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
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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 Catholic church located in Arundel, West Sussex, England. It was first opened in 1873 as a local Catholic parish church. Later, in 1965, it became a cathedral when the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton was created. Today, it is the main church for the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

History of Arundel Cathedral
Meet the Organist
Special Events
- Corpus Christi Celebration
Gallery
See also

History of Arundel Cathedral

The story of Arundel Cathedral is closely linked to the Howard family. They are the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel. This family is very important in English Catholic history. They are the highest-ranking family in England, after the royal family. Their family home, Arundel Castle, has been in their family since 1102.

For a long time, it was difficult to be Catholic in England. In 1664, a law called the Conventicle Act made it illegal for Catholics to worship freely. All churches and cathedrals in England were given to the Church of England. But in 1829, a new law, the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, changed things. It meant that Catholic churches could be built again.

In 1868, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, decided to build a new Catholic church. He wanted it to be as grand as Arundel Castle. He asked the architect Joseph Hansom to design it. The cathedral's style is French Gothic. This style was popular between 1300 and 1400. This was also the time when the Howard family became very well known in England. The building is considered a very important historical site, known as Grade I listed. It is one of the best examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the French Gothic style in the country.

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

The nave.
The sanctuary.

Meet the Organist

In 2002, Elizabeth Stratford became the Organist and Master of the Choristers for the cathedral. She was the first woman to lead the music in an English cathedral. Elizabeth studied at St. Joseph's Catholic College, Bradford and the University of Huddersfield. She won awards for her singing, music writing, and organ playing. She also studied at the University of Leeds. She took over from Alistair Warwick. Elizabeth also teaches piano at Brighton College.

Special Events

The Cathedral has been a special place for many events. The Libera choir has filmed a music video here. They have also held several concerts at the cathedral (in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2019).

Corpus Christi Celebration

Every year, Arundel Cathedral hosts a beautiful Corpus Christi celebration. This event features an amazing display of flowers. People come from all over the world to see it. Volunteers work hard to create a detailed flower carpet in just one day. Each year, the carpet has a different theme. Visitors can watch the volunteers create this artwork. Or they can come later to admire the finished display.