Figure 1.-- The Chichester Cathedral Choristers wear the Prebendal school uniform which has a bright red blazer. The Choristers have destinctive gray capes trimed in red. For their religious singing they wear eclesiastical robes.

Chichester was founded as a Roman town. The magnificent cathedral was built in Chichester by the Normans centuries after the Romans left. It was the first important Norman cathedral in recently conquuered Saxon England. It was part of the Norman policy of centralising Sees in existing population centers to simplify administraton. Many monastaries had been built in more isolated rural areas. An earlier Saxon cathedral had been built at nearby Selsey, founded by Saint Wilfrid in the late 7th century, while he was exiled in Sussex. The Normons began building their new cathedral in the center of Chichester around 1076 under bishop Stigand who had been the last Bishop of Selsey. Building cathedrals in the Medieval era was a major undertaking and normally took decadeds if not centuries. Construction continued into the 12th century. Finally Bishop Ralph Luffa dedicated the cathedral in 1108. We have no information on the operation of the Choir during historical periods. The construction of a Song School over the Chapter House in the 15th century suggests that there is a long history of choral singing at the Cathedral. The modern choir is quite active and one of the major English cathedral choirs. The statutes at Chichester Cathedral provide for the maintenance of 18 Trebles and six Lay Vicars. The Choristers and Probationers are educated at the Prebendal School, the Cathedral's own Choir School, where they are required to be boarders. The Choristers are afforded a first-class music education. The Prebendal School is operated as a preparatory school. The Prebendal School is the oldest school in Sussex. It has educated children on the present site since the 15th century.

Chichester

Chichester in Sussex was founded as a Roman town, probably Regnum or Regni. It was strstegically loicated about a mile from the English Channel. After the departure of the Romans, it was partially destroyed by the South Saxons and then rebuilt by their king, Cissa. The town during the Medieval era developed as an important market town and afyer the Norman conquest as an administrative center. Chichester was the site of fierce fighting during rhe English Civil War of the 17th century.

Chichester Cathedral

The magnificent cathedral was built in Chichester by the Normans centuries after the Romans left. It was the first important Norman cathedral in recently conquuered Saxon England. It was part of the Norman policy of centralising Sees in existing population centers to simplify administraton. Many monastaries had been built in more isolated rural areas. An earlier Saxon cathedral had been built at nearby Selsey, founded by Saint Wilfrid in the late 7th century, while he was exiled in Sussex. The Normons began building their new cathedral in the center of Chichester around 1076 under bishop Stigand who had been the last Bishop of Selsey. Building cathedrals in the Medieval era was a major undertaking and normally took decadeds if not centuries. Construction continued into the 12th century. Finally Bishop Ralph Luffa dedicated the cathedral in 1108. Fires in 1114 and 1187 did considerable damage, but the cathedral was repaired. The cathedral was strengthened with stone vaulting and extended westward. Flying buttresses were also added. The retro-choir was completely redone which squared off the previously apsidal east end and introduced the use of pointed styling into the triforium and clerestory arches. Composite columns of Purbeck marble were substituted for the Norman stone piers. It is unclear just when the restored cathedral was completed, byt re-dedication ceremonies were held 1199. The important addition of chapels to the nave aisles, forming an unusual architectural feature, occurred in the 13th century. This made Chichester one of the widest of the English cathedrals. The staus of Chichester Cathedral increased in 1262 when Bishop Richard, who had died 9 years earlier, was canonized by Pope Urban IV. The Bishop's remains were moved from the original burial place in the Chapel of St Thomas and St Edmund, to a Shrine in the Retro-choir in 1276. The cathedral then became an important center for pilgrimage. Important additions occurred in the 14th century. The Lady Chapel was extended with beautiful windows in the 'decorated' style. Bishop John Langton completely redid the south wall of the South Transept. He created a magnificent seven light window with elaborate tracery around a curvilinear triangle. The Canons' Vestry was also built in the 14th century and the Chapter House. The Song School still used by the Cathedral Choir was built over the Chapter House in the 15th century. There were further additions in the 15th century which brought the cathedral close to its modern appearance. The cloisters were built to enclose the south transept. Also added was a detached bell-tower, the only such detached cathedral bell towere still remaining in England. The tower today houses a peal of eight bells. The much admired spire was also added at this time. The cathedral suffered significant damage during the Reformation (16th century) and Civil war (17th century). Brass plates were removed from memorials and many stone figures and carvings were defaced. The revered shrine of St. Richard was completely destroyed. Parliamentary troops destroyed the important library, a collection of imense historical importance, when they seized the city in 1642. Following years of neglect, the proper maintenance and restoration of the cathedral began in the mid-19th century and the cathedral is today well maintained.

Figure 1.-- The Chichester Cathedral Choristers wear destinctive gray capes trimed in red. Only the full Choir members wear the cape, probationers wear the red blazer Prebendal School uniform.

Cathedral Choir

We have no information on the operation of the Choir during historical periods. The construction of a Song School over the Chapter House in the 15th century suggests that there is a long history of choral singing at the Cathedral. The modern choir is quite active and one of the major English cathedral choirs. The statutes at Chichester Cathedral provide for the maintenance of 18 Trebles and six Lay Vicars. The Choristers and Probationers are educated at the Prebendal School, the Cathedral's own Choir School, where they are required to be boarders. The Choristers are afforded a first-class music education. As well as singing, Choristers learn the piano and an orchestral instrument of their choice. They spend at least 18 hours weekly on music training and performance. The Lay Vicars are professional adult singers who attend the Cathedral daily except on Wednesdays. The Cathedral Choir sings at least eight services in the Cathedral each week. They sing at Evensong on weekdays, except Wednesdays, and on Sundays at Mattins, the Eucharist and Evensong. The Choir also gives a variery of other performances, including concerts, broadcasts, recordings, and tours. The Chichester Cathedral Choir is one of the most highly respected Cathedral choirs in England. Choir officials report that theyare able to achieve an especially beautiful and gentle tone in the sympathetic acoustics of the Cathedral. The Choir in its secular performances has appeared with popular performers as diverse as Petula Clark, Richard Stilgoe, the King's Singers, the Cambridge Buskers, the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, and Cantabile. Notable television appearances have included performances in Placido Domingo's Christmas Choice and Rumpole of the Bailey. The Choir in 1985 recoded "Cathedral Music" by Geoffrey Burgon which won a 'Critics' Choice of the Year Award' in Gramophone magazine. The choir makes regular tours, including both national and foreign venues. Recent trips have included France and Germany. The Choir has made repeated trips to northern Bavaria where they have performed in Bamberg, Nurenberg and Wurzburg. The Choir also makes regular visits to Chartres where they sing in the magnificent Chartres Cathedral. (The city of Chartes and Chichester are twinned, meaning there are regular cultural exchanges.) The Choristers wear the Prebendal school uniform which has a bright red blazer. The Choristers have destinctive gray capes trimed in red. Only the full Choir members wear the cape, probationers wear the red blazer Prebendal School uniform. For their religious singing they wear eclesiastical robes.

Prebendal School

The Chichester Cathedral Choristers attend the nearby Prebendal Preparatory School. The Prebendal School is operated as a preparatory school with an attached pre-prep deoartment. It accompdated children from 3-13 years of age. The Prebendal School is the oldest school in Sussex. It has educated children on the present site since the 15th century. The school has two functions: to provide 12 boy choristers and six probationers for Chichester Cathedral, and to give a wide education to those and all its other pupils. The school is an educational trust governed by a Board led by the Dean of the Cathedral. It has six Foundation Governors, one Parent Governor and four Representative Governors. The school is now co-educational witgh day and boarding facilities. Girls were first accepted in 1972. A Pre-Prep was added on a separatre, but nearby site. Overtly Christian in its ethos, the school welcomes pupils of all faiths. As with most English preparatory schools, the great majority of pupils are from families with a professional background. Less than 5 percent of pupils are from minority ethnic groups. One pupil is partially funded externally and 11 have music scholarships. The great majority of pupils go on to public (senior private schools), both boarding and day. The school uniform is a red blazer worn with grey short and long trousers. The boys wear both grey ankle socks and grey kneesockls with red tops to match the blazer.

Sources

Ollerenshaw, Neville. A History of the Prebendal School (Chichester: Phillimore, 1984), 88p.