Chelmsford Cathedral, Essex, England

St Mary's Church up to the 20th Century

In the 13th Century a Norman church stood on a slight hill, overlooking the confluence of the rivers Chelmer and Can. Dedicated to St Mary, it was built by the order of a bishop of London to serve the Manors of Chelmersford^$ and Moulsham.

In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the original Norman church was rebuilt in the perpendicular style, reflecting the growing importance of Chelmsford as the County Town of Essex. The work may not have been to the highest standard, or maintenance may have been neglected, since by the middle of the 16th Century urgent repairs were required, and they were only completed at great expense to the church, which had to sell precious church plate to pay the bill.

At the time of the Civil War, St Mary's suffered losses and damage as a consequence of civil disorder and parliamentary ordinances against superstition and idolatry. Pictures were removed, windows were destroyed, a wooden cross was removed from the spire and carved angels were taken from the roof and burned in the street. The rector was threatened and assaulted, and he fled to Oxford.

In the second half of the 18th Century the spire was rebuilt, a new organ was installed and a new peal of bells hung. The church was in relatively good shape until 1800 when the nave collapsed due to excavation work in the burial chambers. John Johnson, County Surveyor of Essex at the time, was called in to oversee the repair of the nave roof. He was the man responsible for the building and the rebuilding of many important buildings in Chelmsford. Further work in the 19th Century added an outer North Aisle, and raised the chancel roof.

^$ As Chelmsford was then known.

St Mary's as the Cathedral of Essex

In the 19th Century the population of the counties surrounding London grew rapidly and most of Essex was put under the diocese of Rochester - and subsequently under St Albans. But Essex was very populous, and a separate diocese was created in 1914. St Mary's was chosen as the bishop's seat by votes from all the parishes which were being included. Although Chelmsford Cathedral is not large by comparison with other regional cathedrals, the population of the Chelmsford diocese is the second largest in England. (Some commentators and authors still refer to the beautiful, impressive Thaxted Parish Church as the 'Cathedral of Essex', showing either their ignorance or their unwillingness to accept the true situation.) Since becoming a Cathedral, St Mary's has been further extended and refurbished. In the 1920s the chancel and the vestries were extended and the east widow was replaced. In the 1980s the interior was extensively refurbished, and decorated with newly commissioned artwork, and a new Chapter house was built in 1990.

So the story of St Mary's, now Chelmsford Cathedral, continues into the 3rd millennium , with great hope for its future and for the beautiful sacred music which may continue to echo within its walls.

Some Art Work to View in the Cathedral

• The decorated Nave ceiling dating from John Johnson's restoration. It was coloured and gilded in 1961.

• The window by Henry Holiday in the South Aisle.

• The gilded and painted chancel roof in medieval colours

• The altar designed by Robert Potter in 1983.

• The Fitzwalter Memorial by James Lovell

• The steel and bronze ambos by Guissepe Lund

• The Cathedral Banner in ecclesiastical embroidery by Beryl Dean

• A gilded monument to Thomas Mildmay, whose family were patrons of St Mary's

• The bronze plaque 'Christ the Healer' by Georg Ehrlich.

• A memorial to 'tasks and friendship's shared with US forces in World War II in the south porch. (Includes the arms of George Washington, a great great grandson of an Essex rector.)