View source for Truro Cathedral

{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox church
| name             = Truro Cathedral
| fullname         = Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
| image            = Truro stmarysst.jpg
| imagesize        = 280px
| imagealt         = 
| landscape        = 
| caption          = 
| pushpin map      = United Kingdom Cornwall
| pushpin label position = 
| pushpin map alt  = 
| pushpin mapsize  = 
| map caption      = Location within Cornwall
| coordinates      = {{coord|50|15|51|N|05|03|04|W|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| osgraw           = <!-- TEXT -->
| osgridref        = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|TEXT}} -->
| location         = Truro, Cornwall
| country          = England
| denomination     = [[Church of England]]
| tradition        = [[High church|High Church]]
| membership       = 
| website          = [http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk www.trurocathedral.org.uk]
| former name      = The Parish Church of St Mary's, Truro
| bull date        = 
| consecrated date = 1887
| people           = 
| status           = 
| functional status = 
| heritage designation = 
| designated date  = 
| previous cathedrals = 
| architect        = [[John Loughborough Pearson|J. L. Pearson]]
| architectural type = 
| style            = [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]
| years built      = 1880–1910
| groundbreaking   = 
| completed date   = 
| construction cost = 
| closed date      = 
| demolished date  = 
| capacity         = 
| length           = 
| length nave      = 
| length choir     = 
| width            = 
| width nave       = 
| width transepts  = 
| height           = 
| height nave      = 
| height choir     = 
| dome quantity    = 
| dome height outer = 
| dome height inner = 
| dome dia outer   = 
| dome dia inner   = 
| tower quantity   = 3
| tower height     = 
| spire quantity   = 3
| spire height     = 76m (crossing), 61m (western)
| archdiocese      = 
| metropolis       = 
| diocese          = [[Diocese of Truro|Truro]]
| diocese start    = 1876
| province         = [[Province of Canterbury|Canterbury]]
| archbishop       = 
| bishop           = Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St. Germans and acting Bishop of Truro <ref>{{cite web|title=Who we are|url=https://trurodiocese.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/|date=30 October 2023|publisher=Truro Diocese}}</ref>
| dean             = [[Simon Robinson (priest)|Simon Robinson]]
| provost          = 
| canonchancellor  = Alan Bashforth
| canon            = 2 vacancies
| canonpastor      = 
| canonmissioner   = 
| precentor        = Simon Griffiths
| archdeacon       = <!--neither Archdeacon is a Canon Residentiary-->
| reader           = 
| director         = [[James Anderson-Besant]]
| organist         = 
| logo             = 
| logosize         = 
| logolink         = 
| logoalt          = 
| embedded         = {{Infobox historic site
| embed                = yes
| designation1         = Grade I
| designation1_offname = Truro Cathedral
| designation1_date    = 29 December 1950
| designation1_number  = {{listed building England|1205377}}
}}
}}
The '''Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary''' is a [[Church of England]] cathedral in the city of [[Truro]], Cornwall. It was built between 1880 and 1910 to a [[Gothic Revival]] design by [[John Loughborough Pearson]] on the site of the parish church of St Mary.

==History and description==
[[File: FoundingTruroCathedral.jpg|thumb|left|A stained glass window depicting the founding of the cathedral]]
The [[Diocese of Truro]] was established in December 1876, and its first bishop, [[Edward White Benson]], was consecrated on 25 April 1877 at [[St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref>{{Church Times | title = Consecration of the Bishop of Truro | archive = 1877_04_27_245 | issue = 744 | date = 27 April 1877 | page = 245 | accessed = 26 December 2016 }}</ref>

Construction began in 1880 to a design by the leading [[Gothic Revival]] architect [[John Loughborough Pearson]]. Truro was the first Anglican cathedral to be built on a new site in England since [[Salisbury Cathedral]] in 1220. It was built on the site of the 16th-century parish church of [[Saint Mary|St Mary the Virgin]], a building in the [[Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular style]] with a spire {{convert|128|ft|m}} tall.<ref name=pevsner1>{{cite book |title=Cornwall |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |author2=Enid Radcliffe |year=1970 |page=234 }}</ref> The final services in St Mary's were held on Sunday 3 October 1880 and the church was demolished that month, leaving only the south aisle, which was retained to serve as the parish church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Closing Services In The Old Parish Church Of St Mary, Truro, The Pro-Cathedral|work=The Cornishman|issue=118|date=14 October 1880|page=5}}</ref> From 24 October 1880 until 1887 a temporary wooden building on an adjacent site [[Pro-cathedral|served as the cathedral]]. The seats were free and unappropriated, accommodated fewer than 400 people and were extremely hot in summer and cold in winter. It was in this building that Benson introduced the new evening service of [[Nine Lessons and Carols]] on Christmas Eve, 1880.<ref>Brown, H. M. (1976) ''A Century for Cornwall''. Truro: Blackford; pp. 32–33, 38</ref> 

The choir and transepts were complete by October 1887. The service of consecration took place on 3 November, performed by E. W. Benson, by then Archbishop of Canterbury. His successor as Bishop of Truro, [[George Wilkinson (bishop)|George Wilkinson]], and twenty other bishops were also present, together with civic representatives and diocesan clergy, and about 2,000 other people.<ref>Brown (1976); pp. 33, 43</ref> The central tower was finished by 1905 and the building was completed with the opening of the two western towers in 1910. J. L. Pearson died in 1897 and his son Frank took over the project. Frank Loughborough Pearson's other works include [[St Matthew's, Auckland]] in New Zealand. 
[[File:Truro Cathedral 7.jpg|thumb|The Cathedral across the [[Truro River]]]]
[[File:Nave of Truro Cathedral.jpg|thumb|Looking west from the choir, towards the nave and the west rose window]]
Pearson's design combines the [[Early English Period|Early English]] style with certain French characteristics, chiefly spires and rose windows. Its resemblance to [[Lincoln Cathedral]] is not coincidental; Pearson had been appointed as Lincoln Cathedral's architect and the first Bishop of Truro, Edward Benson, had previously been Canon Chancellor at Lincoln. The central tower and spire stands {{convert|250|ft|m}} tall, while the western towers reach to {{convert|200|ft|m}}. Four kinds of stone were used: [[Mabe, Cornwall|Mabe]] granite for the exterior, and [[St Stephen-in-Brannel|St Stephen]]'s granite for the interior, with dressings and shafts of [[Bath stone|Bath]] and [[Polyphant stone]]. The spires and turret roofs are of stone, except for a copper spire over the bell tower at west end of St Mary's Aisle. The other roofs are of slate.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1205377 |desc=Truro Cathedral |access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref> The cathedral is vaulted throughout.<ref name=pevsner2>{{cite book |title=Cornwall |last=Pevsner |first=Nickolaus |author2=Enid Radcliffe |year=1970 |isbn=978-0-14-071001-4|page=233 |publisher=Penguin }}</ref> [[Nathaniel Hitch]] was responsible for the decorative sculpture, including the [[reredos]].

The original south aisle of St Mary's Church survives, incorporated into the south-east corner of the cathedral and known as St Mary's Aisle. It still functions as the city centre's [[Church of England parish church|parish church]]. Three brasses were described by Edwin Dunkin in 1882: those of Cuthbert Sydnam (1630), Thomas Hasell (1567) and George Fitzpen, rector of the parish. As the cathedral is dedicated to the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Blessed Virgin Mary]], it has no [[Lady Chapel]]. A Jesus Chapel and the Chapel of Unity and Peace are reserved for quiet and prayer throughout the day. There was no [[chapter house]] until 1967, when the opportunity to enlarge the building on the south-east arose. The architect of the new building was John Taylor.<ref name=pevsner1/>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Truro Chapter Act 1878
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to make provision for the foundation of a Dean and Chapter for the Bishopric of Truro, and for the transfer to the Cathedral Church of Truro of one of the Canonries in the Cathedral Church of Exeter; and for other purposes connected therewith.
| year                  = 1878
| citation              = [[41 & 42 Vict.]] c. 44
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 8 August 1878
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = Truro Cathedral Measure 1959
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CDr8v-v6QewC&pg=RA14-PP3
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Upon the foundation of Truro Cathedral, Bishop Benson was authorised to establish 24 honorary canonries. In 1878 a new act of Parliament authorised the bishop to establish residentiary canonries. In 1882 an existing canonry was transferred to Truro from Exeter whose income enabled the provision of two canonries at Truro. In 1906 the office of sub-dean was endowed, but the position of dean was still held by the bishop, at least until 1925. This remained the case until it became possible to fund the office of dean.<ref>Cooper, Canon (chancellor) "The restoration of the Cornish bishopric", in:''The Cornish Church Guide''. Truro: Blackford, 1925; pp. 30–50 (the bishop was still dean in 1925)</ref> The Victorian acts of Parliament which apply to the cathedral are the [[Bishopric of Truro Act 1876]] ([[39 & 40 Vict.]] c. 54), the '''{{visible anchor|Truro Chapter Act 1878}}''' ([[41 & 42 Vict.]] c. 44), and the [[Truro Bishopric and Chapter Acts Amendment Act 1887]] ([[50 & 51 Vict.]] c. 12).<ref>''The Cornish Church Guide'' Truro: Blackford, 1925, p. 48</ref> Preaching duties in the cathedral are shared out among the bishop, residentiary canons and honorary canons.<ref>''The Cornish Church Guide''. Truro: Blackford, pp. 48–49</ref>

The [[Royal Maundy]] Service was held in the cathedral in 1994 when Queen [[Elizabeth II]] presented 134 [[Cornish people]] with the traditional Maundy money.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sttudy.org.uk/VillagePople/MaryWinn/MaryAnnWinn.htm|title=Mary Ann Winn 1925–2006|publisher=St Tudy (parish website)|access-date=21 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323001859/http://www.sttudy.org.uk/VillagePople/MaryWinn/MaryAnnWinn.htm|archive-date=23 March 2012}}</ref>

==Restoration==
[[File:Spires of Truro Cathedral.jpg|thumb|The two western towers]]
In 2002 the cathedral embarked on what was hoped to be a fifteen-year project to restore the east end, the west front and the central tower and spire. Each of the projects would be undertaken as funds allowed. The east end restoration repaired stonework and damage to the iron work on the stained glass windows. From 2004, a year-long project saw the restoration of the massive west front and towers. In 2009 and 2010 work on the central tower and spire began. 

Restoration work is being carried out by W. R. Bedford; Stuart Aston, managing director, said that the problem is the [[Bath Stone]] used on the more decorative areas of the cathedral, has not stood up well to the salts and sand in the maritime climate of Cornwall. Erosion of the stonework has left much of the exposed stonework in such a damaged condition that it resembles honeycomb. Funding for the restoration of the tower and spire has been partly met by grants from [[English Heritage]], Friends of Truro Cathedral, the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]], the Tanner Trust, the cathedral itself and by public subscription. The "Save Our Spire" campaign has raised nearly £50,000 towards the cost.{{cn|date=September 2020}}

==Governance==
[[File:South Devon and south Cornwall, with a full description of Dartmoor and the Isles of Scilly (1900) (14782268892).jpg|thumb|A plan of Truro Cathedral, 1900]]
The cathedral is governed by a three-tier structure as set out in the Cathedral Measure and Statutes. The chapter (comprising the dean, three residentiary canons and three chapter canons), the cathedral council and the college of canons.

===Dean and chapter===
As of 3 October 2022:<ref>[https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/about-us/governance-and-chapter Truro Cathedral — Governance &amp; Chapter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101203809/https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/about-us/governance-and-chapter |date=1 January 2021 }} (Accessed 1 January 2021)</ref>
*[[Dean of Truro|Dean]] — [[Simon Robinson (priest)|Simon Robinson]] (interim since October 2022, announced as permanent dean 17 August 2023) to be installed in Autumn 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/news/ellen-and-lynda|title = Ellen and Lynda}}</ref>
*Canon chancellor — Alan Bashforth (since 2014 installation)
*Canon precentor — Simon Griffiths (since 2016 installation)
*Canon missioner — vacant since 2014
*Diocesan canon — vacant since April 2020; Barley was canon pastor and [[priest-in-charge]] of [[Tresillian]] and [[Penkevil]] and [[rural dean]] of [[Powdershire|Powder]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/news/new-dean-of-truro-announced|title = New Dean of Truro Announced}}</ref>

==Organs==
[[File:The organ, Truro Cathedral.JPG|thumb|The organ]]
The [[Henry Willis|Father Willis]] organ of 1887 is widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in the country. "It is not easy, even today, to think how the magnificence of the Willis organ in Truro Cathedral could be improved" wrote W. L. Sumner in his 1952 book ''The Organ''. It was built in 1887 in London and arrived in Cornwall by boat. It has an almost identical specification to the organ he built a year earlier for the then parish church of St Michael, Coventry (later [[Coventry Cathedral]]). Both instruments have the standard Willis hallmarks—tierce mixtures on Great and Swell, characterful [[gedackt]]s on the Choir, and a small but telling pedal division.

Apart from the addition of the electric blower in the 1920s, no major work was done until 1963, when the [[Henry Willis & Sons|grandson of the original builder]] carried out a conservative restoration, at a cost of some £17,000. Before this time, the [[organ console]] was situated high up within the main case of the instrument, necessitating a walk of two or three minutes up a spiral staircase in the north transept. The action was a mixture of Barker lever, pneumatic and tracker. There were very few playing aids and contact between the organist and choir, some {{convert|40|ft|m}} below, would have been almost impossible. In 1963, the organ committee decided to keep the original tonal scheme and voicing, and move the console over on to the south side in a new gallery placed above the choir stalls to a design by the architect John Phillips. Here the organist can hear the instrument properly, and maintain close contact with the choir.

The other main organ in the cathedral is a two-manual instrument in St Mary's aisle, the sole remnant of the former parish church. It was originally built by [[Renatus Harris]] and was installed in Truro in 1750 by John Byfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N11144|title=Organ of St Mary's Truro|publisher=Cambridge University}}</ref> It was re-installed in the temporary church in 1880, but was significantly rebuilt and reduced in size in 1887 for installation in its current location.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N11145|title=Organ of St Mary's Truro|publisher=Cambridge University}}</ref> There is also a four-stop continuo organ by Kenneth Tickell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=R00480|title=Organ of St Mary's Truro|publisher=Cambridge University}}</ref>

In 2012, [[Tim Rice]] backed the 125-year anniversary appeal to support Truro Cathedral's choir and music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Tim Rice supports Truro Cathedral's choir|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-20525131|date=28 November 2012|publisher=BBC News Cornwall}}</ref>

===Organists===
{{See also|List of musicians at English cathedrals}}
;Organist and Master of the Choristers
{{div col}}
* 1876 William Mitchell
* 1881 [[George Robertson Sinclair]] (later organist of [[Hereford Cathedral]]: the ''G. R. S.'' of [[Elgar]]'s [[Enigma Variations]])
* 1890 [[Mark James Monk]]<ref>''Cornishman''; Wednesday 28 April 1920</ref>
* 1920 [[Hubert Stanley Middleton]] (later organist of [[Ely Cathedral]] and [[Trinity College, Cambridge]])
* 1926 [[John Dykes Bower]] (afterwards organist of [[New College Oxford]]; [[Durham Cathedral]]; and [[St Paul's Cathedral]]; [[knighted]] 1968)<ref>Scholes, Percy A. (1970) ''The Oxford Companion to Music'', 10th ed. London: Oxford U.P.; p. 123b </ref>
* 1929 [[Guillaume Ormond]]
* 1971 [[John Charles Winter]] (later Organist Emeritus)
* 1989 [[David Briggs (English musician)|David Briggs]] (later organist of [[Gloucester Cathedral]] and currently artist-in-residence at the [[Cathedral of St. John the Divine]] in New York City.
* 1994 [[Andrew Nethsingha]] (currently director of music at [[Westminster Abbey]])
* 2002 Robert Sharpe (currently director of music at [[York Minster]])
* 2008 [[Christopher Gray (organist)|Christopher Gray]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/day-to-day/news.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206130007/http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/day-to-day/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 February 2005 |title=Cathedral News<!-- Bot generated title --> |publisher=Dean and Chapter of Truro }}</ref> (currently director of music at [[St. John's College, Cambridge]])
* 2023 [[James Anderson-Besant]]
{{div col end}}
;Assistant Organists
{{div col}}
*[[Ivor Atkins]] 1885–1886 (later assistant organist of [[Hereford Cathedral]] and organist of [[Worcester Cathedral]]; [[knighted]] 1921)
*Frederick C. Thomas until 1896<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Chit-Chat on Current Topics |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003392/18960207/054/0004 |newspaper=St Austell Star |location=England |date=7 February 1896 |access-date=22 March 2025 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*Frederick Rowland Tims 1902–1907 (later organist of [[Croydon Minster]])<ref>Thornsby, Frederick W., ed. (1912) ''Dictionary of Organs and Organists''. Bournemouth: Logan; p. 339</ref>
*William Stanley Sutton 1907–1911<ref>Thornsby (1912); p. 336</ref>
*Mr Hall 1911
*Donald Behenna
*[[Gerald Hocken Knight]] 1922–1926 (later organist of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] and Director of the Royal School of Church Music)
*Arthur William Baines 1933-1938<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Cathedral Assistant Organist Leaving |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000349/19380228/002/0002 |newspaper=West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser |location=England |date=28 February 1938 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> (afterwards organist and director of music at [[King's College, Taunton]])
*Robert Strong ca. 1948
*[[John Charles Winter]] 1950 – 1971 (later Organist and Organist Emeritus)
*Henry Doughty 1971–1991
*Simon Morley 1991–2000 (currently organist and director of music at St John's Episcopal Church, Tampa, Florida)
*[[Christopher Gray (organist)|Christopher Gray]] 2000–2008 (later Organist)
*[[Luke Bond]] 2008–2017 (currently assistant director of music of [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]])
*Joseph Wicks 2017–2019
*Michael Butterfield 2019-2020 (currently organist of [[Marlborough College]])
*Andrew Wyatt 2020– (Former Assistant Organist at Hexham Abbey)
{{div col end}}
;Organ Scholars
{{div col}}
*[[Luke Bond]] 1998–1999 (later Assistant Organist 2008–2017)
*Christopher Teel 1999–2000 (currently director of music at Christ The Servant Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas)
*Andrew Senn 2000–2001 (currently director of music at The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and organist for Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania)
*Nicholas Wearne 2001–2002 (later assistant organist at [[St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal)]] and [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]], London)
*Michael Phillips 2002 (later director of music and organist at St Luke's Episcopal Church, Dallas, Texas, currently organist at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas)
*Tom Wilkinson 2003–2004 (currently organist at [[University of St Andrews]])
*Claire Cousens 2004–2005
*Tom Little 2005–2006 (currently director of music at [[Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin]])
*David Moore 2006–2007 (later assistant director of music at [[St John-at-Hampstead]] Parish Church, London)
*Shiloh Roby 2007–2008 (later organ scholar of [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin]], currently associate director of music at [[Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati]])
*Joshua Hales 2008–2009 (later organ scholar at [[Exeter College, Oxford]] and [[Salisbury Cathedral]], later still assistant director of music at [[Sheffield Cathedral]])
*Donald Hunt 2009–2010 (currently assistant organist at [[St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal)]])
*Sachin Gunga 2010–2011 (currently sub-organist at [[Portsmouth Cathedral]])
*Edward Symington 2011–2012 (afterwards organ scholar at [[Westminster Cathedral]])
*Harry Meehan 2012–2013 (afterwards organ scholar at [[The Queen's College, Oxford]] and later assistant organist at [[Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch]], New Zealand)
*Rachel Mahon 2013–2014 (currently director of music at [[Coventry Cathedral]])
*James Orford 2014–2015 (later organ scholar at [[St Paul's Cathedral]], organist and assistant director of music at [[St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge]], currently organist of [[St Paul's Cathedral]])
*Joseph O’Berry 2015–2016 (currently assistant director of music at the [[Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness]], Denver, Colorado)
*Käthe Wright Kaufman 2016–2017 (later organ scholar at [[Peterborough Cathedral]], currently  associate director of music and worship arts at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church and Chapel Organist at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University campus, Atlanta, Georgia)
*William Fairbairn 2017–2018 (currently assistant director of music at [[St Marylebone Parish Church]], London)
*Carolyn Craig 2018–2019 (currently assistant director of music at [[Wells Cathedral]])
*Manuel Piazza 2019–2020 (currently assistant director of music at [[St. Thomas's Anglican Church (Toronto)]] Canada)
*Alden Wright 2021–2022 (currently director of music at Christ Episcopal Church of Pittsford, NY)
*Tom Dilley 2022–2023
*Jeremiah Mead 2023–2024
{{div col end}}

==Bells==
A [[ring of bells|ring]] of ten bells was cast in 1909 by [[John Taylor & Co]] of Loughborough: the tenor bell weighs 33[[hundredweight|cwt]]-3qr-10lb (3790lb).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=truro&DoveID=TRURO&printer=true |title=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers|date=2000 |access-date=1 June 2011}}</ref> Four further bells, also cast by Taylor, were installed in 2011: two completing the original ring to twelve, and two smaller ones to give the option of a lighter sound.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-13571248 |title=Truro Cathedral bells ring again |date=27 May 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203064246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-13571248 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition there are six bells in the Green Tower, previously in St Mary's Parish Church, of which five form a chiming peal. A planned great [[Bourdon (bell)|bourdon bell]] for the south-west tower was never made.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Bellringer's Guide to the Church Bells of Britain and Ringing Peals of the World|first=R. H.|last=Dove|date=1982|edition= 6th|location=Aldershot|publisher=Viggers; p. 111}}</ref><ref>Brown, H. M. (1976) ''A Century for Cornwall''. Truro: Blackford; p. 54</ref>

==Choir==
Truro Cathedral has had an unbroken choral tradition dating from 1876. The present-day choir has twelve adult singers who are either lay vicars or choral scholars, accompanied by either eighteen boy choristers or eighteen girl choristers. After the closure of [[Truro Cathedral School]] in 1982, the cathedral no longer has a dedicated cathedral school. Instead, the choristers are awarded bursaries to attend [[Truro School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Music: Truro Cathedral Choir|url=http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/day-to-day/choir.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041223215927/http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/day-to-day/choir.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2004|publisher=trurocathedral.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Girl Choristers for Truro Cathedral Choir|url=http://www.trurodiocese.org.uk/2014/08/girl-choristers-for-truro-cathedral-choir/|publisher=[[Diocese of Truro]]|date=5 August 2014|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220173822/http://www.trurodiocese.org.uk/2014/08/girl-choristers-for-truro-cathedral-choir/|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Girl choristers were first admitted to the cathedral choir in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=First girl choristers for Truro Cathedral|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-34499665|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=11 October 2015|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113075749/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-34499665|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[International Women's Day]] in 2017 they appeared for the first time in a broadcast of the [[BBC Radio 3]] programme ''[[Choral Evensong (BBC)|Choral Evensong]]''. The service included the first performance of two new works, namely a set of [[canticles]] by [[Dobrinka Tabakova]] and a set of responses by Sasha Johnson-Manning.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h0kt3 | title=BBC Radio 3 – Choral Evensong, Truro Cathedral on International Women's Day | access-date=8 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310190510/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h0kt3 | archive-date=10 March 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The cathedral's girl choristers were also among those selected to sing at the [[coronation of Charles III and Camilla]] in 2023.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/coronation-music-commissions Royal Family, "New music commissions for the coronation service at Westminster Abbey"], 17 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.</ref> 

The choir appeared on the 2019 season of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Shannon Hards |title=Shock as Truro Cathedral Choir don't make it through to Britain's Got Talent finals |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/celebs-tv/shock-truro-cathedral-choir-dont-2909062 |website=Cornwall Live |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=25 May 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall|Christianity}}
*[[List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of topics related to Cornwall]]
*[[List of new ecclesiastical buildings by J. L. Pearson]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Cooper, Sydney, Canon of Truro (1925) "The Restoration of the Cornish Bishopric". In: ''Cornish Church Guide''. Truro: Blackford; pp.&nbsp;30–50
* Henderson, Charles (1925) "Truro St Mary V." In: ''Cornish Church Guide''. Truro: Blackford; pp.&nbsp;209–10

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/ |title=Truro Cathedral official website}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N11147 |title=The specification of the Willis organ|publisher=National Pipe Organ Register}}

{{Cathedrals of the Church of England}}
{{Deans of Truro}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:20th-century Church of England church buildings]]
[[Category:Anglican cathedrals in England]]
[[Category:Anglo-Catholic church buildings in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Christianity in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1910]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Diocese of Truro|Diocese of Truro]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in England]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Grade I listed cathedrals]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in Cornwall]]
[[Category:John Loughborough Pearson buildings]]
[[Category:Truro]]
[[Category:19th-century church buildings in England]]