Guildford Cathedral designed by Sir Edward Maufe

• Report rights infringement
• published: 30 Nov 2015
• views: 96

Guildford was made a diocese in 1927, covering most of Surrey. Work on its consequent cathedral to be a lead centre of worship and community events venue began nine years later. The diocese chose Sir Edward Maufe as its architect and the foundation stone was laid by Dr Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1936. Construction was intended to be over many years to raise further funds, to achieve great height by incorporating exceptionally large arches and blocks of angular stone overlaid with brickwork and was suspended during Second World War — the building could not be consecrated until 17 May 1961. In the meanwhile Guildford's restored medieval Holy Trinity Church served as pro-cathedral. In 1952 Walter Boulton, who had ministered mostly in India, was made provost (head priest at the pro-cathedral and pastor of the parish), and revitalized the fund-raising for the new cathedral. When it was completed sufficiently for public worship, another cleric was chosen as first dean of the cathedral by the bishop, after consulting with various benefactors and influential clergy within Anglicanism. In the 1950s a "buy a brick" scheme was used to raise funds for construction, to great success. Each brick cost 2s 6d and entitled the buyer to sign their name on the brick. The Queen and Prince Philip both signed bricks, which are on display inside the cathedral. It stands in a commanding spot on Stag Hill — so named because the Kings of England used to hunt here — and its solid red brick outline is visible for miles around; it immediately overlooks the University of Surrey. Its bricks are made from clay taken from the hill on which it stands.