Arundel Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Arundel Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard, Arundel
From the other side of the River Arun
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Location	Arundel, West Sussex
Country	England
Denomination	Catholic
Website	arundelcathedral.org
Architecture
Architect(s)	Joseph Hansom
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1868-
Administration
Diocese	Arundel and Brighton (since 1965)
Province	Southwark

The Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard is a beautiful church in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It was first opened in 1873 as a Catholic parish church for the town. Later, in 1965, it became a full cathedral when the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton was created.

Today, it is the main church for the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton. This important building is also recognized by Historic England as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of very special historical or architectural interest.

History of Arundel Cathedral
The Organist
Special Events
- Corpus Christi Celebration
Images for kids
See also

History of Arundel Cathedral

The story of Arundel Cathedral, including its location and design, is closely linked to the Howard family. This family, known as the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel, is one of the most important Catholic families in England. They are ranked very highly in the Peerage of England, just below the royal family. Since 1102, their family home has been Arundel Castle.

For a long time, Catholic worship was not allowed in England. In 1664, a law called the Conventicle Act stopped Catholic services. All churches and cathedrals in England were then used by the Church of England. However, things changed in 1829 with the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. This new law made it legal for Catholic churches to be built again.

In 1868, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, decided to build a new Catholic church. He asked the architect Joseph Hansom to design it. The Duke wanted a grand church that would match the impressive Arundel Castle. The cathedral was designed in the French Gothic style. This style was popular between 1300 and 1400, which was around the time the Howard family became very well-known in England. The building is considered one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the French Gothic style in the country.

The church was first dedicated to Our Lady and St Philip Neri. But in 1971, its dedication was changed. This happened after Philip Howard, 1st Earl of Arundel, was made a saint. His special items, called relics, were then moved to the cathedral. So, the church became known as Our Lady and St Philip Howard.

The nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit.
The sanctuary, the area around the altar.

The Organist

In 2002, Elizabeth Stratford became the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Arundel Cathedral. This was a big moment because she was the first woman to lead the music in an English cathedral.

Elizabeth Stratford studied at St. Joseph's Catholic College, Bradford and the University of Huddersfield. She won awards for her singing, composing music, and playing the organ. She also studied at the University of Leeds. She took over from Alistair Warwick in her role at the cathedral. Besides her work at the cathedral, she also teaches piano at Brighton College.

Special Events

Arundel Cathedral has been a special place for many events. The famous choir Libera has filmed a music video there. They have also held several concerts at the cathedral over the years, including in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2019.

Corpus Christi Celebration

Every year, Arundel Cathedral hosts a wonderful Corpus Christi celebration. This event is famous for its amazing display of flowers. People from all over the world come to see it. Volunteers work hard for just one day to create a beautiful carpet made entirely of flowers. Each year, the floral carpet has a different theme. Visitors can watch the volunteers create this artwork or come later to admire the finished display.