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St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal)
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is a cathedral
of the Scottish Episcopal Church
in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. It was built in the late 19th century in the West End of Edinburgh's New Town
. The cathedral is the see
of the Bishop of Edinburgh
, one of seven bishops within the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion
. Designed in a Gothic style by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the cathedral is now protected as a category A listed building.
, Presbyterianism
was restored in place of episcopacy
in the national Church of Scotland
. St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, as it then was, came under the Established Church's ministry, resulting in Episcopalians being left without a cathedral in Edinburgh. For a time the Episcopal residue of that congregation worshipped in an old woollen mill in Carrubber's Close, near the site of the present Old Saint Paul's Church
. This was used as a pro-cathedral
until the early 19th century, when this function was served by the Church of St Paul in York Place.
, Sir George's grandson. The builder was Edwin C. Morgan.
to employ girls in the treble line as well as boys, in 1978 when Dennis Townhill
was organist and choir master. In 2005 St Mary's Cathedral became the first cathedral in the Anglican tradition to have a female alto
singing in daily services. The Father Henry Willis
organ was built in 1879.
There are ten original bells in the central tower of the Cathedral hung for change ringing
, with two further bells being added recently. They were the gift of the first Dean of St Mary's, James F Montgomery. The bells were all cast by John Taylor & Co
of Loughborough
to weight ratios defined by Lord Grimthorpe
who was a leading bell designer of his day. This is one of only a few complete Grimthorpe rings still in existence. The bells were dedicated on October 29, 1879.
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was built in the late 19th century in the West End of Edinburgh's New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
. The cathedral is the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of the Bishop of Edinburgh
Bishop of Edinburgh
The Bishop of Edinburgh is the Ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.The see was founded in 1633 by King Charles I. William Forbes was consecrated in St. Giles' Cathedral as its first bishop on 23 January 1634 though he died later that year...
, one of seven bishops within the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. Designed in a Gothic style by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the cathedral is now protected as a category A listed building.
History
In 1689, following the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, Presbyterianism
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
was restored in place of episcopacy
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
in the national Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, as it then was, came under the Established Church's ministry, resulting in Episcopalians being left without a cathedral in Edinburgh. For a time the Episcopal residue of that congregation worshipped in an old woollen mill in Carrubber's Close, near the site of the present Old Saint Paul's Church
Old Saint Paul's, Edinburgh
Old Saint Paul's is an historic church of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town in Scotland. It stands on the site of the original home of the separate Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion, which evolved with the adoption of the Presbyterian...
. This was used as a pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
until the early 19th century, when this function was served by the Church of St Paul in York Place.
Funding
The original construction was paid for by Barbara and Mary Walker, spinster sisters, providing funds for this purpose from 1873. They owned the surrounding Drumsheugh Estate and lived in Easter Coates House, which still survives to the north of the cathedral. They were the grand-daughters of Rev. George Walker, the Episcopal Minister of Old Meldrum Church (1734-1781). Their father, William Walker, was Attorney in Exchequer, and Bearer of the White Rod of Scotland. Their mother was Mary Drummond, daughter of James Drummond, six times Lord Provost of Edinburgh and initiator of the New Town.Design and construction
The cathedral was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and the foundation stone was laid on May 21, 1874 by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, whose family had been supportive of Scottish Episcopacy over the previous hundred years. Inside the stone was placed a bottle containing a copy of the Trust Deed, the Edinburgh Post Office Directory, Oliver and Boyd's Almanac, newspapers and coins. In preparation for the opening of the Cathedral a congregation had been formed to worship in a temporary iron church erected on the site now occupied by the Song School. Beginning on May 26, 1876, it was ministered to by the dean, James Montgomery, and two chaplains, and grew rapidly. The nave of the cathedral was opened on January 25, 1879 and from that day, daily services have been held in the Cathedral. The twin spires at the west end were not begun until 1913 and not completed until 1917. The architect for these was Charles Marriott Oldrid ScottCharles Marriott Oldrid Scott
Charles Marriott Oldrid Scott was an English architect who is often best remembered for being the son of John Oldrid Scott and grandson of Sir George Gilbert Scott, both of whom were architects, as was his uncle George Gilbert Scott, Jr. and his cousins Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and Adrian Gilbert...
, Sir George's grandson. The builder was Edwin C. Morgan.
Music
St Mary's Cathedral is the only cathedral in Scotland to maintain a tradition of daily choral services with choristers drawn from its own choir school. It was the first cathedral in BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to employ girls in the treble line as well as boys, in 1978 when Dennis Townhill
Dennis Townhill
Dennis William Townhill OBE was an English organist and composer.Born in Lincoln, he was educated at Lincoln School and studied under Dr Gordon Archbold Slater at Lincoln Cathedral....
was organist and choir master. In 2005 St Mary's Cathedral became the first cathedral in the Anglican tradition to have a female alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
singing in daily services. The Father Henry Willis
Henry Willis
Henry Willis was a British organ player and builder, who is regarded as the foremost organ builder of the Victorian era.-Early Life and work:...
organ was built in 1879.
There are ten original bells in the central tower of the Cathedral hung for change ringing
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
, with two further bells being added recently. They were the gift of the first Dean of St Mary's, James F Montgomery. The bells were all cast by John Taylor & Co
John Taylor Bellfounders
John Taylor & Co, formerly trading as Taylors, Eayre & Smith Ltd and John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, and commonly known as Taylor's Bell Foundry or simply Taylor's, is the world's largest working bell foundry, located in Loughborough in the United Kingdom.The company manufactures bells for use in...
of Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
to weight ratios defined by Lord Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe
Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe, Q.C. , known previously as Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison was a lawyer, horologist, and architect...
who was a leading bell designer of his day. This is one of only a few complete Grimthorpe rings still in existence. The bells were dedicated on October 29, 1879.
Cathedral organists
- 1878 Thomas Henry Collinson
- 1929 Robert Head
- 1958 Eric Parsons
- 1961 Dennis TownhillDennis TownhillDennis William Townhill OBE was an English organist and composer.Born in Lincoln, he was educated at Lincoln School and studied under Dr Gordon Archbold Slater at Lincoln Cathedral....
- 1991 Timothy Byram-WigfieldTimothy Byram-WigfieldTimothy Byram-Wigfield is an English organist and conductor.Timothy Byram-Wigfield was a chorister at King's College, Cambridge under David Wilcocks and Philip Ledger...
- 1999 Matthew Owens
- 2005 Simon Nieminski
- 2007 Duncan Ferguson
Memorials
- James DundasJames DundasJames Dundas VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
V.C. (1842–1879) - General Sir Alexander Frank Philip ChristisonPhilip ChristisonGeneral Sir Philip Christison, 4th Baronet GBE CB DSO MC was a British military commander of the Second World War.-Early life and career:...
Bt. (1893–1993), erected by the Burma StarBurma StarThe Burma Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.The medal was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945...
Association - Soldiers of the Royal Scots killed overseas 1857–1870
Artefacts
Sir Walter Scott's pew was moved here in 2006. It began life in St George's Church on York Place and was then moved in 1932 to St Paul's Church across the road when the two congregations amalgamated, and the latter building became St Paul's and St GeorgesSt Paul's and St George's Church
St Paul's and St George's Church is a church of the Scottish Episcopal Church in central Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located on York Place in the east end of Edinburgh's New Town, and is protected as a category A listed building.The building was erected as St Paul's Church, replacing a chapel in...
.