Peel Cathedral#History

Image:St Germans' Cathedral, Peel Castle, Isle of Man.jpg on St Patrick's Isle.]]

The patron of the cathedral, St German of Man (not to be confused with Germanus of Auxerre), was a Celtic missionary and holy man who lived from about 410 to 474. St German's Day is celebrated each year on 13 July.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cathedral.im/history|title=History|website=www.cathedral.im|access-date=2016-04-12}}

The original cathedral of St German was inside the walls of Peel Castle and was built sometime in the 12th century when St Patrick's Isle was in the possession of Norse kings. At that time the church followed the Sarum Rite, prevalent throughout much of the British Isles. Around 1333 the Lords of Man refortified St Patrick's Isle and occupied the church as a fortress. In 1392 William Le Scroop repaired the cathedral.{{Cite web|url=http://www.qualtrough.org/history/Peel-Castle.pdf|title=Field Visit to Peel Castle & St. German's Cathedral|last=Qualtrough|first=John K.|date=May 2003|website=|publisher=Isle of Man College|access-date=2016-04-11}}

The building fell into ruin in the 18th century. After a considerable period of debate over who owned the ruins and site, it was decided not to rebuild that cathedral. The present building was constructed in 1879–84 to replace St Peter's Church in Peel's market place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/unholy-row-erupts-over-st-german-s-cathedral-plans-1-1792697|title=Unholy row erupts over St German|date=2009-06-01|website=IOM Today|publisher=IOM Today|access-date=2016-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423144041/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/unholy-row-erupts-over-st-german-s-cathedral-plans-1-1792697|archive-date=2016-04-23|url-status=dead}} Although the building of the New Church was intended to become the diocesan cathedral, Bishop Rowley Hill’s Cathedral Bill didn’t make its final reading in Tynwald before he died. His successor abandoned the proposed Bill.

In 1895, Bishop Straton consecrated his chapel at Bishopscourt, his official residence, as a pro-cathedral and instituted a chapter of canons with himself as dean; by 1960, St Nicholas' Chapel was still a pro-cathedral (or "Cathedral Chapel").{{Church Times | title = Ruined Manx cathedral may be restored | archive = 1960_02_12_015 | issue = 5061 | date = 12 December 1960 | page = 15 | accessed = 27 June 2019 }} Bishopscourt's sale in 1979 left the diocese without a cathedral, and forced the issue of choosing a new cathedral; after public consultation,{{Church Times | title = Manx churchfolk to help pick cathedral | archive = 1979_05_11_003 | issue = 6065 | date = 11 May 1979 | page = 3 | accessed = 27 June 2019 }} Kirk German Parish Church was so designated, and officially made the cathedral in a service on All Saints' Day (1 November 1980).{{Church Times | title = New Manx cathedral hallowed | archive = 1980_11_07_002 | issue = 6143 | date = 7 November 1980 | page = 2 | accessed = 27 June 2019 }} The arrangement (bishop as dean) persisted even after the consecration of the new cathedral. The bishop was later described by John Betjeman as "that luckless Bishop whose cathedral is a beautiful ruin of green slate and red sandstone on an islet overlooking Peel".{{cite book|first=John|last=Betjeman|title=The Best of Betjeman|publisher=Penguin Books|page=162|edition=2000}}

The cathedral has a dean and chapter.Church Act 1895 (of Tynwald), section 4 Until 15 October 2011, the Bishop of Sodor and Man was dean ex officio, but on that date the vicar of the parish became dean ex officio;Church Offices Measure (Isle of Man) 2011 (Statutory Document 624/11)[http://extranet.tynwald.org.im/SD/2011/2011-SD-0624.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425233756/http://extranet.tynwald.org.im/SD/2011/2011-SD-0624.pdf|date=2012-04-25}}, amending Church Act 1895 section 4 this is thought to have been the historical arrangement from the 12th century until the late 19th century.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-15320734|title=St German's Cathedral, Isle of Man: New dean installed|work=BBC News|date=15 October 2011|access-date=2016-04-12}} The chapter consists of the Archdeacon of Man ex officio and four canons who are all parochial clergy in the diocese.

St German's Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Sodor and Man, which today consists of only the Isle of Man.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sodorandman.im/cathedral/item/1515|title=St. German’s, Peel|website=The Church of England, Diocese of Sodor and Man|access-date=2016-04-12}}

In July 2015, Anne, Princess Royal, attended a thanksgiving service at Peel Cathedral as patron of the development campaign; the service also marked the rebranding of Peel Cathedral as "Cathedral Isle of Man".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-33519780|title=Princess Royal attends Service of Thanksgiving in Peel|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-04-12}} In 2016, following the mass shooting at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the cathedral displayed a rainbow flag at a candlelit vigil for the victims to "show solidarity with the LGBT community."{{Cite web |title=Cathedral praised for LGBT welcome |url=https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/cathedral-praised-for-welcoming-lgbt-community/ |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Manx Radio |language=en}}

In October 2024, Anne, Princess Royal, attended a further thanksgiving service for the reordering of the Cathedral. The seating is now fully adaptable for multiple uses in the Cathedral, with the added comfort of underfloor heating.

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File:Peel cathedral interior.jpg

File:Cathedral 2025 West from Chancel Step.jpg

Cathedral 2006.jpg

• 1895{{snd}}15 October 2011: The Bishop of Sodor and Man
• 15 October 2011{{snd}}present: Nigel Godfrey,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cathedral.im/staff|title=Staff|website=Cathedral Isle Of Man|access-date=2019-02-02}} Vicar of the West Coast (Dalby, Kirk Michael, Patrick, Peel, and St Johns) since 2012

As of 30 December 2020:

• Archdeacon of Man and Vicar of Douglas (St George & All Saints) — Irene Cowell
• Vicar of Rushen and Canon of St German — Joe Heaton (canon since 2016)
• Vicar of Marown and Canon of St Columba — Janice Ward (canon since 2016)

File:Cathedra Sodor and Man.jpg (throne) of the Bishop of Sodor and Man, in Peel Cathedral.]]

Bishop Hildesley established a children's choir at his private chapel at Bishopscourt as early as 1755. At the opening of Peel New Church in 1884, Ms ML Wood ARCO was appointed the first organist and directed a large choir. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, first established at Truro Cathedral in 1880, made its first appearance in Peel in 1885.

However, the modern Cathedral Choir was re-established in 2012 and includes a mixed boy and girl treble line (aged 7–14 years) drawn from island schools, in addition to a large adult voluntary choir (SATB). Choral services are sung on Sundays and consist of a Choral Eucharist and Choral Evensong.

There is a developing programme of choral scholarships for secondary school students.

The cathedral has a large two-manual Brindley & Foster organ in the chancel. It is planned that the pipe organ will be rebuilt, re-ordered and significantly enlarged over the next five years, to meet the demands of the cathedral's developing choral programme.

• 1983 Mike Porter
• 1986 Bernard Clark
• 1992 Stephen Dutton
• 1995 Harvey Easton
• 2001 Mike Porter

• 2008 Donald Roworth
• 2012 Peter Litman{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcm.org.uk/Find_Cathedrals/England/Cathedrals/Peel.html|title=Peel Cathedral|website=Friends of Cathedral Music|access-date=2016-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805173640/http://www.fcm.org.uk/Find_Cathedrals/England/Cathedrals/Peel.html|archive-date=2016-08-05|url-status=dead}}

• 2015–2016 Jack Oades
• 2016–2017 Max Smith
• 2017–2018 Max Smith
• 2018–2019 Christopher Beaumont
• 2019–2020 Harry Sullivan

• from 2018 Stuart Corrie

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• [http://www.cathedral.im/ Cathedral Isle of Man]

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Category:Cathedrals in the Isle of Man

Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in the Isle of Man

Category:Diocese of Sodor and Man

Category:Anglican cathedrals in Europe

Category:Peel, Isle of Man

Category:Registered Buildings of the Isle of Man

Category:Church of England church buildings in Europe