Location Peel Denomination Church of England Consecrated 1890 Diocese Diocese of Sodor and Man Bishop Robert Paterson | Country Isle of Man Website Cathedral Isle of Man Phone +44 1624 844830 Province Province of York | |
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Former name(s) Kirk German, Peel Parish Church Address Derby Road, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1HH, IM5 1HH, Isle of Man Similar Peel Castle, Bradford Cathedral, Leece Museum, Wakefield Cathedral, Blackburn Cathedral Profiles | ||
Grandsire triples at peel cathedral with castle rushen bell
The Cathedral Church of Saint German or Peel Cathedral, rebranded as Cathedral Isle of Man is located in Peel, Isle of Man. The cathedral is also one of the parish churches in the parish of the West Coast which includes the town of Peel, and was built in 1879–84. It was made the cathedral by Act of Tynwald in 1980.
Contents
History
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 on 13 July.
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 Island and occupied the church as a fortress. In 1392 William Le Scroop repaired the Cathedral.
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. In 1895, the bishop consecrated his chapel at the bishop's palace as pro-cathedral and instituted a chapter of canons with himself as Dean. That 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".
The cathedral has a Dean and Chapter. 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, as had been the historical arrangement from the 12th century until the late 19th century. The chapter consists of the Archdeacon of Man ex officio and four canons who are all parochial clergy in the Diocese.
In July 2015, the Princess Royal, as patron of a development campaign regarding the Cathedral, attended a thanksgiving service at Peel Cathedral. St. German's Cathedral is the mother Church of the Diocese of Sodor and Man, which today consists of the Isle of Man.
Vicars of German
Deans of St German
Chapter
Music
The Cathedral Choir consists of a mixed boy and girl treble line (aged 7–14 years old) and an adult voluntary section (SATB) who sing both a Choral Eucharist and Choral Evensong on Sundays.
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. Over the next five years it is planned that the pipe organ will be rebuilt, re-ordered and significantly enlarged to meet the demands of the cathedral's developing choral programme.
The Cathedral Precentor is Revd. Ian Faulds.
The Organist & Director of Music (since 2012) is Dr Peter Litman. The organ scholar for 2016-2017 is Maximillian Smith.