Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster
Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Southwell Minster Shown within Nottinghamshire
Location	Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	www.southwell minster.org.uk
Architecture
Style	Romanesque, Gothic
Years built	c.1108-c1300
Specifications
Number of towers	3
Number of spires	2
Administration
Province	York
Diocese	Southwell and Nottingham (since 1884)
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Paul Butler
Dean	John Guille

Southwell Minster (/ˈsaʊθwɛl/) is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

History

Mediæval

The font and nave

The pulpitum from the quire

The earliest church on the site is believed to have been founded in 627 by Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York, on a visit to the town when he was baptising believers in the River Trent. This legend is commemorated in the Minster's baptistry window.

In 956 King Eadwig gave a gift of land in Southwell to Oskytel, Archbishop of York, on which a Minster church was established. The Norman Domesday Book of 1086 recorded Southwell manor in great detail, and the Norman reconstruction of Southwell Minster began in 1108, probably as a gradual rebuilding of the Anglo-Saxon church, starting (as was usual) at the East end so that the high altar could come into service as soon as possible, the Saxon building being dismantled as work progressed. Many of the stones of this earlier Saxon church were reused in the construction of the Norman one. The tessellated floor and late 11th century tympanum in the North Transept are the only pieces of the earlier, Saxon building remaining intact. Work on the nave began after 1120 and the building was completed by c.1150.

The Minster was built partly as an attached church of the Archbishop of York's Palace (which stood next door and is now ruined). It served the Archbishop as a place of worship and was also a collegiate body of theological learning, hence its designation as a minster. The minster still draws its choir from the nearby school with which it is associated.

The Norman choir was replaced with an Early English building in 1234 because it was too small. The octagonal chapter house, built in 1286 complete with vault in Decorated Gothic style and naturalistic carving of foliage (a masterpiece of 13th century stonecarving including several Green Men), completed the cathedral. The elaborately carved "pulpitum" or choir screen was built in 1350.

Reformation and Civil War

The church suffered less than many others in the English Reformation as it was refounded in 1543 by Act of Parliament.

Southwell is where King Charles the First was captured during the English Civil War. The fighting saw the church seriously damaged and the nave is said to have been used as stabling. The adjoining palace was almost completely destroyed, first by Scottish troops and then by the local people, with only the hall of the Archbishop remaining as a ruined shell. The Minster's financial accounts show that extensive repairs were necessary after this period.

18th century

On 5 November 1711 the southwest spire was struck by lightning, and the resulting fire spread to the nave, crossing and tower destroying roofs, bells, clock and organ. By 1720 repairs had been completed, now giving a flat panelled ceiling to the nave and transepts.

Victorian

West front

In 1805 Archdeacon Kaye gave the Minster the Newstead lectern; once owned by Newstead Abbey, it had been thrown into the Abbey fishpond by the monks to save it during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, then later discovered when the lake was dredged. Sir Henry Gally Knight in 1818 gave the Minster four panels of 16th-century Flemish glass (which now fill the bottom part of the East window) which he had acquired from a Parisian pawnshop

In danger of collapse, the spires were removed in 1805 and only re-erected in 1879-1881. At this time of extensive restoration by Ewan Christian, an architect specialising in churches, the nave roof was also considered unsuitable due to its flatness and was completely rebuilt in the current peaked version and the choir was redesigned and refitted.

Ecclesiastical history

Collegiate church

Southwell Minster was originally served by its Prebendaries. These evolved from the early days of the Minster foundation until there were 16 in existence. This was as early as 1291 when they are all mentioned in the Taxation Roll.

In 1540 the prebends and minster were suppressed. However an act of Parliament in 1543 re-established the college and church collegiate of Southwell. Then, under an Act of King Edward VI, the prebendaries were pensioned off, and their estates sold. The minster continued as the parish church on the petitions of the parishioners.

By an Act of Philip and Mary in 1557, the Minster and its prebends were again restored as before.On 2 April 1585 a new set of statutes was promulgated by Queen Elizabeth I and the chapter operated under this constitution until it was dissolved in 1841. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners made provision for the abolition of the chapter as a whole; the death of each canon after this time resulted in the extinction of his prebend. The chapter came to its appointed end on 12 February 1873 with the death of the Rev. Thomas Henry Shepherd, rector of Clayworth and prebendary of Beckingham.

Cathedral

In 1884 Southwell Minster finally became a cathedral proper for Nottinghamshire and a part of nearby Derbyshire (an event whose centenary was commemorated with a royal visit to hand out the Maundy money): the Diocese included the City of Derby until it was divided in 1927, when the Diocese of Derby was formed. Dr George Ridding, the first Bishop of Southwell, designed and paid for the grant of Arms now used as the Diocesan coat of arms. Its creation as a cathedral has led to confusion over the civic status of Southwell. Traditionally it was considered to be a city because of the presence of the cathedral, but in more modern times the traditional definition has not been recognised by government (see city status in the United Kingdom).

The Friends of Cathedral Music was founded in 1956 by the Revd. Ronald Sibthorpe prompted by a decision of the Provost of Southwell to abolish the Saturday choral evensong so that lay clerks could watch the weekly football at Newark-on-Trent.

Architecture

The entrance to the chapter house with the famous carved foliage

The nave, transepts, central tower and two western towers of the Norman church which replaced the Saxon minster remain as an outstanding achievement of severe Romanesque design. The central tower's two ornamental stages place it high among England's surviving Norman towers. The nave is imposing, with cylindrical columns, large triforium arches and an unaltered clerestory with rows of round windows.

The choir is Early English in style. In the 14th century the choir screen and the chapter house were added. The polygonal chapter house and its vestibule comprise a Decorated masterpiece with sculptured detail including heads and naturalistic foliage, the latter being unsurpassed in England. There is the tomb of Archbishop Sandys of York (died 1588).

Staff

Clergy

Provosts and Deans

The title of Provost was changed in 2000 to Dean.

• William James Conybeare 1931–1945
• Hugh Christopher Lempriere Heywood 1945–1969
• John Francis Isaac Pratt 1970 - 1978
• John Murray Irvine 1978–1991
• David Leaning 1991–2006
• John Arthur Guille, (since 2006)

Canons

• Canon Pastor: The Reverend Canon Nigel John Coates
• Canon Precentor: The Reverend Canon Jaqueline Dorian Jones
• Priest Vicar: The Reverend Canon Prof. Alison Milbank
• Canon Theologian: The Reverend Dr. Simon Oliver
• Bishop's Chaplain : The Reverend Lucy Cleland
• The Venerable Canon Robin Turner CB DL

Lay Staff

• Rector Chori: Paul Hale
• Assistant Director of Music: Simon Hogan
• Organ Scholar: Hilary Punnett
• Head Verger: Andrew Todd

Music and liturgy

See also: List of organists, assistant organists and organ scholars at English cathedrals

Much of the worship at the Minster is led by the Cathedral Choir, a traditional cathedral choir of boys and men, directed by the Rector Chori (Literally "The Ruler of the Choir"), Paul Robert Hale. Choristers are educated at the Minster School, which is unusual among choir schools as it is in the state sector. The Minster Choir has recently attracted international attention thanks to previous head chorister Ben Inman, who was a member of The Choirboys, a "boy band" comprising three cathedral choristers.

There is also a Girls' Choir and the Minster Chorale, a choir of adult volunteers.

The Minster follows the rites of the Church of England and uses the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for the main Choral Eucharist on Sunday.

The Cathedral has 8 Choral Services a week, as follows:

Monday:

5:45 - Choral Evensong, Girls' Choir (Occasionally Girls' and Lay Clerks)

Tuesday:

5:45 - Choral Evensong, Boys' Voices

Thursday:

5:45 - Choral Evensong, Cathedral Choir

Friday:

5:45 - Choral Evensong, Cathedral Choir, unaccompanied (Occasionally Men's Voices)

Saturday:

5:45 - Choral Evensong, Cathedral Choir

Sunday:

9:30 - Family Eucharist, Girls' Choir, or the Minster Chorale

11:15 - Sung Eucharist or Choral Mattins, Cathedral Choir

3:30 - Choral Evensong, Cathedral Choir

The Cathedral Choir

In recent years, the choir has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3, have recorded CDs, have toured in Europe, have filmed Christmas programmes, and have given world premières of specially commissioned works such as Paul Patterson’s Southwell Millennium Mass. The choir has appeared before Her Majesty the Queen, has sung with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of St John's, Smith Square and the London Festival Orchestra. In 2003 the Minster Choir joined the choirs of Westminster Cathedral and St Albans Cathedral for a concert in the St Albans International Organ Festival. Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath wrote later "I cannot recall a more impressive programme of church music in many recent years. My deepest congratulations for an evening the richness of which will last for ever".

Choristers

There are usually 16 choristers in the Cathedral Choir. As with most choirs there is a hierarchical ranking system, in this case of Head Chorister; Deputy Head Chorister; Corner Boys; Senior Singing Boys; Junior Singing Boys and Probationers. The ranks of corner boy upwards are entitled to wear a 'tippet', a very short red cloak which is worn over the surplus. There are also Juniors who do not sing with the full choir, but are training to become full choristers.

Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars

There are six full-time professional Lay Clerks in the Cathedral Choir. These are supplemented by a further six men on alternate Sunday evenings and on special occasions, expanding the repertoire and force of the choir. The Lay Clerks often perform in their own right in services. They toured Venice in 2011, and are planning another tour in 2013.

The Cathedral Girls' Choir

The Minster Girls’ Choir was formed in February 2005 by the then Assistant Organist Simon Bell. The choir is made up of eighteen choristers, under the direction of Hilary Punnett, and is designed to complement the Boys’ Choir which has been singing at the Minster for hundreds of years. Occasionally the Girls' Choir sing with the Lay Clerks.

The girls are drawn exclusively from the Minster school, beginning at year 7 and progressing through to year 13. They rehearse twice a week, on Mondays, and Thursdays. They currently sing alternately between Evensong on Mondays at 5.45 pm and the 9.30 am Family Eucharist on Sundays. As of January 2013, the Girls' Choir will be singing Evensong every Monday.

The choir’s repertoire consists of music written for upper voices. Including music by composers such as Jean Langlais, Charles Wood and George Dyson. In September 2007, the choir sang a commissioned anthem by Andrew Parnell, a former chorister at Southwell, as part of the service of installation of the Dean. Their first tour was to Stavanger in Norway in October 2009, this included concerts and services. In 2011 they released their first CD, Christus Rex - a selection of music from Lent to Ascension, including Leighton's Easter Sequence, directed by Philip White-Jones and accompanied by Jonathan Turner with Richard Pratt, trumpet.

The Minster Chorale

The Minster Chorale is an adult voluntary choir that sings frequent services throughout the year in the Minster. It consists of up to thirty members who meet to rehearse most Friday evenings during school term times. Currently directed by the Minster's Assistant Director of Music, the Minster Chorale was founded in 1994 by Philip Rushforth and Paul Hale.

The Choir sings a cross-section of the whole repertoire of traditional Cathedral music, including works by Palestrina, Byrd, Mozart, Stanford and Howells. During the year, the Chorale deputises for the Minster Choir at half-term, and additionally sings at many of the evening Eucharist services on high feast days, such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Ascension Day. The Chorale takes its share of Christmas duties, singing at Midnight Mass.

The Chorale is also invited to perform occasional concerts and services away from the Minster. In recent years, it has sung in Rievaulx Abbey, St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Warwick, and Uppingham Parish Church. In July 2005, the Chorale ventured abroad for the first time, singing services at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. In the summer of 2011,it joined with the Voluntary Choir of Rochester Cathedral to celebrate the music of Rochester composers such as Robert Ashfield, Barry Ferguson and Percy Whitlock. The choir’s regular accompanist is the Minster’s Organ Scholar.

Southwell choir 'quirks'

Whilst every cathedral and cathedral choir is different, Southwell in particular has a number of different 'quirks' either unique to itself or shared with only a few other choirs.

Seating

The traditional layout of Decani and Cantoris with Cantoris being on the left as you look at the alter is reversed at Southwell. As the dean sits on the left of the centre aisle, decani is also on the left when looking at the alter. Also interesting, whilst not totally unique to Southwell is that the most senior boys (the corner boys and the deputy and head choristers) stand on either end of the line of boys, not in the middle. Generally the head chorister and deputy are selected so one comes from decani and the other from Cantoris, and these two take up the corners nearest the alter, whilst a corner boy for each side takes the corners furthest away from the alter. In addition, whilst probationers sing everything that the main choir does, instead of sitting within the choir they actually sit alone in their own 'probationer stalls', which are physically separate and slightly further away from the altar, only coming into the main ranks of the choir upon promotion.

Pronunciation of 'Abraham'

It is a tradition, in both music and liturgy that 'Abraham' is pronounced with a dark open 'Ahh' sound, as opposed to the standard closed 'ay'.

Recession

Whilst in procession the choristers follow the verger (with his Verge over his shoulder as opposed to out in front of him, another Southwell quirk) followed by the Lay Clerks. However in recession it is the lay clerks who lead out first, then followed by the choristers.

List of Rectores Chori

• Lawrence Pepys 1499
• Rev George Vincent 1519
• George Thetford 1568
• John Mudd 1582
• Thomas Foster 1584
• William Colbecke 1586
• John Beeston 1594
• Edward Manestie 1596
• Francis Dogson 1622
• John Hutchinson 1628
• Edward Chappell 1661

• George Chappell 1690
• William Popeley 1699
• William Lee 1718-1754
• Samuel Wise 1754-1755
• Edmund Ayrton 1755-1764
• Thomas Spofforth 1764-1818
• Edward Heathcote 1818-1835
• Frederick Gunton 1835-1841
• Chappell Batchelor 1841-1857
• Herbert Stephen Irons 1857-1872
• Cedric Bucknall 1872-1876

• William Weaver Ringrose 1876-1879
• W Arthur Marriott 1879-1888
• Robert William Liddle 1888-1918
• Harry William Tupper 1918-1929
• George Thomas Francis 1929-1946
• Robert James Ashfield 1946-1956
• David James Lumsden 1956-1959
• Kenneth Bernard Beard 1959-1989
• Paul Robert Hale 1989-

To see the list of Organists, Assistant Directors of Music, and Organ Scholars, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organists,_assistant_organists_and_organ_scholars_at_English_cathedrals#Southwell_Minster

Gallery

• 
  Stonework
• 
  The Presepe Window
• 
  INRI
• 
  Window
• 
  the Interior
• 
  One of the misericords in the quire
• 

See also

• Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
• English Gothic architecture
• Romanesque architecture
• Church of England

Further reading

• Nikolaus Pevsner (1945) The Leaves of Southwell; photographs by F. L. Attenborough. (King Penguin Books; 17.) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books

External links

• Southwell Minster Virtual Tour
• Southwell Minster website
• Details and pictures of the screen organ from the National Pipe Organ Register
• Details of the nave organ from the National Pipe Organ Register
• Guide to Southwell Minster with a History of the College of Secular Canons, Grevile Mairis Livett, Printed by John Whittingham, Southwell, 1883