). History of the County of Derby Part 2. p. 609.
- ^ The Story of the cathedral church of All Saints Derby. The British Publishing Co Ltd, Gloucester. n.d. p. 26.
- ^ "Ominous storms lashed Derby on the eve of war". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "The Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project". Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ "Cathedral Abseil". Derby Mountain Rescue Team. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ "Daredevil duo's leap of faith as they prepare to abseil cathedral". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Dean and Curate abseil down Derby Cathedral tower". The Church of England Newspaper. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Welcome to our Visitor Centre, derbycathedral.org, retrieved 11 June 2012[permanent dead link]
- ^ cathedral centre, derbycathedral.org, archived from the original on 26 June 2012, retrieved 11 June 2012
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Derby Cathedral — Who's Who (Accessed June 2023)
- ^ King, Dave. "Peter Robinson installed as Dean of Derby – Diocese of Derby". derby.anglican.org.
- ^ "Appointments". Diocese of Derby. March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Cathedral of All Saints, Irongate (Compton)". National Pipe Organ Register. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
- ^ "Cathedral of All Saints, Irongate (Cousans)". National Pipe Organ Register. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ "unknown". Outlook. Derby Cathedral. December 2014. p. 27.
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: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Hugh Morris". Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Ed Turner". Retrieved 31 May 2018.