[79] It is also a venue for musical events such as an annual concert by the Somerset Chamber Choir. [126] Here the carving of the foliage is varied and vigorous, the springing leaves and deep undercuts casting shadows that contrast with the surface of the piers. Above the course, zones four and five, as identified by Cockerell, contain figures which represent the Christian Church in Britain, with the spiritual lords such as bishops, abbots, abbesses and saintly founders of monasteries on the south, while kings, queens and princes occupy the north. And beyond our Cathedral liturgies, Saint . It performs with a number of specialist orchestras including: Music for Awhile, Chameleon Arts and La Folia. The pipes are made of either a tin and lead alloy, cured copper, African and/or Brazilian mahogany. Built as a Roman Catholic cathedral from around 1175 to replace an earlier church on the site since 705, it became an Anglican cathedral when King Henry VIII split from Rome. The column is surrounded by shafts of Purbeck Marble, rising to a single continuous rippling foliate capital of stylised oak leaves and acorns, quite different in character from the Early English stiff-leaf foliage. Those on the left are figurative, containing images representing the martyrdom of St Edmund the Martyr. He has studied the organ with Henry Fairs, Ann Elise Smoot, Colin Walsh and Stephen Farr. [78], Three Sunday services are led by the resident choir in school terms and choral services are sung on weekdays. The main ribs are intersected by additional non-supporting, lierne ribs, which in this case form a star-shaped pattern at the apex of the vault. [27] Jocelin saw the church dedicated in 1239 but, despite much lobbying of the Pope by Jocelin's representatives in Rome, did not live to see cathedral status granted. [110] In the next zone are the taller figures of the twelve apostles, some, such as John, Andrew and Bartholomew, clearly identifiable by the attributes that they carry. Wells Cathedral School, which was established to educate these choirboys, dates its foundation to this point. [91] The eastern end of the choir was extended and the whole upper part elaborated in the second quarter of the 14th century by William Joy. Adam was previously Acting Assistant Master of the Music at St Marys Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh. Its broad west front and large central tower are dominant features. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. [21] Alec Clifton-Taylor describes it as "outstanding even in Somerset, a county famed for the splendour of its church towers". [132] In 1848 came a complete rearrangement of the choir furniture, and 61 of the misericords were reused in the restructured stalls. [101] He likens the arrangement and iconography to the Te Deum.[102]. It is one of the earliest lierne vaults in England. The second clock face has two quarter jacks (which strike on the quarter-hour) in the form of knights in armour. Other large figures, including that of Christ, occupy the gable. [91] To the north-east is the large octagonal chapter house, entered from the north choir aisle by a passage and staircase. Contact the Secretary Chapter of York 8-10 Minster Yard York YO1 7HH He studied music at Cardiff University and the University of Cambridge. The bishop went into retirement and some of the clerics were reduced to performing menial tasks. Adam Locke was master mason from about 1192 until 1230. The focus of the collection is predominantly theology, but there are volumes on science, medicine, exploration, and languages. He has tutored for Creative Oundle for Organists courses, and is the principal organ teacher at Wells Cathedral School. [178] The interior of the cathedral was used for a 2007 Doctor Who episode, "The Lazarus Experiment", while the exterior shots were filmed at Southwark Cathedral. [95] Beneath the windows are 51 stalls, the canopies of which are enlivened by carvings including many heads carved in a light-hearted manner. The Vicars Choral generally perform with the choristers, except on Wednesdays, when they sing alone, allowing them to present a different repertoire, in particular plainsong. This horizontal emphasis is counteracted by six strongly projecting buttresses defining the cross-sectional divisions of nave, aisles and towers, and are highly decorated, each having canopied niches containing the largest statues on the faade. [1], The greater part of the stone carving of Wells Cathedral comprises foliate capitals in the stiff-leaf style. [158][159], The bells at Wells Cathedral are the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world,[160] the tenor bell (the 10th and largest), known as Harewell, weighing 56.25 long hundredweight (2,858kg). Upload, livestream, and create your own videos, all in HD. [21], The cathedral is thought to have been conceived and commenced in about 1175 by Reginald Fitz Jocelin, who died in 1191. [21] The church at Wells, no longer a cathedral, had a college of secular clergy. The triforium is separated from the arcade by a single horizontal string course that runs unbroken the length of the nave. A damaged figure of the Virgin and Christ Child occupies a quatrefoil in the spandrel of the door. [131], The subject matter of the carvings of the central brackets as misericords varies, but many themes recur in different churches. They are found ornamenting the piers of the nave, choir and transepts. [94] At Wells, later changes in the Perpendicular style were universally applied, such as filling the Early English lancet windows with simple tracery, the construction of a parapet that encircles the roof, and the addition of pinnacles framing each gable, similar to those around the chapter house and on the west front. These bells are now hung in the south-west tower, although some were originally hung in the central tower. During the last major renovation in the 1970s we made a significant contribution to renovation costs, paying for the exquisite gilded organ case which we all admire today. A cat playing with a mouse may represent the Devil snaring a human soul. [1][122] The east window was restored to a semblance of its original appearance by Thomas Willement in 1845. [120] The piers have attached shafts of marble, and, with the vaults that they support, create a vista of great complexity from every angle. It has been serviced by the same company ever since. [168], To the north of the cathedral and connected to it by the Chain Gate is Vicars' Close, a street planned in the 14th century and claimed to be the oldest purely residential street in Europe, with all but one of its original buildings intact. [43][44], By the reign of Henry VII the cathedral was complete, appearing much as it does today (though the fittings have changed). [91], The exterior of Wells Cathedral presents a relatively tidy and harmonious appearance since the greater part of the building was executed in a single style, Early English Gothic. [104] In the second zone, above each pair of standing figures, is a quatrefoil containing a half-length angel in relief, some of which have survived. A substantial overhaul of the Cathedrals organs took place from 141418 and throughout the following two centuries various alterations, additions and several re-builds were carried out. [33] The design maintains the general proportions, and continues the strong projection of the buttresses. [117] These arches brace the piers of the crossing on three sides, while the easternmost side is braced by a choir screen. Organist of St. James' Cathedral, Toronto 1933 - 1956; Compositions. Between 1996 and 2004 the appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers was Malcolm Archer, who was the Musical Director for the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society . [5] There is a large projecting porch on the north side of the nave forming an entry into the cathedral. The English painter J. M. W. Turner visited Wells in 1795, making sketches of the precinct and a water colour of the west front, now in the Tate gallery. Education . The 1620 organ was destroyed by parliamentary soldiers in 1643. One of several misericords showing contorted figures, The altar and modern furnishings in the nave, The outer dial and quarter-jacks on the north transept, From the Market Place, Penniless Porch (left) leads to Cathedral Green, and, The cathedral seen beyond the wall and moat of the Bishop's Palace. [73], Employed staff include the organist and master of choristers, head Verger archivist, librarian and the staff of the shop, caf and restaurant. [131][132] Its clergy has a long tradition of singing or reciting from the Book of Psalms each day, along with the customary daily reading of the Holy Office. The internal elevation of the nave is in three levels: arcade, triforium gallery and clerestory. The medieval stone pulpitum screen was extended in the centre to support a new organ. Two windows in the south choir aisle are from 1310 to 1320. One of the foremost architects of his time, Wynford worked for the king at Windsor, Winchester Cathedral and New College, Oxford. Books of particular interest include Pliny's Natural History printed in 1472, an Atlas of the World by Abraham Ortelius, printed in 1606, and a set of the works by Aristotle that once belonged to Erasmus. [22][23][24] Although it is clear from its size that from the outset, the church was planned to be the cathedral of the diocese,[21] the seat of the bishop moved between Wells and the abbeys of Glastonbury and Bath, before settling at Wells. [106] A horizontal course runs around the west front dividing the architectural storeys at this point. [45][46] While Wells survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries better than the cathedrals of monastic foundation, the abolition of chantries in 1547 resulted in a reduction in its income. [109], The niches in the lowest zone of the gable contain nine angels, of which Cockerell identifies Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. [164] The library is open to the public at appointed times in the summer and presents a small exhibition of documents and books. [119] There are five large windows, of which four are filled with fragments of medieval glass. The 19th century saw the restoration of the building and its fittings. To the south of the nave is a large cloister, unusual in that the northern range, that adjacent the cathedral, was never built. [13][14] It was dedicated to St Andrew and stood at the site of the cathedral's cloisters, where some excavated remains can be seen. Following the Norman Conquest, John de Villula moved the seat of the bishop from Wells to Bath in 1090. The login page will open in a new tab. In 1909-1910 a new organ was built by Harrison & Harrison with the best parts of old organ retained, and this has been maintained by the same company since. Although primarily liturgical, the choir's repertoire includes other forms of music, as well as performances at engagements such as weddings and funerals. The Lady Chapel was probably designed by Thomas Witney, (131019). Alexander won First Prize in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition 2015. [21], Because Wells Cathedral was secular rather than monastic, cloisters were not a practical necessity. The other windows have complete canopies, but the pictorial sections are fragmented. Now more than ever,. Also to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty in 2022, we hope to commission a range of Jubilee Trumpets for the grandest occasions. [34] Work was halted between 1209 and 1213 when King John was excommunicated and Jocelin was in exile,[35] but the main parts of the church were complete by the time of the dedication by Jocelin in 1239. The eastern bays of the choir (132945) showing the reticular vault and the gallery of saints beneath the east window. [118] The bracing arches are known as "St Andrew's Cross arches", in a reference to the patron saint of the cathedral. The conferences take place at a broad geographical spread of the member organisations and enable members to experience the challenges and opportunities of working in different kinds of institution and to disseminate good professional practice. [55] His brass lectern, given in thanksgiving, can be seen in the cathedral. The Golden Window at the east end of the choir depicting the. Probably easier to be dismissive when you have not been on the receiving end, or witnessed the damage. Matt is an award winning organist - he has appeared on Classic FM as well as giving recitals in concert halls such as St David's Hall [27] Following his death the monks of Bath unsuccessfully attempted to regain authority over Wells. The cathedral hosts visiting choirs and does outreach work with local schools as part of its Chorister Outreach Project. Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. In 1851 the archaeologist Charles Robert Cockerell published his analysis of the iconography, numbering the nine sculptural divisions from the lowest to the highest. [33] Its south-west tower was begun 100 years later and constructed between 1365 and 1395, and the north-west tower between 1425 and 1435,[89] both in the Perpendicular Gothic style to the design of William Wynford, [33] who also filled many of the cathedral's early English lancet windows with delicate tracery. [131], Some of the cathedral's fittings and monuments are hundreds of years old. [162], The library above the eastern cloister was built between 1430 and 1508. Building began about 1175 at the east end with the choir. Its repertoire ranges from the choral music of the Renaissance to recently commissioned works. [138], The clock has its original medieval face. This provoked some controversy, but the church defended its decision to allow the screening. More have survived on the northern and eastern sides of the north tower. Typically the themes are less unified or directly related to the Bible and Christian theology than small sculptures seen elsewhere within churches, such as bosses. [25], Savaric's successor, Jocelin of Wells, again moved the bishop's seat to Bath Abbey, with the title Bishop of Bath. I would put the cathedral under a lay council with only one clerical representative: the dean. [37] The quarters are chimed by a quarter jack: a small automaton known as Jack Blandifers, who hits two bells with hammers and two with his heels. [145] The post of organist or assistant organist has been held by more than 60 people since. (202) 537-6200. [150], There has been a choir of boy choristers at Wells since 909. Its governing body, the chapter, is made up of five clerical canons (the dean, the precentor, the canon chancellor, the canon treasurer, and the archdeacon of Wells) and four lay members: the administrator (chief executive), Keeper of the Fabric, Overseer of the Estate and the chairman of the cathedral shop and catering boards. [47] Between 1551 and 1568, in two periods as dean, William Turner established a herb garden, which was recreated between 2003 and 2010. [56] During Bathurst's long tenure the cathedral was restored, but in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, Puritan soldiers damaged the west front, tore lead from the roof to make bullets, broke the windows, smashed the organ and furnishings, and for a time stabled their horses in the nave. Alexander Hamilton is Acting Director of Music at Wells Cathedral, a position he took up in December 2022, having been Assistant Director of Music since 2020. Doesnt give a good impression to anyone where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control the fruits of the Holy Spirit they are all supposed to be preaching and try to live up to! [93], The vault of the nave rises steeply in a simple quadripartite form, in harmony with the nave arcade. The title of Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury was used until the Glastonbury claim was abandoned in 1219. [144], The first recorded organist of Wells was Walter Bagele (or Vageler) in 1416. Two in the west cloister, near the gift shop and caf, have been called sheela na gigs, i. e. female figures displaying their genitals and variously judged to depict the sin of lust or stem from ancient fertility cults. Lock was also the builder of the north porch, to his own design. Wells Cathedral, Cathedral Green Wells, Somerset BA5 2UE United Kingdom + Google Map Phone: 01749 674483 View Venue Website **SERIES SUSPENDED***Sunday Afternoon Organ Music ***CANCELLED/POSTPONED***Organ Concert St Andrew's Netherton Admission Free Lunchtime Organ Recital Organist Paul Carr Recital Somerset Wells Wells Cathedral Author Jocelin continued the building campaign begun by Reginald and was responsible for the Bishop's Palace, the choristers' school, a grammar school, a hospital for travellers and a chapel. [50] The stability brought by the new charter ended with the onset of the Civil War and the execution of Charles I. [164] The earlier books in the Chained Library number 2,800 volumes and give an indication of the variety of interests of the members of the cathedral chapter from the Reformation until 1800. assistant organist adam wilson, bmus arco. This early 14th-century eastern window was heavily restored in the 19th century. [146][147] The choral conductor James William Webb-Jones, father of Lyons's wife Bridget (whom he married in the cathedral), was Headmaster of Wells Cathedral School in 19551960. The astronomical dial presents a geocentric or pre-Copernican view, with the Sun and Moon revolving round a central fixed Earth, like that of the clock at Ottery St Mary. The first recorded organist of Wells Cathedral was Walter Bagele (or Vageler) in 1416, and the post of organist or assistant organist has been held by over 60 individuals since then. In the chapter house, the carvings of the 51 stalls include numerous small heads of great variety, many of them smiling or laughing. (Bert) Wheeler, clerk of works to the cathedral 19351978, had previously experimented with washing and surface treatment of architectural carvings on the building and his techniques were among those tried on the statues. 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