Cornerstone%20winter%202013

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:56

Page 1

FRIENDS of ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL

CORNERSTONE Winter 2013

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 2

The floor of the Chapel of St Wilfrid is laid with encaustic ceramic tiles. Reviving medieval patterns, the section shown includes birds and lions. This kind of highly decorative, brightly coloured ornamentation was extremely popular among Victorian architects, but is exceptional in the relative severity of Arundel Cathedral.

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 3

Dear Friends Featured above is the new symbol for The Friends of Arundel Cathedral; you may have noticed it on the corner of your invitation to the Service of Vespers in December. The symbol has been designed by Georgie Mayhew, to whom we are most grateful. It is based on the great rose window at the West end of the Cathedral, and can be seen to represent not only a key feature of the building, but also our hope to radiate out to as wide a constituency as possible, within the diocese and beyond.

The visual focus for this issue of Cornerstone is one small area of the Cathedral, the chapel of Saint Wilfrid in the corner of the North Transept. As always, our intention is to celebrate the rich architectural and decorative qualities of the building, drawing attention to details that may often remain unnoticed, while reminding ourselves of the spiritual significance of each part.

Given its discreet siting, tucked in between the more prominent altars of Our Lady and Saint Philip Howard, the chapel of Saint Wilfrid is easy to overlook, but it contains a greater variety of decorative media than any other part of the Cathedral - stained glass, sculpted stone, ceramic tiles, tapestry hangings, and wrought-iron; in fact the full repertoire of Victorian decorative art.

With very best wishes to all Friends for Christmas and the coming year.

Oliver Hawkins Editor

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 4

Saint Wilfrid Saint Wilfrid is by no means the most prominent saint at Arundel; our two principal patrons are of course the two Philips, near-contemporaries but living very different lives: Philip Neri enjoying a long and fulfilled life ministering to people of all sorts in the bustle of sixteenth century Rome; Philip Howard enduring eleven long years of solitary confinement in the Tower of London.

But Saint Wilfrid is the patron saint of the county of Sussex, and scenes from his life are shown in the fine stained glass window above his altar. We see Wilfrid being greeted by King Edilwalch, preaching to the people, teaching them to fish (opposite), and bringing down rain at a time of drought (page 6).

It is a little surprising that Sussex should have adopted Wilfrid, as the saint spent only a short part of his life here. He was born in 633 in Northumbria, the son of a nobleman, and was educated at Lindisfarne. He moved on to Canterbury, and then on to study in Rome. He spent three years in France before returning to England to set up the Rule of St Benedict at Ripon Abbey. Wilfrid enjoyed great success in Northumbria, but incurred the displeasure of king Egfrith, not least by persuading the king's wife Etheldreda to leave her husband to become a nun.

There followed lengthy political squabbles, culminating in Wilfrid's banishment to the heathen lands of Sussex. His success in converting the last stronghold of paganism in Anglo-Saxon England, together with some engaging legends as shown in the stained glass windows, have secured his position as patron saint of the county.

Just across the road from the Cathedral is St Wilfrid's Priory, a care home run by the Order of St John Care Trust, which provides exemplary care for elderly residents. Although there is no formal link between the Priory and the Cathedral it felt reassuring to me, when my mother was being cared for in the Priory, that St Wilfrid's chapel was so close at hand. It was the last altar at which she prayed.

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 5

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 6

The sculpted limestone reredos behind the altar shows the risen Christ in the centre (pictured above), with the Archangel Michael on one side (opposite), and Saint George on the other (page 9), both slaying dragons at their feet.

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 7

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 8

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 9

Activities of The Friends during the year Friends will be have been delighted to hear of the appointment of our Chairman, Patrick Burgess, as High Sheriff for West Sussex. At the Friends' AGM held in The Cathedral Centre following the annual mass for St Philip Howard, Patrick reported on activities during the year. As described in the last issue of Cornerstone a very successful clearing of the cemetery took place in February, and another took place in October. Friends clearly appreciate the opportunity to contribute in a practical way to the maintenance of the Cathedral and its precincts, and it is hoped to arrange further activities.

In April the Friends organised a tour of the Cathedral, led by the indefatigable Mary Corbyn, followed by a cream tea. A number of other tours have been conducted, with groups from all over the diocese and beyond. It has been particularly pleasing to have some large school groups, often bringing their own priest and starting the visit with a mass. The Friends would like to encourage groups, large or small. Some come with an interest in history or architecture, others as pilgrims to their Cathedral church; all are welcome. Please contact the Friends office if you would like to arrange a visit.

On a hot summer's day in June the Friends, ably led by Michael Heathcote, organised a Summer Celebration in the Cathedral garden, with a large attendance and every kind of outdoor attraction, followed by vespers in the church celebrated by Bishop Kieran. An Advent service of vespers has taken the place of a Christmas concert for the Friends, with the newly-established tradition of arranging the pews to face each other, in chorister style, and refreshments served afterwards.

Another activity in which the Friends have been involved was a Harvest Walk, organised jointly between the Friends and St Nicholas Church. This involved a choice of walks: a short, one-mile walk around the grounds of Arundel Castle, or a five-mile hike around the park.

Proceeds were shared between the Churches' and other local charities.

We would be happy to hear from any Friends with suggestions for activities that they would like to have arranged.

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 10

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 11

War Memorial The chapel of St Wilfrid also serves as the Cathedral's War Memorial Chapel, with a plaque (shown opposite) commemorating those men of Arundel who fell in the two World Wars. Many of them are well-known Sussex names - Ayling and Northeast and Gent. Prominent among those commemorated are four MaxwellStuart brothers, cousins of the Duke of Norfolk, who lost their lives. Edmund and Joseph both died in 1916, and Henry in 1917. Alfred died in August 1918, when the tide of the war was turning and his parents must have hoped that victory would come in time to save him. At least one other brother did survive, and the youngest son Peter was too young to serve, but the loss of four brothers is a salutary reminder, as the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War approaches, of the scale of the sacrifice.

The Norfolks themselves have produced distinguished soldiers. The late Duke Miles, a Major-General, is reported to have said of his Military Cross "Anyone can be Duke of Norfolk, but I'm rather proud of that medal".

Cornerstone Winter 2013:Layout 1

18/11/13

10:57

Page 12

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