Truro Cathedral

Truro Cathedral
Simon Lewis · CC BY 2.5 · source
Name	Truro Cathedral
Fullname	The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro
Caption	Truro Cathedral from the south
Denomination	Church of England
Tradition	Anglo-Catholic
Diocese	Diocese of Truro
Province	Province of Canterbury
Dedicated date	1880 (foundation stone)
Architect	John Loughborough Pearson
Style	Gothic Revival architecture
Length	300 ft (91 m)
Width	61 ft (19 m)
Height	250 ft (76 m) (towers)
Spire height	250 ft (76 m)
Bells	14
Dean	The Very Revd Simon Robinson
Organistdom	Christopher Gray
Diocese start	1876

Truro Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall. It serves as the seat of the Bishop of Truro and the mother church of the Diocese of Truro, which was established in 1876. Constructed in the Gothic Revival style from 1880 onwards under the direction of architect John Loughborough Pearson, it is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom built in the nineteenth century. The cathedral stands on the site of the former parish church of St Mary the Virgin, whose south aisle was incorporated into the new structure.

History

The establishment of the Diocese of Truro in 1876, following the Bishoprics Act 1878, created the need for a new cathedral in Cornwall. The foundation stone was laid in 1880 by Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. Construction, led by architect John Loughborough Pearson, proceeded in phases, with the choir, transepts, and central tower completed by 1887. The nave was finished in 1910 under the supervision of Pearson's son, Frank Loughborough Pearson, after the elder Pearson's death. The cathedral was officially consecrated in 1913 in a ceremony presided over by Cosmo Gordon Lang, then Archbishop of York. The building project was funded largely through donations from local benefactors, including John Passmore Edwards, and the diocese.

Architecture

Designed by John Loughborough Pearson in the Early English Gothic style, the cathedral is constructed primarily of local Cornish granite with dressings of Bath stone. Its design was heavily influenced by Lincoln Cathedral and other great English medieval cathedrals. The building features a cruciform plan with a central tower and spire rising to 250 feet, three soaring spires, and a long nave. Notable interior elements include the high vaulted ceilings, the elaborate reredos behind the high altar carved from alabaster and marble, and a series of stained glass windows by designers such as Clayton and Bell. The surviving south aisle of the old St Mary's Church forms the **Parish Church of St Mary** within the cathedral complex.

Dean and chapter

The cathedral is governed by the dean and chapter, headed by the Dean of Truro. The current dean is The Very Revd Simon Robinson. The chapter, which includes canons such as the Precentor, Chancellor, and Archdeacon of Cornwall, is responsible for the cathedral's spiritual, musical, and administrative life. The cathedral is also the site for significant diocesan events, including the ordination of priests and the enthronement of bishops, such as the current Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen.

Music

The cathedral maintains a strong choral tradition under the direction of the Organist and Master of the Choristers, currently Christopher Gray. The choir is composed of choristers and lay clerks, who sing daily services including Evensong. The cathedral is home to a notable four-manual pipe organ built by Henry Willis in 1887, later rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison in the 1960s. The repertoire spans from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary works, and the cathedral hosts regular concerts and recitals, often featuring the Truro Cathedral Choir and visiting ensembles.

Bells

The cathedral's central tower houses a ring of fourteen change ringing bells, cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough in 1937. The bells, with the tenor weighing 60 cwt, are considered one of the finest rings in the country and are regularly rung for services, practice, and special occasions by the **Truro Cathedral Society of Ringers**. The tower also contains a single **Sanctus bell** dating from 1887. The bells are a prominent feature of the city's soundscape and are rung to mark national events and local celebrations.