Doncaster Minster Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Doncaster Minster
The Minster and Parish Church of St George, Doncaster
St George's Minster, Doncaster
53°31′32.88″N 1°8′7.44″W / 53.5258000°N 1.1354000°W / 53.5258000; -1.1354000
OS grid reference	SE 5742 0356
Location	9 Church Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1RD
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church
Website	doncasterminster.org
History
Dedication	St George
Consecrated	14 October 1858
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Designated	12 June 1950
Architect(s)	George Gilbert Scott
Architectural type	Gothic Revival
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1854
Completed	1858
Construction cost	£48,000
Specifications
Length	168.5 feet (51.4 m)
Width	92 feet (28 m)
Height	160 feet (49 m)
Bells	8
Administration
Parish	St George Doncaster
Deanery	Doncaster
Archdeaconry	Doncaster
Diocese	Diocese of Sheffield
Province	Province of York

Doncaster Minster, also known as the Minster and Parish Church of St George, is a special Anglican church in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade I, which means it's one of the most historically significant buildings in the country. The church was designed by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. It was built between 1854 and 1858. This new church replaced an older one that was destroyed by a big fire. Today, it is still an active church. It has a famous organ built by Johann Friedrich Schulze, a set of eight bells, and a well-known clock made by Dent. Doncaster Minster is one of only two parish churches in South Yorkshire that has "minster" status.

History of Doncaster Minster
Doncaster Minster Today
The Famous Schulze Organ
Gallery
See also

History of Doncaster Minster

St George's Minster, Doncaster

The first church on this spot was built in the 12th century. It was a Norman building. Sadly, this old church burned down completely. The fire happened on the last day of February in 1853. A medieval library, which was located above the south porch, was also lost in the fire.

After the fire, a new church was needed. The famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott was chosen to design it in 1853. Building work started in 1854 and finished in 1858. The whole project cost about £43,126. The Archbishop of York officially opened the new church on October 14, 1858.

Doncaster Minster Today

The Minster is one of Doncaster's most important buildings. Its Grade I listing shows how special it is. Sir John Betjeman, a famous writer, called it "Victorian Gothic at its very best." The church was given "minster status" on June 17, 2004. This means it's a leading church in the area.

It is a busy place of worship with regular services. It is also used for important town events, concerts, and other celebrations. The Minster is part of the Major Churches Network. This group includes many of the largest and most important parish churches in England.

Inside the Minster, you can find some amazing treasures. One is a clock made by Dent. This company also designed the famous clock at the Palace of Westminster, which is known as Big Ben. The church also has a spectacular organ. It has five keyboards and was built by the famous German organ builder Edmund Schulze (1824–1877). The Minster also has eight bells.

The Famous Schulze Organ

The original church had a beautiful organ from the 1700s. It was known for its wonderful sound. This old organ was destroyed in the big fire of 1853.

When the new church was being built, the organist, Jeremiah Rogers, wanted the best organ in the world. He traveled around Europe to see famous organs. He wanted an instrument that would be worthy of Sir George Gilbert Scott's grand new church.

Building the Schulze Organ

Jeremiah Rogers chose a German company, J. F. Schulze and Sons, to build the new organ. The company's founder, Johann Friedrich Schulze, had shown an organ at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. This organ had new features that impressed many people.

Johann Friedrich Schulze died in 1858, so his son, Heinrich Edmund Schulze, took over the project. Edmund convinced Rogers to make the organ even bigger. It became a huge instrument with five keyboards and 94 different sounds. This made it one of the largest church organs in England at the time.

Most of the organ parts arrived from Germany in 1860. Edmund Schulze and his team worked inside the church for two years to build it. They even used the wooden packing cases from the shipment to make some of the large pipes! The new organ was officially dedicated at a service on September 24, 1862.

The Doncaster organ became very famous. It led to many other orders for Schulze organs in England. Doncaster's organ was the largest one the company ever built.

What Made the Organ Special?

The Schulze organ at Doncaster Minster was very innovative for its time. It had special features that allowed for a wide range of sounds. For example, it had unique wooden pipes that sounded like flutes. It also had very powerful bass sounds, including a rare 32-foot pipe.

The most famous part of the Doncaster Schulze organ is its powerful "Great Flue Chorus." This part of the organ creates a very bold and rich sound.

Later Changes to the Organ

Over the years, the organ has been updated to keep it in excellent condition. In 1910, some new parts were added, including a separate section for solo sounds. In 1935, the way the organ worked was updated to use electricity. More work was done in 1959 to replace older parts. In 1999, a new console (the part with the keyboards and stops) was installed. All these updates have helped keep this historic instrument playing beautifully.

Why the Organ is Important

The organ at Doncaster Minster is considered a masterpiece. It is one of the largest organs in Europe. Many experts believe this single instrument changed how organs were built in Britain. It helped people appreciate a more classical style of organ sound.

Doncaster Minster became a special place for musicians and organ builders to visit. They came to study and admire this amazing instrument. One famous architect and organ builder, T.C. Lewis, said it was "by far the grandest instrument I have ever heard."

The organ's historical importance is also because it has been so well preserved. Unlike many other organs from that time, it hasn't been completely rebuilt. This means it still largely sounds as Edmund Schulze intended. Musicians have even written special pieces of music just for the Doncaster Schulze organ.