GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL MEASURE, 1959 (Hansard, 19 March 1959)

THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON

moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act. 1919, this House do direct that the Guildford Cathedral Measure, 1959, be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I proceed to my second speech, and I beg to move the Resolution which stands in my name on the Order Paper. The Diocese of Guildford was created in the 1920's,and the Church of the Holy Trinity, in the middle of Guildford, was made the Cathedral for the Diocese, But the building was not large enough for its purpose, and the Diocese accordingly decided that a new Cathedral should be built on Stag Hill, just outside the built-up area. A start was made an the building, but the war came and then there were the postwar difficulties over building. But it is expected that by May of next year, the nave of the Cathedral will be ready for consecration and that the Diocese will then he able to have its new Cathedral.

There are other steps that have to be taken. An organisation for the Cathedral must be provided. A Measure was passed in 1938 and a constitution and statutes for the new Cathedral were also prepared. Cathedrals can be divided into two classes:Dean and Chapter Cathedrals, which have no parochial responsibilities like all the ancient 74 cathedrals, and cathedrals which are also parish churches, which have a provost, who is also the vicar of the parish, and a cathedral council. The intention in the 1930's was to adopt the second alternative and to provide the new Guildford Cathedral with a parish.

The surroundings, however, have not developed in the way that was expected. There has been much less building than was anticipated, and a by-pass, which is a major obstacle, has been constructed close to the Cathedral. Since there is no natural parish of the Cathedral, it has been decided that the better solution is to leave it without a parish. It is also believed that if it has no parochial responsibilities it will be the more effective as the spiritual centre of the Diocese. This Measure therefore provides for the transfer of the statusof a Cathedral from Holy Trinity, in the town. to the new Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, and the creation of a Dean and Chapter.

There are a number of other necessary provisions, and these are explained in the comments and explanations of the Legislative Committee which are appended to the Report of the Ecclesiastical Committee, The Measure has the approval of the Cathedral and the Diocesan authorities. It passed through the Assembly without amendment being moved, and without any opposition. I beg to move.