St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of Saint Philip is the Church of England
cathedral
and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham
. Built as a parish church and consecrated in 1715, St Philip's became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham
in the West Midlands
in 1905. St Philip's was built in the early 18th century in the Baroque
style by Thomas Archer
and is located on Colmore Row
, Birmingham
, England
. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building. St Philip's is the third smallest cathedral in England after Derby
and Chelmsford
.
became insufficient to house its congregation because of the growing population of Birmingham. The land, previously named The Barley Close, was donated by Robert Philips in 1710. It is one of the highest points in the district and is said to be at the same level as the cross on St Paul's Cathedral
in London
. Following an Act of Parliament
, construction commenced in 1711, to the design of Thomas Archer
, and was ready for consecration in 1715, when it was dedicated to the Apostle Philip as a tribute to the benefactor Robert Philips. It appears to have been Archer's first church, apart from a rebuilt chancel at Chicheley
attributed to him. Construction was estimated to cost £20,000, however, the final figure was only £5,012. (£ as of ), This was because many of the materials were donated and transported to the site at no cost. St Philip's served as a Parish church from 1715 to 1905.
The church contained a theological library which was bequeathed to the church by the Revd William Higgs. In 1792, a library room was constructed next to the parsonage house by the Revd Spencer Madan
and was named the Parochial Library.
and Truro
constructed new cathedrals, in a number of other cities pre-existent churches and ancient abbeys were raised to the administrative status of cathedrals. Through the actions of statesman Joseph Chamberlain
and Bishop of Worcester
, Charles Gore
, St Philip's became the Cathedral of Birmingham in 1905, with Charles Gore as its first bishop.
, and were replaced, unharmed, when the building was restored in 1948.
St Philip's was designed by Thomas Archer
and constructed between 1711 and 1715, with the tower being complete by 1725, and the urns on the parapet added in 1756. Thomas Archer had visited Rome
and his design, in the Baroque
style, is influence by the churches of Borromini, being rather more Italianate than churches by Christopher Wren
. The rectangular hall church
interior has aisles separated from the nave by fluted pillars of classical form with Tuscan
capitals supporting an arcade surmounted by a heavily projecting cornice
. Wooden galleries are stretched between the pillars in a manner typical of English Baroque churches.
Externally the building is surrounded by tall windows between pilasters of low relief, supporting a balustrade at roof level with an urn rising above each pilaster. The western end is marked by a single tower which rises in stages and is surmounted by a lead-covered dome and delicate lantern. The building is of brick
and is faced with stone
quarried on Thomas Archer's estate at Umberslade.
The original shallow eastern apse was extended in 1884-8 by J. A. Chatwin
into a much larger chancel, articulated by strongly projecting Corinthian
columns. This bold design is made richer by the marbled surfaces of the columns and pilasters, the gilding of capitals and cornice and the ornately coffered ceiling. Chatwin also refaced the exterior of the building because the stone from the original quarry was very soft. The tower was refaced in 1958-59.
Edward Burne-Jones
, who was born in nearby Bennett's Hill and baptized in the church, added to the enhancement of St Philips by the donation of several windows, of which three are at the eastern end. The west window, also by Burne-Jones, was dedicated in memory of Bishop Bowlby in 1897.
Six of the monuments have heritage listings, including one commemorating two men who died during the construction of Birmingham Town Hall
and a memorial to the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings
. A statue of Bishop Charles Gore, vested in convocation robes with his right hand raised in blessing, is located at the West entrance. Upon completion of the building, it was decided to prohibit monuments from being added to the interior. Nowadays the lawns around the cathedral are a popular meeting spot for local teenagers.
.
(1,320 kg). These bells were to prove unsatisfactory for in 1751 the vestry resolved to have them recast by Thomas Lester of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
in London. The new bells were slightly larger than the previous, with a tenor weighing in the key of D — a total weight of , and hung in a wooden frame.
Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries the bells were well used, however from 1906 the bells had become unringable, due in part to concerns about the safety of the tower. Ringing was briefly revived in 1921 but when the Coronation of 1937 provided the impetus to restore the bells they had been unringable again for several years.
The 1937 restoration was carried out by the Croydon bell founders, Gillett & Johnston
, the bells being recast and hung in a cast iron frame at the base of the large louvre windows. The same foundry cast two additional treble bells in 1949, given by Frank B Yates, to complete the ring of twelve bells that exists today. The tenor bell weighs and is in the key of D.
In 2004 Whitechapel Bell Foundry carried out rehanging and refurbishment of the frame and fittings, including further strengthening work to the upper frame and the installation of a viewing gallery, accessed from the original belfry doorway. Brian Yates, grandson of the above Frank Yates, was the principal donor for this project.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham
Bishop of Birmingham
The Bishop of Birmingham heads the Church of England diocese of Birmingham, in the Province of Canterbury, in England.The diocese covers the North West of the historical county of Warwickshire and has its see in the City of Birmingham, West Midlands, where the seat of the diocese is located at the...
. Built as a parish church and consecrated in 1715, St Philip's became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham
Anglican Diocese of Birmingham
The Anglican Diocese of Birmingham is a diocese in the Church of England's Province of Canterbury, covering the north west of the traditional county of Warwickshire in England....
in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
in 1905. St Philip's was built in the early 18th century in the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style by Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
and is located on Colmore Row
Colmore Row
Colmore Row is a street in the centre of Birmingham, England, running from Victoria Square to just beyond Snow Hill station. It is traditionally the city's most prestigious business address....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, 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...
. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building. St Philip's is the third smallest cathedral in England after Derby
Derby Cathedral
The Cathedral of All Saints , is a cathedral church in the City of Derby, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Derby, and with an area of around is the smallest Anglican cathedral in England.-History:...
and Chelmsford
Chelmsford Cathedral
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....
.
Foundation
St Philip's Church was planned when the nearby medieval church of St Martin in the Bull RingSt Martin in the Bull Ring
The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring in Birmingham 5, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:It is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Bull Ring shopping centre and the markets. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The current Rector...
became insufficient to house its congregation because of the growing population of Birmingham. The land, previously named The Barley Close, was donated by Robert Philips in 1710. It is one of the highest points in the district and is said to be at the same level as the cross on St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Following an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
, construction commenced in 1711, to the design of Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
, and was ready for consecration in 1715, when it was dedicated to the Apostle Philip as a tribute to the benefactor Robert Philips. It appears to have been Archer's first church, apart from a rebuilt chancel at Chicheley
Chicheley
Chicheley is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The village is about 2½ miles north east of Newport Pagnell.The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means Cicca's clearing...
attributed to him. Construction was estimated to cost £20,000, however, the final figure was only £5,012. (£ as of ), This was because many of the materials were donated and transported to the site at no cost. St Philip's served as a Parish church from 1715 to 1905.
The church contained a theological library which was bequeathed to the church by the Revd William Higgs. In 1792, a library room was constructed next to the parsonage house by the Revd Spencer Madan
Spencer Madan
Spencer Madan was an English churchman, bishop successively of Bristol and Peterborough.-Life:The son of Colonel Martin Madan and Judith Madan of London, and younger brother of Martin Madan, he was sent to Westminster School in 1742, and in 1746 went to Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1749 he...
and was named the Parochial Library.
Cathedral
With the growth of industrial towns in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a subsequent growth in the number of parishes, and a need for new administrative centres. Birmingham became a city in 1889. While the cities of LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
constructed new cathedrals, in a number of other cities pre-existent churches and ancient abbeys were raised to the administrative status of cathedrals. Through the actions of statesman Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
and Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, Charles Gore
Charles Gore
Charles Gore was a British theologian and Anglican bishop.-Early life and education:Gore was the third son of the Honourable Charles Alexander Gore, and brother of the fourth Earl of Arran...
, St Philip's became the Cathedral of Birmingham in 1905, with Charles Gore as its first bishop.
World War II
During the Second World War, the cathedral was bombed and gutted on the 7 November 1940. Its most significant treasures, several windows by Burne-Jones were removed in the early stages of the war by The Birmingham Civic SocietyThe Birmingham Civic Society
The Birmingham Civic Society was founded at an inaugural meeting on 10 June 1918 in The Council House, Birmingham, England and is registered with The Civic Trust. The first President of the Society, the Earl of Plymouth, addressed the assembled Aldermen, Councillors, Architects and other city...
, and were replaced, unharmed, when the building was restored in 1948.
Architecture
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
and constructed between 1711 and 1715, with the tower being complete by 1725, and the urns on the parapet added in 1756. Thomas Archer had visited Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and his design, in the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style, is influence by the churches of Borromini, being rather more Italianate than churches by Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
. The rectangular hall church
Hall church
A hall church is a church with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was first coined in the mid-19th century by the pioneering German art historian Wilhelm Lübke....
interior has aisles separated from the nave by fluted pillars of classical form with Tuscan
Tuscan order
Among canon of classical orders of classical architecture, the Tuscan order's place is due to the influence of the Italian Sebastiano Serlio, who meticulously described the five orders including a "Tuscan order", "the solidest and least ornate", in his fourth book of Regole generalii di...
capitals supporting an arcade surmounted by a heavily projecting cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
. Wooden galleries are stretched between the pillars in a manner typical of English Baroque churches.
Externally the building is surrounded by tall windows between pilasters of low relief, supporting a balustrade at roof level with an urn rising above each pilaster. The western end is marked by a single tower which rises in stages and is surmounted by a lead-covered dome and delicate lantern. The building is of 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:...
and is faced with stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
quarried on Thomas Archer's estate at Umberslade.
The original shallow eastern apse was extended in 1884-8 by J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin FRIBA, RBS, FSAScot , was a designer of buildings and the most prolific architect involved with the building and modification of churches in Birmingham, England, building or altering many of the parish churches in the city. He used both the Gothic and Classical styles...
into a much larger chancel, articulated by strongly projecting Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
columns. This bold design is made richer by the marbled surfaces of the columns and pilasters, the gilding of capitals and cornice and the ornately coffered ceiling. Chatwin also refaced the exterior of the building because the stone from the original quarry was very soft. The tower was refaced in 1958-59.
Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
, who was born in nearby Bennett's Hill and baptized in the church, added to the enhancement of St Philips by the donation of several windows, of which three are at the eastern end. The west window, also by Burne-Jones, was dedicated in memory of Bishop Bowlby in 1897.
Precinct and memorials
St Philip's is surrounded by a churchyard with contains graves but which is no longer open for new burials. The churchyard covers an area of 4 acres (16,187.4 m²).Six of the monuments have heritage listings, including one commemorating two men who died during the construction of Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...
and a memorial to the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings
Birmingham pub bombings
The Birmingham pub bombings occurred on 21 November 1974 in Birmingham, England. The explosions killed 21 people and injured 182. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs – the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town . Although warnings were sent, the pubs were not evacuated in time...
. A statue of Bishop Charles Gore, vested in convocation robes with his right hand raised in blessing, is located at the West entrance. Upon completion of the building, it was decided to prohibit monuments from being added to the interior. Nowadays the lawns around the cathedral are a popular meeting spot for local teenagers.
Cathedral clergy
- The Very Revd Catherine Ogle - Dean
- Revd Canon Nigel Hand - Canon Missioner
- Revd Canon Janet Chapman - Canon Liturgist
Choirs
St Philip's has a traditional cathedral choir of 20 boys and adult lay clerks (and choral scholars), who sing at the principal services. Since 1992, there has been also a choir of girls who sing at several services a week. The present director of music is Marcus Huxley. The choir has received invitations to sing at other cathedrals and venues, and the Girls' Choir has sung with the well-known soloist Emma KirkbyEmma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
.
Organ
The organ, originally built by Schwarbrick, still dates in part from 1715. It underwent repairs during the late 19th century and was moved from its original position in the gallery. It has been restored, enlarged and modernised several times, most recently by Nicholson's in 1993. Details of the organ can be found at the National Pipe Organ Register.Directors of Music
| Year instated | Name |
|---|---|
| 1715 | Barnabas Gunn Barnabas Gunn Barnabas Gunn was an English organist and composer.Gunn's date and place of birth are unknown, but he was appointed organist of the newly built St Philip's Church in Birmingham in 1715... |
| 1733? | William de St. Thunes |
| 1735? | John Ohio Eversman |
| 1765 | Jeremiah Clarke (afterwards organist of Worcester Cathedral Worcester Cathedral Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester... ) |
| 1803 | Bishop Simms |
| 1829 | Henry Simms |
| 1871 | C.J.B. Meacham (afterwards organist of St. George's Church, Edgbaston St. George's Church, Edgbaston St. George's Church, Edgbaston is a parish church in the Church of England in Edgbaston, Birmingham.-History:It was built in 1836-8 as a chapel-of-ease to St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston.... ) |
| 1888 | Richard Yates Mander (afterwards organist of All Saints' Church, Ryde All Saints' Church, Ryde All Saints' Church, Ryde is a parish church in the Church of England located in Ryde, Isle of Wight. The building is a landmark of the Island and is sometimes referred to as the "Cathedral of the Island".-History:... ) |
| 1898 | A. G. Thompson |
| 1901 | Arthur Elmore (afterwards organist of St Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green St Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green St Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green is a Church of England parish church in Acocks Green, Birmingham, England.-Background:For centuries, Acocks Green was part of the Parish of Yardley, however the population had expanded throughout the 19th century, with the middle classes moving out of the town, and... ) |
| 1906 | Edwin Stephenson Edwin Stephenson (organist) Edwin Stephenson was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:He was born in Windermere, Cumbria in 1871... (afterwards organist of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster) |
| 1914 | William Frederick Dunnill William Frederick Dunnill William Frederick Dunnill was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire on 16 March 1880. He was the son of Jeremiah Dunnill and Pollie... (formerly organist of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham St. Mary's Church, Nottingham The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the largest mediæval building in Nottingham.... ) |
| 1936 | Willis Grant Willis Grant Willis Grant was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:Willis Grant was born on 1 May 1907 in Bolton, Lancashire. He was educated at Astley Bridge School... (afterwards professor of music, University of Bristol University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is... ) |
| 1958 | Thomas Tunnard Thomas Tunnard Thomas Tunnard was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:Thomas Newburgh Tunnard was born on 30 July 1918 in Lexham, Norfolk. He was a chorister at St... |
| 1968 | Roy Massey Roy Massey (musician) -Biography:Roy Massey was born in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley Grammar School, Birmingham, and the University of Birmingham. He took the Birmingham degree of B.Mus... |
| 1974 | David Bruce-Payne David Bruce-Payne David Bruce-Payne is a former cathedral organist, who served at St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, England.-Background:David Malcolm Bruce-Payne was born on 8 August 1945 in Banbury, Oxfordshire... |
| 1978 | Hubert Best Hubert Best Hubert Best was an English cathedral organist, who served in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:Hubert Best was born on 24 March 1952 in Durban, South Africa. He was educated at Rhodes University.... |
| 1986 | Marcus Huxley Marcus Huxley Marcus Huxley is an English cathedral organist, who serves in St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.-Background:Marcus Richard Huxley was born on 11 December 1949 in Chelmsford... |
Assistant Organists
- T. Appleby Matthews 1907 - 1914
- Harrison OxleyHarrison OxleyThomas Frederick Harrison Oxley was a British organist, who was appointed Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral aged 24. At the time, he was the youngest cathedral organist in the country...
1950 - 1951 (later Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral) - John K. Nicholas 1954 - 1956
- Hubert Best (later organist)
- Rosemary Field 1986 - 1995
- Rupert JeffcoatRupert JeffcoatRupert Edward Elessing Jeffcoat is a Scottish organist, composer, and Anglican priest.- Life :Jeffcoat was born in Edinburgh, Scotland....
1995 - 1997 (subsequently Director of Music at Coventry CathedralCoventry CathedralCoventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
and St John's Cathedral, BrisbaneSt John's Cathedral, BrisbaneSt John's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral of Brisbane and the metropolitan cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of Queensland, Australia...
) - Christopher Allsop 1997 - 2004 (now Assistant Organist at Worcester CathedralWorcester CathedralWorcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
) - Stuart Nicholson 2004 - 2010 (now Organist and Master of Choristers at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin)
- Tim Harper 2010 -
Bells
Following the completion of the tower in 1725 Joseph Smith of Edgbaston provided a ring of eight bells which were subsequently augmented to ten, the tenor weighing approximately 26 cwtHundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
(1,320 kg). These bells were to prove unsatisfactory for in 1751 the vestry resolved to have them recast by Thomas Lester of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
in London. The new bells were slightly larger than the previous, with a tenor weighing in the key of D — a total weight of , and hung in a wooden frame.
Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries the bells were well used, however from 1906 the bells had become unringable, due in part to concerns about the safety of the tower. Ringing was briefly revived in 1921 but when the Coronation of 1937 provided the impetus to restore the bells they had been unringable again for several years.
The 1937 restoration was carried out by the Croydon bell founders, Gillett & Johnston
Gillett & Johnston
Gillett and Johnston is a clock and formerly bell manufacturing business in Croydon, England.-History:William Gillett started a clock making business on Union Road in Croydon, England in 1844. Charles Bland became a partner in 1854 and the company became known as Gillet and Bland. In 1877, Arthur...
, the bells being recast and hung in a cast iron frame at the base of the large louvre windows. The same foundry cast two additional treble bells in 1949, given by Frank B Yates, to complete the ring of twelve bells that exists today. The tenor bell weighs and is in the key of D.
In 2004 Whitechapel Bell Foundry carried out rehanging and refurbishment of the frame and fittings, including further strengthening work to the upper frame and the installation of a viewing gallery, accessed from the original belfry doorway. Brian Yates, grandson of the above Frank Yates, was the principal donor for this project.
See also
- St Philip
- List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
- St Chad's (CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
) - Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew (Greek OrthodoxEastern Orthodox ChurchThe Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
) - Provosts of Birmingham Cathedral