The exterior sculpture of Guildford Cathedral provides many artistic features, including sculptures, engravings and more by some of EnglandâÂÂs finest sculptors and craftsmen of the 1950s and 1960s. The people who worked on the cathedral include: Edward Maufe, Alan Collins, Vernon Hill, Eric Gill, John Hutton, Dennis Huntley and others.
The cathedral is an Anglican cathedral at Guildford, Surrey, England.
Having decided in 1928 to build a new cathedral, the diocese awarded the commission to Edward Maufe who served as the cathedral architect. Due to the Second World War and inadequate financing, construction was stopped for many years. In 1955, when building materials and funding was available, construction of the nave began. Although construction was not entirely completed, the cathedral was consecrated in May 1961. By 1966 construction was completed on the Western Porches, tower, Lady Chapel, the Sacristy, and Chapel House.
At the West Door are three central windows and at the top of these is the carving âÂÂThe Hand of Godâ by sculptor Alan Collins. The hand is surmounted by the sun, moon and stars- an invitation from God to be part of the Christian Community.
Beneath these central windows and above the West Door are several carvings. These were dedicated by the Very Reverend Alex Wedderspoon, Dean Emeritus, on Whit Sunday in 2004. The figures are carved from Clipsham stone. Below the central figure of the Transfigured Christ are figures of men and women whose lives were thought to reflect the Holy Spirit. Four of these figures are from the past â St Bernard, St Benedict, St Columba and Dame Julian of Norwich and the other four feature contemporary Christians â Evelyn Underhill, Bede Griffiths, Reginald Somerset Ward and Archbishop Michael Ramsey.
On either side of the West Door are the North and South Garth which have been described as two welcoming arms.
Above the South Garth is a carving which shows a scallop shell held by two hands symbolizing the Paten with Communion bread. The scallop shell was traditionally a sign that a pilgrim had paid a visit to the shrine of St James at Compostella in North West Spain where scallop shells were abundant on the beaches. On the other side of the South Garth there is another carving this an open book with the words âÂÂVeni, Creator, SpiritusâÂÂâ âÂÂCome Holy SpiritâÂÂ, words which appear often throughout the cathedral.
As one walks around the cathedral one sees many quite distinctive drainpipes. This was one of Edward MaufeâÂÂs wishes; he wanted even the mundane drainpipe to reflect âÂÂThe Glory of GodâÂÂ. They bear Roman Numerals being the dates they were installed and some bear the inscription âÂÂVeni, Creator, SpiritusâÂÂ.
Having passed through the South Garth there are seven figures carved at the base of the windows and these represent the Seven Christian Virtues- âÂÂCharityâÂÂ, âÂÂHopeâÂÂ, âÂÂFaithâÂÂ, âÂÂCourageâÂÂ, âÂÂTemperanceâÂÂ, âÂÂPrudenceâ and âÂÂJusticeâÂÂ. The statue of âÂÂPrudenceâ is it seems based on Prudence Maufe, the wife of the architect; even the shoes are in the style of shoes which she wore. âÂÂHopeâ and âÂÂJusticeâ were the work of the sculptor Richard Browne. âÂÂFaithâ was the work of John Cobbett and âÂÂCharityâÂÂ, âÂÂCourageâÂÂ, âÂÂTemperanceâ and âÂÂPrudenceâ were the work of Alan Collins. The statue âÂÂFaithâ was a gift from the WomenâÂÂs Royal Army Corps.
John Cobbett incidentally executed a fine âÂÂMadonna and Childâ and âÂÂSt Francisâ both of which can be seen inside the cathedral.
The cathedral tower is high and holds 12 bells weighing in total some 6.5 tons. Above the south balcony is the sculptor Dennis HuntleyâÂÂs St Hubert which was carved by Huntley âÂÂin situâÂÂ. Above the east balcony is a WWI Memorial depicting a mother and child, carved by sculptor Nicholas Thompson in situ in 2016.
The Gilded Angel at the top of the tower was the work of Hurst, Franklin & Co of Islington and the 12 bells were made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
Above the South Door is Eric GillâÂÂs figure of St John the Baptist. There is a small maquette used for this work near the pulpit inside the cathedral.
The reliefs on the two bronze doors set under two arches here are the work of Vernon Hill and are depictions of various occupations, some of men, others of women. The menâÂÂs occupations are on the right side door- woodcutting, fishing, hunting, sowing, shepherding and ploughing and on the left side door we have the occupations accredited to women- milking, harvesting, nursing, teaching, spinning and motherhood.
Vernon Hill was also responsible for carving the angels on the Sedilia inside the cathedral, as well as the âÂÂtongues of flamesâ on the pulpit and lectern. He also carved the Arms of Bishop Greig over the inside of the Sacristy Door and St Ursula over the inside of St UrsulaâÂÂs Porch.
After the South Door entrance is St UrsulaâÂÂs Porch with Eric GillâÂÂs carving over it of the Diocesan Coat of Arms and by the side of the porch is a plaque carrying the name "Maufe" and a crest above it. This is the signature stone of Edward Maufe. This door is also known as the âÂÂBishopâÂÂs Entranceâ and the door handles are shaped like a bishopâÂÂs crozier.
The bell and weathervane are part of the Lady Chapel and the bell was first rung in December 1947 on the occasion of the dedication of the Crypt Chapel. Here the large sculpture above the round window is to the design of Eric Gill and portrays the crucifixion, illustrating the text- âÂÂThe eternal god is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting armsâ Eric Gill died before he was able to carve this piece and the carving was done by Anthony Foster GillâÂÂs assistant. Foster died at the young age of 47 in 1957 and had taught stone-carving at Camberwell School of Art.
At the eastern end of the cathedral are the buttresses of the LadyâÂÂs Chapel with statues of St.Cecilia, St Martha of Bethany, St Catherine and Lady Margaret Beaufort.
The statues of St Cecilia and Lady Margaret Beaufort are the work of Dennis Huntley and those of St Martha of Bethany and St Catherine are by Alan Collins.
Dennis Huntley also carved two of the limewood figures on the corners of the ceiling of the childrenâÂÂs chapel inside the cathedral. In the other two corners are the gilded limewood angels by Mary Spencer Watson.
Along the north side of the cathedral are another seven figures at the bases of the seven windows these representing the âÂÂSeven Gifts of the SpiritâÂÂ: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Most of the works were made by Alan Collins, but "Piety" was made by Dennis Huntley and "Fear" by Karin Jonzen.
Above the inside of the archway of the North Garth is a carving of a hand holding a dove representing the Holy Spirit, this by Alan Collins and on the other side is another Collins carving of a chalice filled with Communion wine, this juxtaposed with the carving at the front of the South Garth which represented the Communion bread or wafer. Thus the two âÂÂwelcoming armsâ of the two garths show the two features of the Eucharist; the Communion wine and the Communion bread.