Cathedral Church Of The Holy Spirit

Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit

A cathedral church designed in 1932–3 by Edward Maufe, with the foundation stone laid in 1936. Construction proceeded in stages: the eastern section to the crossing was completed in 1939, the second stage began in 1948 with the nave inaugurated by 1955, the Cathedral was consecrated in 1961, the chapter house finished in 1964, and the western garths completed in 1964–5. This is only the third Anglican Cathedral built in England since the 17th century.

The building displays a modified gothic style with Arts and Crafts influences, organized on a cruciform plan around a central crossing tower. To the east, the Lady Chapel terminates in a half-octagonal end, flanked by a sacristy and chapter house. The nave extends westward with aisles and projects garths to the north and south sides of the west end.

The central tower has rebated angles and is crowned by a large gilt statue of an angel, with further stone sculptures placed on top of angle mouldings. At bell stage, there are two-light stone-dressed louvred openings on each face, with five pairs of small rectangular windows above under a plain parapet. Below the louvred openings sit balcony projections on each face, featuring corbelled brick balustrades. A central door sits within a 4-step brick surround under a cross-shaped keystone.

The transepts to north (Queens Chapel) and south each contain three 2-light stone-dressed windows on their east and west sides, with tall 4-light end windows set in deep recesses and cross-pattern tracery above. Paired bronze doors, designed by Maufe but executed by Vernon Hill, flank the central buttress pier on the south transept; the pier is crowned by a figure of St. John the Baptist by Eric Gill.

The west front is flanked by projecting garths, each topped with a cambered cement hood over pointed-arched entrances to cloister walks. These feature carved keystones and cross decorations on the capitals of cloister piers. Three lancet windows occupy the west end in deep surrounds with piers alternating on stone buttress plinths. Three paired doors of bronze and glass are engraved by John Hutton.

The seven-bay north and south aisles contain 2-light stone-dressed arched windows with Christian virtues carved on the central mullions. Low aisle-like church offices flank the chancel, each with four leaded windows in stone surrounds. A bronze door on the south aisle is approached up a flight of steps.

The east gable of the chancel features a roundel window containing a figure of Christ in Majesty by Anthony Forster, designed to Eric Gill's specifications. The angled east end of the Lady Chapel has lancet fenestration alternating with offset buttresses crowned by statues: the Archangel Gabriel by Alan Collins, St Martha and St Catherine also by Collins, St Cecilia and Lady Margaret Beaufort by Dennis Huntley.

The interior is austere and plain, rendered in white plaster with Doulting limestone dressings to narrow, deep window splays. Narrow high-vaulted aisles are supported on piers without capitals, with transverse arches crossing the vaults. An ambulatory extends beyond the crossing, featuring knife-point arches. The octagonal chapter house has a parquet floor.

The symbolism of the plan extends from the baptistry in the south garth at one of the south aisles to the ciborium at the east end of the aisle, representing the Christian life from birth to death.

Fittings include 1950s lamps and a narthex carpet designed by Maufe. The baptistry contains an octagonal font beneath an open fret-work gilt font cover with an interlocking dove pattern. The font bowl is carved with fish and water motifs and set on coloured marble flooring.