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FRIENDS of ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL
CORNERSTONE Spring 2014
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The Arms of Bishop Kieran, Bishop’s Throne, main altar The design is based on the arms of the Conry family. The original design had an open book but that is now reserved for academic institutions. The hat and cords are symbols of a bishop. The motto is Latin for "Prepare the way of the Lord" taken from Isaiah 40 and quoted by John the Baptist. The bishop writes: "These words seemed appropriate because I think that is what we are all called to do. Luke's version of the story about John the Baptist gives us the longest quote from Isaiah, where he goes on to talk about every valley being filled in and the mountains being levelled. It is an enormously rich image, full of suggestions, but essentially a challenge to us to proclaim the Lord's presence and look forward to the coming of the kingdom."
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Dear Friends This edition of Cornerstone focuses on the numerous coats of arms displayed inside the church, looking at the individuals represented in this most stylised form of iconography. Our cover shows part of a window on the West wall in memory of Lieutenant Alexander de Lisle, who died in action with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. The ornate display of Arms Arms includes the wings of the Flying Corps, an elegant example of the incorporation of new symbols in response to the changing world. Lt de Lisle was from Leicestershire, the reason for a memorial in Arundel being a family connection with the Norfolks (Duke Henry’s sister-in-law was a de Lisle). The other examples illustrated in this issue are more directly associated with the Cathedral; some of the individuals are known to history, others will be known or remembered by Friends. Also included in this issue is Canon Tim Madeley’s report for the past year, reminding us of how usefully the funds we raise are spent in maintaining the Cathedral fabric. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Corpus Christi celebrations on Thursday 19 June. Oliver Hawkins Editor
Footnote: the name of Alexander de Lisle is also engraved on the war memorial of Beaumont College, Berkshire, the Jesuit school which has produced the past three chairmen of the Friends, Robert Bruce, Oliver Hawkins and Patrick Burgess.
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The Papal Symbols, north ambo The Papal tiara with the gold and silver keys of St Peter, representing the papacy in general. Each Pope has his personal coat of arms; that chosen by Pope Francis consists of a blue shield displaying the radiant sun symbol of the Society of Jesus, with a star and a spikenard flower representing Our Lady and Saint Joseph. His motto is taken from St Bede’s account of the calling of Matthew - miserando atque eligendo - (by having mercy and by choosing).
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Annual Report from the Cathedral Dean The time since my last report has been marked by the loss of my predecessor, Mgr Canon Jeff Scott who died on the 3 February 2014. It was good to see that he was buried at the Seminary in Wonersh where he had enjoyed many years teaching Canon Law to the students (myself included). Leaks during the bad weather have continued to be a feature of the last few months. Christmas Eve morning found ½ inch depth of water in the centre aisle – it was at this point that Fr Stan Mycek (Arundel’s recently appointed assistant priest) really found out what Cathedral life was all about as the pair of us armed with mops and buckets got to work. We have become quite adept at laundering towels as these are the best weapons to soak up water. The upshot of these leaks and the continuous ones in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel will mean scaffolding after Easter being erected on the south side of the cathedral to repair the offending roofs and windows. This work will mean rearranging our programme for re-leading the south facing windows with the St Philip Neri window not now being the first. Having had a good demonstration from a lightning consultant of re-lighting the sanctuary, we are putting in place plans for this work to commence. However due to the tight budget this year, we hope to do the lighting very early in January 2015 so that it will be complete before the major celebrations for the Diocesan Jubilee. The trial of relighting one of the nave chandeliers in low energy lamps has not been successful and this part of the project needs reviewing. Work that is nearly complete is the stone wall rebuilding and disabled access work in the Cathedral garden. The area has been cleared, the offending wall taken down and rebuilt and the new paths constructed. Lighting the steps through the path remains to be completed and then a wrought iron fence will be added for security. The area is about to be re-soiled and replanted with the help of the Castle gardeners, to whom we are very grateful for advice and encouragement. In the cemetery, the same contractor has rebuilt the paths from the lych-gate, past the memorial cross and down ¾ of the way to the bottom of the site. Some of the funding given by the Friends to the Diocese has been used on this project, and as
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The Arms of Bernard, Sixteenth Duke of Norfolk, south ambo These are displayed over the Order of the Garter, the highest Order of Chivalry. Behind it are the of Earl Marshal’s batons, and above is the ducal coronet. On the second quarter (top right) of the shield is the ‘label’, indicating a first son. Duke Bernard died in 1975, and will be remembered by older Friends as the champion of Arundel (and England) cricket, and mastermind of two coronations.
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ever we are very grateful for their generosity. The Friends plus the parish community ran another of their very successful cemetery clear up days on Saturday 22 March. These events are really beginning to make a difference in keeping the site neat and tidy, and once again we are grateful for the enthusiasm shown by all involved. Within the Cathedral Church I have commissioned two of the Parish Core Team (Parish Council) to do an audit of the place to reveal what needs tidying up/repainting etc before the jubilee and their report is due to be discussed at the next Parish Core Meeting. The Cathedral archives have also received much attention over the last few months. One of our parishioners, Mrs Hilary Caws, has taken on the archivist task of sorting out and recording what we have. Hilary has been aided by the Diocesan archivist, Mrs Hazel State. Her work has been added to by a large amount of books given to us by the Catholic Bible School at Nutbourne. Michael Rycroft has also done much work in cataloguing and photographing our vestments and other historical artefacts. This is being done to create an up to date inventory. To aid this work of conservation, I have purchased 26 cope hangers to make sure our vestments are properly hung where necessary. With Easter soon upon us, plans are now well in advance for the Corpus Christi festival which takes place on 18/19 June. The theme of the carpet as expected in 2014 will be a commemoration of the centenary of the start of the First World War. We have deliberately made a focus upon those from the town of Arundel who lost their lives in the ‘Great War’. Turning to forthcoming events, the Friends are hosting a garden party in the Castle gardens on Friday 18 July to include a sung vespers in the Cathedral. Regrettably Bishop Kieran is unable to be there but Bishop Richard Moth of the Forces has agreed to preside. Bishop Kieran will however preside at the Sung Advent Vespers on Sunday 7 December at 6pm. Last year’s event was a great success with people from across Sussex already asking to be invited. Please do make every effort to support these events, and also to see the work being done in your cathedral. Canon Tim Madeley Cathedral Dean
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The Arms of the Duke of Norfolk, west wall The arms in this stained-glass memorial to George Vigar, comprising two windows, and featuring St Philip Howard and his wife, are those of the Duke of Norfolk. Three Howard lions passant-guardant are displayed above the Fitzalan lion rampant. Heralds may question whether these arms may be correctly attributed to St Philip, whose father, the fourth Duke, had been executed for supposed treason and therefore forfeited his arms. It is to be hoped that one day the wonderfully complex coat of arms that the College of Heralds judges to be specific to St Philip will find its place in his cathedral church.
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The Arms of Anne Howard (nĂŠe Dacre), Countess of Arundel, west wall These are shown, in the same memorial window, superimposed on those of her husband Philip Howard. They include the scallop shell symbol of the Dacre family. Anne lived a life devoted to her husband, Philip Howard, and to her religion, and was known for her writings as well as her good works. Her fortitude in encouraging her husband in his faith, in suffering eleven years of separation from him, and in the forfeiture of her estates is surely as deserving of sainthood as the sufferings of St Philip himself.
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The Arms of Bishop David Cashman, south transept These are shown with the distinctive Bishop’s mitre and crosier. David Cashman was born in 1912, and served for a period as Chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk, before becoming parish priest at St Mary’s, Cadogan Square. He was appointed Auxilliary Bishop of Westminster in 1958, and in 1965 became the first Bishop of the newly formed diocese of Arundel and Brighton. He died in office in 1971, at the age of 58.
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The Arms of the Turnham and Elvins families, south transept Many Friends will remember Mark Elvins, at one time curate at Arundel and Chantry Priest to the Duke of Norfolk, who went on to become Provincial Definitor of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Fr Elvins’s career has combined scholarship with practical care of the homeless and dispossessed. He has written extensively on historical and religious subjects, including heraldry, so it is particularly appropriate that his Arms should be displayed in the Cathedral in which he served.
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The Friends of Arundel Cathedral registered as a company Limited by guarantee and not having a share capital (No 3792834) Registered Charity No 1078149 The Friends’ Office, Cathedral House, Parsons Hill Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AY Telephone: 01903 884567 Email: aruncathfriends@btconnect.com