The Irish standard., 1904-11-19
TO HOLD THE MANY
Reasons Given for the Erection
Of Cathedrals.
Center and Model for Worship
Of the Diocese.

In the course of paper read ut
the English Church conference Mr..
George Friedrich Bodley, r. A, f. S.
A., joint architect of Liverpool Angli-
can cathedral with Mr.. Gilbert Scott,
a Catholic. speaking of the reasons for
the erection of cathedrals, said:
ITO take popular and practical
point of view, first of all, they are the
meeting houses of the dioceses in
which they stand. Their great en-
bracing width, and vast length stretch
ing from east to west, tell of their be-
ing built to hold the many who should
meet in them, as the peoples Of the
centuries pass under their vaulted
roofs. But they are much more than
that. The very name cathedral shows
that in it is the chair-the cathedral
of the bishop of the diocese Science
and philosophy and the arts have their
'chairs'-their seats of teaching and of
learning-and a diocese has it's cathe-
dral its center of unity. Again, and still
more the cathedral is the tabernacle
where for long ages past-may it be
Tor long ages to come-the sacrifice of
thanksgiving and praise has been, and
shall be, offered UP within it's walls;
center and Il model for the worship
Of the diocese. In it there is school
for the science of music and sacred
song, and it is a place where the faith
full may gather together in their num-
bers, on special occasions.
Each cathedral, as it rose, gave
work to many hands and to many
minds. To be engaged on such works
was liberal education in itself, for
it was an education in the great art
of architecture-architec designed
for the highest of all objects. There
may have been-no doubt there was
much of human pride and human am
bition connected with the building, but
there was-there must have been-the
feeling that the work was for God
and the church, and that was an up
lifting thought Of many hearts. The
building of Il great cathedral must
have brought many hearts together
hearts linked for Il common cause,
There is refining and an elevating in
tiuence in all religious buildings. What
historical interest and teaching does
not linger yet about our old cathedruls,
so venerable in their antiquity! The
Saxon churches We're chiefly of wood,
and these have persisted. The Nor
mans built with massive stonework.
You know the steady advance of the
styles Of architecture in the middle
ages; how from the Norman, as n
root, grew the blossom and the fruit
Of Gothic architecture, that style
which, unlike the repose of Byzantine,
symbolized the restless growth and
the aspiring character of IL growing
faith. All our catlletlrals, as l have
said, often begun in Norman days, are
full of the beautiful and varied work
Of the thirteenth, the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries. Few people real
lie, however, how many of our catlle-
drals. nearly all, date in part from
the Norman period. That time was
great one for churchbuilding. Many
Norman nave remains, while choir
was often rebuilt in more inspiring
and advanced style. I need not speak
Of the Renaissance. 1t is said that in
Queen Elizabeths reign no churches
were built in England. No doubt the
country was we'll supplied with those
that had been built during the middle
age. That age separated by chasm
from the days of Greek art, but on
this side of that chasm wonders were
wrought. and not the least were the
cathedrals of Europe.
ut is not an easy matter to reply
to the question, How our old cathe-
drals were built Our brief answer
is, BY the will Of the people, For
suppose there is no doubt that while
many abbeys We're founded and en-
lowed with grants of land by individ-
uals, our cathedrals We're raised by
united gifts Of labor and money.
Chapels attached to cathedrals were,
without doubt, built and endowed by
individuals. But the main fabrics
were built by kings. bishops, mobiles,
and the laity at large, and were dow
cred with lands given by them.
will illustrate this point by another
reference to the history of the York
Minister; we learn that the stone for
the building was chiefly free gift
Of the Vavasour family, while the
Ladye-chapel was partly constructed
by Archbishop Thoresby with the
stone of an old palace at Sherburn,
near Leeds. Thus we see how clerics
and lay people alike had their share
In the erection of the cathedral of this
province. From the thirteenth century
onward there was much keen interest
and enthusiasm. and indeed rivalry,
connected with architectural work,
and especially with church building.
We have heard of the famous Butter
Tower at Rouen, built by money rails
ed by tax in Lent on butter.
"We have inherited glorious shrines
fvnu, tho mast Sho,,1d 1vo mot h,,;Jd