George Chandler (priest) facts for kids
George Chandler (born around 1779, died 1859) was an important Anglican priest. He was known for his work in the church and for helping to restore Chichester Cathedral.
Early Life and Learning
George Chandler went to school at Winchester College. He also studied at New College, Oxford, and the Inner Temple, which is a place where lawyers are trained. He earned degrees in law from New College, Oxford, in 1804 and 1824.
Church Work and Leadership
In 1825, Chandler was chosen to give the Bampton Lectures, which are a series of special talks about Christianity. He also led a committee for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). This group helps spread Christian ideas and knowledge. Chandler spent a lot of time editing school books for the SPCK.
From 1825 to 1847, Chandler was the Rector (a type of priest) at All Souls Church, Langham Place in London. From 1830 until he died in 1859, he was the Dean of Chichester. A dean is a senior priest who leads a cathedral.
Because he had duties in London, Chandler was only in Chichester for about 90 days each year. It was common for deans to have part-time roles back then. Chandler had a good relationship with the other church leaders in Chichester. He was the first of five deans between 1830 and 1902, and he probably got along best with his team.
In 1831, Chandler became the President of the Chichester Literary and Ecclesiological Society. He gave the first speech and continued to give annual talks for many years. In 1833, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for scientists and thinkers.
In 1839, Chandler worked with William Otter, who was the Bishop of Chichester. Together, they helped create a Theological College in Chichester. This college was a place where people could study to become priests.
Restoring Chichester Cathedral
When George Chandler became Dean, Chichester Cathedral was in very bad condition. It had been damaged a lot during the English Reformation, a time of big changes in the church. Later, during the English Civil War, the cathedral's records were harmed, and its library was almost sold off. Years of neglect made things even worse.
Chandler decided to take on the huge task of restoring the cathedral. Work began in the 1840s, focusing on the main part of the church (the nave) and its windows. Joseph Butler was hired as the architect in 1841. However, Chandler felt that people didn't know enough about architecture yet to properly restore the choir (the area where the church choir sits). So, the choir was not fixed during his time. But he left £2000 in his will to pay for its restoration later.
Inside Chichester Cathedral, there was also a local church called St Peter the Great. In 1841, the wall separating this church from the cathedral was removed. Chandler supported plans to build a new, separate church for the local community. After people donated money, Richard Cromwell Carpenter was chosen as the architect. The new church was built between 1848 and 1852. Chandler even paid for the pews (church benches) himself. This new church could seat hundreds of people, making it the biggest local church in Chichester. However, over time, fewer people attended, and the church was sold in 1979. Today, it is a restaurant and bar.
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