Chelmsford Cathedral

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Chelmsford Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral in the town of Chelmsford, Essex, England. The cathedral is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Diocese of Chelmsford was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford. It is the second smallest cathedral in England behind Derby Cathedral [1].

[edit] History

The church of St Mary the Virgin in Chelmsford was probably first built along with the town 800 years ago. It was rebuilt in the 15th and early 16th centuries, with walls of flint rubble, stone and brick. There is also a tower and spire with a ring of thirteen bells. The nave was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, after it had partially collapsed. The stained-glass windows were all installed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The south porch was extended in 1953 to mark Anglo-American friendship after the World War II and the many US airmen stationed in Essex. In 1954, the cathedral was additionally dedicated to Saints Peter and Cedd. In 1983, the interior of the cathedral was extensively refurbished, with a new floor, seating, altar, Bishop's throne, font and artwork. In 1994 and 1995 two pipe organs were installed, the first in the nave and the second in the chancel.

The Cathedral celebrates its links with Thomas Hooker, who was Chelmsford Town Lecturer between 1626 and 1629. He fled to the New World because of his Puritan views and founded the town of Hartford, Connecticut and was one of the founders of American democracy.

There is also Chelmsford Cathedral School, with its primary school.