Building MPM3 - CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST THOMAS (Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral)

Anglican Cathedral. Originally a chapel founded c1180/1187 by Jean de Gisors and granted to the Augustinian order at Southwick Priory. The chapel became a parish church in 1320. The nave and tower were rebuilt in the late-17th century, with further alterations/additions made during the 18th and 19th centuries. Restoration work was carried out during the 19th and early-20th century. The building was enlarged in the 1930s, and the west end was completed in 1992. St Thomas' obtained Cathedral status in 1927.

Anglican Cathedral, originally a chapel founded c1180/1187 by Jean de Gisors and granted to the Augustinian order at Southwick Priory. The first part of the chapel was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester in 1188, the second in 1196. [1]

The chapel became a Parish Church in 1320. The earliest surviving structures are the choir (c1180-1190) and transepts (c1190-1220). [2]

The original nave and tower were damaged by Parliamentarian canon during the English Civil War, and were rebuilt 1683-93. A wooden cupola was added to the tower in 1702/3. Further alterations/additions were carried out during the 18th and 19th centuries. [2, 3]

'Restoration' work undertaken by Thomas Ellis Owen and the Winchester College surveyor Mr Herbert in 1843 included the rebuilding of the chancel arch in the perpendicular style, and a new reredos behind the altar where the Buckingham monument had previously been situated. Further restoration work was carried out in 1885 and again during 1902-04, partly due to the building being structurally unstable. After obtaining Cathedral status in 1927, the building was enlarged by Charles Nicholson in the 1930s. [3]

St Thomas of Canterbury. 1180. Much rebuilt 1680-90s. Attained Cathedral status in 1927, and subsequently much enlarged. West end completed 1992. References: VHC III pp197-9, Pevsner & Lloyd 1967 pp393-404. [4]


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Chapel of Austin Priory, parish church from 1320 and cathedral from 1927. Chapel founded c1180 for Jean de Gisors. Choir probably c1180-90, transepts c1190-1220; old cathedral tower and nave taken down and replaced by new aisled nave and west tower 1683-93 the latter with cupola of 1703; C18 and C19 alterations and restoration work; additions 1935-39 by Sir Charles Nicholson, and 1990-91 (west extension) by Michael Drury of Winchester. Coursed rubble stone with ashlar dressings, coursed squared stone and ashlar. Plain tile roofs. STYLE: Transitional, Early English, Classical and Byzantine. PLAN: 4-bay aisled nave with clerestory, 2-stage west tower and transepts at east end containing chapels; extended 1930s by addition of 3 bays to west, secondary aisles with south porch and north cloister court; west entrance bay 1990-91. 4-bay aisled choir with south vestry. EXTERIOR: quoins; buttresses some with offsets; pointed-arched openings to earlier parts some with hoodmoulds; parapets, some corbelled, with roll-moulded coping. Tower has clock to upper stage on south side; parapet with corner merlins; 2-stage octagonal cupola having angle pilasters, louvred sides, sheet metal domes with small round-arched lights to lower dome, and spire finial with weather vane in form of ship (1954 replacement of the original). Nave has 2 tiers of hipped roofed dormers (C18 in origin). Cusped windows to north transept. To east end, stepped tripled windows with blocked roundel over and cross finial. To west end, central round-arched entrance with 6 round-arched windows over and flanking towers. North cloister court in C16/C17 style. INTERIOR: C12 work survives particularly well as choir which has unusual feature of painted-arched arcades set within larger round arches, having octagonal piers and clustered responds with engaged shafts (some of replacement marble); blind arcades to outer walls; altar recess with plain stone altar, flanking niches, and windows above having engaged shafts supporting arches; quadripartite vaults; pointed arch on clustered columns to nave. Transepts have collared queen strut roof trusses with butt purlins and straight wind braces. Nave has tall, late C17, round-arched arcades and richly decorated modillion cornice. MONUMENTS: notable monuments include the fine series of C17,

C18, and early C19 wall memorials which have coats of arms, cherubs, urns, and skulls; of particular note are those in tower: i) to Sir Charles Blount, d.1600; having tablet in classical architrave with trophies of war below and armoured male figure kneeling at altar above: ii) in choir south aisle, to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, assassinated in Portsmouth 1628, possibly by Nicholas Stone and having tablet flanked by trumpeter and figure holding laurel wreath, eagle on urn in classical architrave with side-panels depicting trophies of war, and coat of arms and trumpeting cherubs above all. Various C18 floor tablets, and other memorials. FITTINGS: amongst the woodwork of particular note is the 1693 hexagonal, highly-decorated, panelled pulpit on slender column having turned balusters to stairs up, and 2 fluted columns with Composite capitals supporting sounding board which is a 1904 replica of the original and has egg-and-dart cornice, collared soffit carved with flowers and ogee cap supporting trumpeting angel; late C17 reused panelling in nave piers, and corporation pew with royal coat of arms of 1695 over mayor's seat; panelled bowed gallery, 1706, extended 1750; restored organ case, the original of 1718 by Abraham Jordan Junior, which has a central figure of David and cherubs, possibly by Francis Bird. Paintwork includes a mid-C13 wall painting of Christ seated in judgment, set in vessica in north transept. Other features of interest include: 4 old banners in north aisle, and in south aisle fragments of Lord Nelson's HMS Victory Ensign Flag; octagonal early C16 font having octagonal column and shields carved on sides; in north aisle of C20 nave extension, original weather vane, a golden barque with pennant dated 1710; imported Della Robbia majolica of Madonna and child; C19 and C20 glass. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Lloyd DW: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Harmondsworth: 1967-: 393-407; English Life Publications Ltd.: Rev Knowles G: Portsmouth Cathedral: Derby: 1985-).

Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, (1967), 393-407
Knowles, Rev G, 'English Life Publications Limited' in Portsmouth Cathedral, (1985)

[2]

<1> Hubbock, Rodney, 1976, Portsea Island Churches (Bibliographic reference). SPM366.

<2> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.

<3> Offord, J, 1989, Churches, Chapels and Places of Worship on Portsea Island (Bibliographic reference). SPM39.

<4> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards, SZ69NW6 (Index). SPM1.