| Guildford
is the only cathedral to be built
on a new site in southern England
since the Reformation. It struggled
into being through the depression
of the 1930s, the Second World War
and the austerity of the 1950s before
finally being consecrated in 1961.
Its architect
was Sir Edward Maufe (1883 - 1974)
who achieved his aim of "to
build anew on tradition, to rely
on proportion of mass, volume and
line rather than elaboration and
ornament".
The Cathedral interior
offers an overall impression of
elegant lightness and space created
by the pale Somerset sandstone,
pillars, white Italian marble floor
and the light flooding in through
Maufe's tall lancet windows.
About the Cathedral
From its commanding
position on Stag Hill - so named
because the Kings of England used
to hunt here, the cathedral is an
imposing landmark.
The interior is more
admired than the exterior. John
Betjeman said "Its red brick
exterior belies the really splendidly
proportioned nave and aisles within".
It unfolds its treasures
gradually, come and see work by
artists including Eric Gill, Vernon
Hill, John Cobbett, John Hutton
and Moira Forsyth.
Guildford Cathedral
Choir
The first 40 years
The building of Guildford Cathedral
is a story of success against the
odds. Begun in 1936 to a design
by Sir Edward Maufe, and completed
in 1961, it retains its unique position
as the only new Anglican Cathedral
to be built in the South of England
since the Reformation. The story
of the foundation of the Cathedral
choir - one of a very few ensembles
of its type to be founded in the
20th century - is equally remarkable.
Since its inception in 1961 under
Barry Rose, and under its successive
directors Philip Moore, Andrew Millington
and Stephen Farr, it has won an
international reputation for its
singing. The basis of the choir’s
work is the regular singing of cathedral
services, but there are other exciting
activities, which include recording,
broadcasting and touring, as well
as frequent concert appearances
in the cathedral and elsewhere.
In recent years the choir of boys
and men has toured in Germany, Holland,
the USA and Denmark, and has appeared
on numerous occasions on Radio 3,
BBC1, Channel 4 and at the BBC Promenade
concerts. The choir has recently
released two CD recordings, further
details of which can be found on
the choir discography.
All Cathedral services are of course
open to the public; do visit the
Cathedral soon to hear the choirs
sing.
More Information
can be found at: www.guildford-cathedral.org
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