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LONDON :  R  I  V I  N  G  T  O  N  S 


THE    BISHOPRIC    OF   TRURO 

1877-1902 


hiwji  uU//hr  i?Tij^raoin/j  L  - 


J/  7/  n '    ///////  v// '//  / , 


THE 

BISHOPRIC    OF    TRURO 

THE    FIRST    rWENTY-FIVF:    YEARS 

1877-1902 


BY 

THE  REV.   AUG.   B.  DONALDSON,  M.A. 

Canon  Residentiakv  and  Pkkckntor  of  Truro 
Author  of  "/•/z'd'   Great   Oxfo'.l  Leadeis^^ 


wi  TH  IL  L  US  tf:  a  TIONS 


RIVINGTOXS 

34,    A7XG   STREET,    COVEiVT  GARDEX 

LONDON 

1902 


3n  HEtTErettt  Mzmata 

OK 

EDWARD    WHITE    BENSON,    D.D. 

FIRST    BISHOP   OF   TRURO 
AND   NINETY-SECOND   ARCHUISHOP   OF    CANTERBURY 

THIS    RECORD    OF    WORK 

INSPIRED    BY    HIS    IDEALS,    BEGUN    BY    HIS   EFFORTS, 

AND   CONTINUED   AFTER    HIS    EXAMPLE, 

IS    DUTIFULLY    AND    AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATED 

TO    HIS    SUCCESSORS    IN    THE    CORNISH     BISHOPRIC, 

GEORGE    HOWARD    WILKINSON,    D.D. 

SECOND    BISHOP   OF   TRURO 
AND    FIFTV-FOURTH    BISHOP   OF   ST.    ANDREWS, 

AND 

JOHN    GOTT,    D.D. 

THIRD    BISHOP   OF    TRURO 


o,^  -^-.<iq 


PREFACE 

THE  writing  of  this  volume  has  been  a  very  real 
pleasure,  but  it  would  never  have  been  under- 
taken except  at  the  invitation  of  others.  When  the 
life  of  Archbishop  Benson,  by  his  son,  Mr.  A.  C. 
Benson,  appeared,  it  was  welcomed  everywhere  as  a 
worthy  presentment  of  the  personality,  character,  and 
life  of  a  great  man  and  eminent  prelate,  from  his 
earliest  days  down  to  the  moment  when  he  was  called 
suddenly  away  in  Hawarden  Church.  The  whole 
period  of  sixty-eight  years  was  very  fully  dealt  with, 
and  carefully  illustrated  from  letters,  diaries,  and  other 
documents.  No  one  could  fail  to  realise,  from  so 
well-executed  a  biography,  a  very  clear  and  definite 
portrait  of  the  person  there  described,  nor  to  follow 
the  main  outlines  of  a  life,  rich  in  great  opportunities, 
nobly  seized  and  faithfully  dealt  with.  As  one  reads, 
and  reads  again,  this  fine  biography,  there  is  observ- 
able in  the  history  an  onward  progress  of  personal 
development  in  the  various  stages  of  the  Archbishop's 
career.  Mr.  Benson  in  exhibiting  all  this  in  clear  and 
balanced  method,  endeavoured  to  do  justice  to  each 
part  of  the  life  of  his  father.  This  he  has  ably  and 
successfully  vindicated  in  a  published  reply  to  certain 


viii  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

criticisms,  on  the  part  of  those  who  thought  that  the 
six  years  of  remarkably  active,  and  even  unique,  work 
in  Cornwall  mi^ht  have  received  a  fuller  and  more 
detailed  treatment.  But  the  present  writer  on  the 
whole  gives  his  judgment  on  the  side  of  Mr.  Benson's 
work,  recognising  the  principles  on  which  it  was 
written  and  published.  Still  he  could  not  withhold 
sympathy  from  those  many  lovers  of  Cornwall,  and 
of  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro,  who  had  become  very 
dear  to  them  for  his  work's  sake  and  for  his  own,  in 
their  desire  to  possess  some  larger  and  fuller  record 
of  his  untirinor  and  fruitful  labours.  Yet  it  never 
would  have  occurred  to  him  to  offer  his  services  for 
the  writing  of  such  a  record.  He  would  have  pre- 
ferred to  see  it  done  by  some  one  more  intimately 
and  personally  connected  with  Dr.  Benson's  Cornish 
episcopate.  But  when  the  writer's  friend,  the  Rev. 
A.  P.  Moor,  Honorary  Canon  of  Truro,  and  formerly 
Vicar  of  St.  Clement's,  near  Truro,  assured  him  that 
he  had  failed  to  induce  anyone  else  to  take  upon  him 
the  task,  he  consented  to  do  so,  on  the  understanding 
that  he  should  receive  assistance  from  those  who  were 
able  to  give  it.  His  hesitation  was  also,  to  a  large 
extent,  removed  by  the  wise  suggestion  of  one 
whose  judgment  was  of  great  value,  the  Rev.  A.  J. 
Mason,  d.d.,  Lady  Margaret  Professor  of  Divinity, 
Cambridge,  and  Canon  Residentiary  of  Canterbury, 
that  the  book  should  take  the  form,  not  merely 
of  a  record  of  the  Cornish  work  of  Dr.  Benson, 
but  of   an  account   of  the    Bishopric  of   Truro   from 


PREFACE  ix 

its  foundation  up  to  the  present  time.^  He  desires 
to  express  his  warmest  gratitude  for  the  kindly 
encouragement  and  friendly  criticism  of  Canon  Moor, 
who  has  greatly  lightened  the  burden  which  his 
own  hands  laid  upon  the  writer's  shoulders.  To 
no  one,  however,  is  he  so  much  indebted  as  to 
Mr.  Arthur  C.  Benson,  who  has,  with  the  greatest 
generosity,  placed  at  his  disposal  such  large  portions 
of  his  father's  Cornish  diary  and  letters,  as  have  given 
to  the  book  living  pictures  of  persons,  scenes,  and 
work,  without  which  it  would  have  run  the  risk  of 
being  a  merely  dry  chronicle  of  ecclesiastical  events. 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that,  without  Mr.  Benson's 
generous  co-operation,  warm  sympathy,  and  encourag- 
ing support,  the  writer  would  have  shrunk  from  the 
publication  of  the  book.  He  must  also  add  his 
thanks  to  Mr.  Benson  for  his  permission  (with  the 
consent  of  Miss  M orison.  Head  Mistress  of  the  Truro 
High  School)  to  print  his  ode,  "Luce  magistra." 
To  Mr.  A.  T.  Ouiller  Couch  he  is  under  a  similar 
obligation  for  the  beautiful  poem  he  has  so  kindly 
written  for  this  volume.  Mr.  Couch  is  a  true  son  of 
Cornwall  :  he  is  pre-eminently  the  exponent  of  the 
beauty  of  its  scenery,  of  the  pathos  and  quaintness 
of  the  character  of  its  people,  of  the  unrivalled 
interest  of  its  historic  past.  He  is  not  only  a  poet 
but    a   lover   of    other    poets,    and    his   anthology  of 

1  The  writer  has  to  thank  Dr.  Mason  for  the  very  generous  permission 
granted  to  him  to  make  use  of  private  diaries  recording  his  mission 
work  in  Cornwall  from   1877  to   1884. 


X  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

English  poetry  is  a  valuable  addition  to  our  best 
treasuries  of  literature.  His  contribution  to  the 
present  volume  will  assuredly  help  it  to  win  its  way 
to  Cornish  hands  and  hearts. 

The  Bishop  of  St.  Andrews,  by  his  permission  to 
allow  the  publication  of  certain  letters,  has  added 
one  more  to  the  many  acts  of  kindness  received  by 
the  author  from  him,  while  he  presided  over  the 
Diocese  of  Truro,  and  since. 

Chancellor  Worlledge  has  greatly  helped  the  writer 
by  the  loan  of  documents,  letters,  pamphlets,  and 
newspaper  cuttings.  He  has  also  given  much  time 
to  the  correction  of  the  sheets,  besides  supplying 
other  information  which  has  secured  greater  accuracy 
and  clearness  to  many  parts  of  the   narrative. 

Other  writers  have  also  kindly  contributed  valuable 
matter,  which  has  been  acknowledged  in  the  body 
of  the  work,  or  in  the  notes. 

In  the  Appendices  will  be  found  certain  tables  and 
other  documents,  which  may  serve  to  illustrate  or 
elucidate  matters  treated  in  the  text. 

The  writer  cannot  hope  to  send  his  book  forth  to 
the  public  free  from  all  blemishes,  nor  can  he  have  a 
confident  assurance  that  he  has  succeeded  in  recordincr 
everything  of  importance,  in  a  period  of  Church  life 
in  Cornwall  so  remarkable  and  so  full  as  that  of  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century.  But  he  believes  that  his 
work  v.'ill  be  received  with  kindlv  interest  and  in- 
dulgent  criticism  by  all  who,  with  him,  love  Cornwall, 


PREFACE  xi 

its  Church,  and  its  people,  among  whom  he  has  spent 
seventeen  years  of  his  Hfe  and  ministry. 

He  cannot  perhaps  say,  with  Dr.  Benson,  that  he 
knows  "  Cornwall  about  as  well  as  any  Cornishman 
can  possibly  do."  P)Ut  there  are  not  many  parishes 
where  he  has  not  been  invited  to  preach  or  speak, 
and  he  is  glad  to  believe  that  he  may  be  accounted,  if 
not  a  Cornishman  of  Cornishmen,  yet  not  altogether 
a  "  foreigner  "  to  Cornish  hearts  and  homes. 

Truro,  Michaebnas,   1902. 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

The  Choir  of  Truro  Cathedral      .                 .                 -  Frontispiece 

Edmund  Carlyon,  Esq.        ....  Face  page  23 

Archbishop  Benson                .                .                                .  ,,  39 

The  Earl  of  Mount  Edgcumbe        .                .                .  ,,  149 

The  Bishop  of  St.  Andrews              .                .                .  ,,  195 

The  Bishop  of  Truro           .                .                •                .  ,,  302 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Chronological  Table  .  .  .  .       .      xv 

E.  W.  B.     In  Memoriam.    Poem  by  A.  T.  Quiller-Couch  .    xvii 

CHAPTER    I 
Retrospect     .  .  .  .  .       .        i 

CHAPTER   II 
Revival  .  .  •  •  ...      23 

CHAPTER    III 
The  First  Bishop  of  Truro    .  .  .  •        •      39 

CHAPTER    IV 
Laying  the  Foundations  .  .  ...      58 

CHAPTER    V 
Mission  Work  .  ...      76 

CHAPTER   YI 
The  Cathedral  ...     103 

CHAPTER   \'II 
Diocesan  Work  .  .  .       .     129 

CHAPTER    VIII 
The  Bishop  .\nd  the  Laitv       .  .  149 

CHAPTER    IX 
Changes  .  .  ...     172 

CHAPTER    X 
The  Second  Bishop  of  Truro  .  •  •195 


xiv  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

CHAPTER  XI  PAGE 

Preparation    .  .  .  .  ...    224 

CHAPTER    XH 
Fulfilment     .  .  .  .  ...    245 

CHAPTER    XHI 
Efforts  .  .  .  .  ...    269 

CHAPTER  XIV 
Trials  .  .  .  .  ...    289 

CHAPTER   XV 
The  Third  Bishop  of  Truro  .  .  ...    302 

CHAPTER   XVI 
Progress         .  .  .  .  ...    320 

CHAPTER   XVII 
Last  Efforts  and  Ultimate  Success  .  .        .    344 


APPENDICES 

I.    History  of  the  Ancient  Bishopric  in  Cornwall     .  365 

II.   Religious  Census,  1676   .  .  ...  372 

III.  Lisr  OF  the  Rectors  of  Truro  .  ...  379 

IV.  Cathedral  Offices  and  their  Occupants  .        .  382 

V.   Scheme    of    Subjects    for    the    Stained    Windows 

in  Truro  Cathedral  .  ...    387 

VI.   Scheme  for  the  Statuary  in  Truro  Cathedral      .    400 

VII.   General  Survey  of  Church  Music  in  the  Diocese 

of  Truro      .  .  ...    405 

VIII.  Men  and  Women  from  Cornwall  who  have 
laboured  or  are  still  labouring  in  the 
Foreign  Mission  Field  ...    410 

Index  .  .  .  .  ...    413 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE 


St.  Gwithian,  St.  la         . 

St.  Piran  ..... 

Cornish  bishops  assist  in  the  consecration  of  St.  Chad ' 

Bishop  Kenstec  of  Cornwall  submits  to  Canterbury   . 

See  of  Crediton  founded 

Cornish  princes  do  homaye  to  Athelstan  at  E.xeter 

Bishop  Conan  of  Cornwall  attends  Witenagemot 

First  Saxon  Bishop  of  Cornwall     . 

Charter  of  Aethelred  to  Bishop  Ealdred  granting  liberties  to  the 

Cornish  See  ..... 

Cornish  See  merged  in  that  of  Crediton 

Lyfing  Bishop  of  Crediton  .  .  .  . 

Leofric  Bishop  of  Exeter  (under  charter  of  Edward  the  Confesso 

united  See  transferred  to  Exeter) 
Archdeaconry  of  Cornwall  founded 
Bishop  Bronescombe 
Bishop  De  Stapledon 
Bishop  De  Grandisson    . 
Bishop  Miles  Coverdale 
Bishop  Hall-    . 
Bishop  Sparrow" 
Bishop  Trelawny 
Bishop  Phillpotts 

First  Bill  for  creation  of  Cornish  See 
Offer    of   St.    Columb    Rectory    by   the    Rev.    Dr.    Walker    for 

endowment  of  See  .... 
Bishop  Phillpotts'  offer  of  ^500  of  income  and  patronage 
Deputation  to  Lord  Palmerston 
Address    to    the    Queen    from    Upper    and    Lower    Houses    of 

Convocation  in  behalf  of  new  see 
Refusal  by  the  Government 
Lord  Lyttelton's  Bill 
Death  of  Bishop  Phillpotts 
Dr.  Temple  consecrated 


(?) 


A.D. 

(?i  450 

(?)  520 

654 

(?)  865 

909 

928 

937 

■  ?)  950 


994 
026 
027 

050 
090 

258 
308 

55' 
627 
667 
688 
831 
847 

854 
855 
859 

863 
864 
S67 
869 
869 


^  Bede,  Ecclesiastical  History,  iii.  28.  Haddan  and  Stubbs,  Councils,  etc.. 
i.    124.  -  Author  of  Contemplations,  etc. 

^  Author  of  A  Rationale,  or  Practical  Exposition  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer. 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Great  Meeting  at  Plymouth  ;   Bishop  Temple's  offer  announced 

March  1st  .  .  .  .  . 

Lady  Rollc's  gift  of  /^40,ooo  .  .  .  . 

Truro  Bishopric  Act,  August  II th 
Order  in  Council  founds  See,  December  15th 
Bishop  Benson  consecrated,  April  25th 
Bishop  Benson's  enthronement,  May  ist       . 
Truro  created  a  city,  August  17th 
First  Diocesan  Conference,  October  25th  and  26th 
First  Honorary'  Canons  installed,  January  17th 
Truro  Chapter  Act,  August  8th      .  .  .  . 

Archdeaconry  of  Bodmin  founded 
Great  Cathedral  Committee  at  Truro  .  .  . 

Bishop  Benson's  Primary  Visitation,  July     . 
Foundation  Stones  of  Truro  Cathedral  laid,  May  20th 
Old  St.  Mary's  Church  demolished,  October 
Bishop  Benson  offered  the  Primacy,  December  i6th 
Bishop  Benson's  farewell  to  the  diocese,  Christmas     . 
Canon  Wilkinson  offered  the  bishopric,  January 
Dr.  Benson  enthroned  at  Canterbury,  March  29th 
Dr.  Wilkinson  consecrated,  April  25th 

Bishop  Wilkinson  enthroned,  May  1 5th        .  .  . 

Internal  Fittings  Fund  inaugurated,  August  29th 
Two  Residentiary  Canonries  founded  by  Order  in  Council, 

March  loth  ..... 

"Truro    Cathedral  and  Chapter  Acts  Amendment  Act"  passed 

July  5th     .  .  .  .  .  . 

Truro  Cathedral  consecrated,  November  3rd 

Twelve  benefices  transferred  by  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Exeter  to 

Dean  and  Chapter  of  Truro,  February  22nd 
Resignation  of  Bishop  Wilkinson,  May 

Election  of  Dr.  Gott,  August  3rd  .  .  .  . 

Consecration  of  Dr.  Gott,  September  29th   . 
Enthronement  of  Bishop  Gott,  October  28th 
Bishop  Gott's  Primary  Visitation,  June  and  July 
Death  of  Archbishop  Benson,  October  i  ith 
Foundations  of  Nave  begun,  May  20th 
Revival  of  Women  of  Cornwall's  Cathedral  Association,  October 
Death  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Pearson,  R.A.,  December  nth 
liuilding  of  Nave  begun.  May  29th 
Death  of  Queen  Victoria,  January  22nd 
Gift  of  Victorian  Tower  by  Mr.  Hawke  Dennis,  March 
Bishop  Gott's  Second  Visitation,  July 


E.  W.  B. 

3n  /ID  c  mo  riant 

T^HE  Church's  outpost  on  a  neck  of  land — 
By  ebb  of  faith  the  foremost  left  the  last — 

Dull,  starved  of  hope,  we  watched  the  driven  sand 
Blown  though  the  hour-glass,  covering  our  past, 
Counting  no  hours  to  our  relief — no  hail 
Across  the  hills,  and  on  the  sea  no  sail  1 

Sick  of  monotonous  days  we  lost  account, 

In  fitful  dreams  remembering  morns  of  old 
And  nights — th'  erect  Archangel  on  the  Mount 

With  sword  that  drank  the  dawn  ;  the  Vase  of  Gold, 
The  moving  Grail  athwart  the  starry  fields 
When  all  the  heavenly  spearmen  clashed  their  shields. 

In  dereliction  by  the  deafening  shore 

We  sought  no  more  aloft,  but  sunk  our  eyes 
Probing  the  sea  for  food,  the  earth  for  ore. — 
Ah,  yet  had  one  good  soldier  of  the  skies 

Burst  through  the  wrack  reporting  news  of  them, 
How  had  we  run  and  kissed  his  garment's  hem  ! 

Nay,  but  he  came  '.     Nay,  but  he  stood  and  cried, 

Panting  with  joy  and  the  fierce  fervent  race, 
"  Arm,  arm  '.  for  Christ  returns  !  " — and  all  our  pride, 
Our  ancient  jjride  answered  that  eager  face  : 

"  Repair  His  battlements — your  Christ  is  near  I" 
And,  half  in  dream,  we  raised  the  soldiers'  cheer. 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRUHO 

Far,  as  we  flung  that  challenge,  fled  the  ghosts- 
Back,  as  we  built,  the  obscene  foe  withdrew — 
High  to  the  song  of  hammers  sang  the  host 
Of  Heaven— and  lo  !  the  daystar,  and  a  new 
Dawn  with  its  chalice  and  its  wind  as  wine  : 
And  youth  was  hope,  and  life  once  more  divine  ! 


Day,  and  hot  noon,  and  now  the  evening  glow, 

And  'neath  our  scaftblding  the  city  spread 
Twilit,  with  rain-washed  roofs,  and— hark  1— below. 
One  late  bell  tolling.     "  Dead  ?     Our  Captain  dead  ? " 
Nay,  here  with  us  he  fronts  the  westering  sun 
With  shaded  eyes  and  counts  the  wide  fields  won. 

Aloft  with  us  1     And,  while  another  stone 

Swings  to  its  socket,  haste  with  trowel  and  hod  ! 
Win  the  old  smile  a  moment  ere,  alone. 
Soars  the  great  soul  to  bear  report  to  God. 

Night  comes  ;  but  thou,  dear  Captain,  from  thy  star 
Look  down,  behold  how  bravely  goes  the  war  ! 

A.    T.    QUILLER-COUCH 


THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

THE   FIRST  TWENTY-FIVE  YEARS 

1877-1902 


CHAP  T  E  R    I 

RETROSPECT 

THIS  Cornubia  is  a  land  of  wonderment — his- 
torical physical,  spiritual."^  So  wrote  the 
first  Bishop  of  Truro  within  a  few  months  of  enter- 
ing upon  his  office.  Cornwall  is  indeed  a  strange 
and  a  fair  land.  Great  towering  cliffs  at  Boscastle 
and  Tintagel  ;  long  stretches  of  sand  at  Xewquav 
and  Perranporth  ;  mysterious  caverns  at  Mawgan 
Forth  and  St.  Agnes ;  numberless  coves  and  fine 
sweeping  bays,  both  on  the  northern  and  southern 
coasts  ;  rocks  of  varied  and  unrivalled  tints  at 
Kynance  ;  wild  moors  near  Bodmin  ;  lovely  masses 
of  wood  round  Liskeard  and  in  the  Yale  of  Lan- 
herne  ;  all  these  make  up  a  very  rich  catalogue  of 
its  many  beauties.  Perhaps  nothing  strikes  the 
visitor  more  than  the  deep  blue  colour  of  its  sea, 
not  inferior  to  the  waters  of  the   Mediterranean,  and 

^  Letter  to  Henry  Bradshaw,  August  17th,  1877,  Life,  vol.  i.  p.  42S. 
B 


2  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRUKO 

the  splendour  of  its  glowing  sunset  sky.      It  has  well 
been  named  the  "  Delectable  Duchy," 

And  yet  the  face  of  its  scenery  has  been  greatly 
scarred  by  mines,  many  of  whose  deserted  engine- 
houses  and  heaps  of  refuse  are,  not  only  blots  upon 
the  landscape,  but  signs  of  a  decayed  industry  and 
of  ventures  that  have  failed.  Vast  yawning  pits  of 
glaring  white  china  clay  have  cut  deep  into  its  downs, 
and  opaque  milky  water  has  polluted  its  pleasant 
streams.  Lines  of  railway  penetrate  some  of  its 
old-world  solitudes,  and  their  light  wooden  viaducts, 
that  till  recently  spanned  many  a  deep  valley  with 
airy  and  almost  artistic  grace,  are  now  giving  way  to 
heavy  granite  arches  and  great  iron  girders.  Some 
of  its  sweetest  nooks  and  corners,  primitive  villages 
and  sheltered  coves,  have  been  invaded  by  the  builders 
of  pretentious  lodging-houses  :  big  modern  hotels 
stand  on  its  headlands,  putting  to  shame  the  simple, 
quaint  old  hostelries,  that,  up  to  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago  and  even  later,  were  the  delightful  havens  of 
tired  men  and  women,  seeking  for  rest  and  refresh- 
ment for  a  short  time,  in  a  land  unspoilt  by  smartness 
and  fashion.  But  all  these  changes  and  all  this  inroad 
of  bustle  and  luxury,  inevitable  perhaps  but  none  the 
less  to  be  deplored,  have  not  robbed  Cornwall  of  any 
great  measure  of  its  fascinating  attractions,  nor  quite 
obliterated  the  simple  ways  of  its  people. 

It  is  a  land  of  old  romance  and  legend.  The  story 
of  King  Arthur,  the  memories  of  Lyonesse,  the  loves 
of  Tristram  and    Isolde,    the    last   battles   of   British 


RETROSPECT  3 

Christians  ai^ainst  heathen  invaders,  are  inextricably 
linked  with  its  shores  and  hills.  It  is  a  land  of  real 
tragedies.  Its  coasts  have  been  the  scenes  of  number- 
less shipwrecks,  of  great  Atlantic  liners  lost  among 
its  treacherous  rocks,  of  transports  with  gallant 
soldiers  on  board,  going  down  when  nearing  home 
after  successful  campaigns  ;  of  fishing -boats  lost  in 
many  a  storm  on  northern  and  southern  shores,  of 
great  cattle  ships  torn  to  pieces  on  its  rugged  head- 
lands ;  and  the  land  is  without  a  harbour  of  refuge, 
into  which  a  vessel  may  run  for  shelter  from  the  awful 
roll  of  the  Atlantic  billows. 

It  is  a  land  inhabited  by  a  very  distinctly  marked 
race.  Anyone  who  crosses  the  Tamar,  travelling- 
westward,  realises  that  he  is  passing  into  a  region 
quite  different  from  the  one  he  is  leaving,  and  is  going 
among  a  people  that,  even  at  the  beginning  of  the 
twentieth  century,  has  by  no  means  lost  its  special 
characteristics  of  speech  and  custom.  The  old  Celtic 
Cornish  tongue  died  out  more  than  a  century  ago,  but 
the  soft  accent  and  quaint  phraseology  of  the  Cornish 
fisherman  or  agricultural  peasant  have  not  yet  been 
obliterated  by  the  levelling  monotony  of  Board  School 
education.  There  is  a  kind  of  breezy  and  saltlike  fresh- 
ness in  the  land  and  among  the  people,  that  is  very 
attractive  to  the  "foreigner"  from  "up  the  country." 

But  Cornwall  is  also  the  "land  of  saints."  From 
Morwenstow,  in  the  extreme  northern  corner,  right 
away  to  St.  Sennen,  at  the  Land's  Knd,  the  map  of 
Cornwall     is     dotted     o\er     with     quaint     names     of 


4  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

"  church  towns "  and  parishes,  bearing  titles  of  old- 
world  saintly  men  and  women,  whose  lives  and  deeds 
lie  hid  in  the  obscurity  of  the  past.  It  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  trace,  with  any  sort  of  clearness,  the  origin 
of  primitive  Cornish  Christianity.  It  is  not  likely 
that  it  was  brought  into  the  land  through  Roman 
rulers  or  residents.  The  impression  made  on  Corn- 
wall by  the  Roman  occupation  was  probably  but 
slight.  There  are  few  indications  of  there  havinof 
been  any  organised  Christian  communities  in  this 
part  of  our  island,  during  the  first  three  centuries 
of  the  Christian  era.  It  was  from  Ireland  and  Wales 
that,  in  all  probability,  the  earlier  evangelists  of  Corn- 
wall came.  St.  Piran,  who  is  probably  identical  with 
the  Irish  Kieran,  and  whose  memory  has  been  pre- 
served in  some  three  or  four  Cornish  parishes,  and 
notably  at  Perranzabuloe,  where  his  rude  oratory 
was  discovered  in  the  sands  about  seventy  years  ago  ; 
and  St.  Buriena,  whose  name  survives  at  St.  Buryan, 
near  the  Land's  End,  in  the  church  once  served  by  a 
college  of  dean  and  canons,  are  instances  of  Irish 
missionaries.  St.  David,  St.  Mewan,  St.  Teilo,  and 
St.  Issey  brought  the  message  of  the  gospel  from 
Wales,  with  which  county  Cornwall  long  retained 
many  links,  racial  and  religious.  There  was  also 
much  interchange  of  missionary  enterprise  between 
Cornwall  and  Brittany,  as  was  natural,  and  St.  Pol 
de  Leon  has  perhaps  left  his  name  at  the  parish  of 
Paul,  near  Penzance  ;  while  St.  Breock,  St.  Mylor, 
and   St,    Budock,   who  give   their  names  to  parishes 


RETROSPECT  5 

in  different  localities,  are  l)elieved  to  have  Ijeen 
Armorican  saints,  still  remembered  in  the  Cornwall 
across  the  Channel.  It  seems  likely  that,  as  with 
other  Celtic  countries,  the  ecclesiastical  ori^-anisation 
of  Cornwall  was  for  many  centuries  inexact  and 
incomplete,  and  far  from  sharing-  the  regular  order 
and  discipline  of  the  rest  of  Christendom,  both  in 
the  East  and  West.  Here,  as  in  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land, Bishops  had  no  fixed  sees,  and  visited  rather 
than  ruled  districts  inhabited  by  clans  or  tribes.  In 
833  Bishop  Kenstec,  in  making  his  profession  of 
obedience  to  Archbishop  Ceolnoth  of  Canterbury, 
brought  Cornwall  for  the  first  time  into  closer  contact 
with  the  English  Church,  and  consequently  with  the 
organisation  and  discipline  of  the  whole  of  W^estern 
Christendom.^  But  it  was  not  until  the  reign  of 
Athelstan,  in  931,  that  Cornwall  under  its  native 
Bishop  Conan  became  really  an  English  diocese. 

In  1027  Lyfing  Bishop  of  Crediton  was  appointed 
also  Bishop  of  Cornwall.  In  1046  the  W^estern  See, 
including  both  Devon  and  Cornw^dl,  was  transferred 
by  King  Edward  the  Confessor  to  Exeter,  of  which 
city  Leofric  became  the  first  Bishop.  Erom  that  time 
onward,  for  eight  hundred  and  tliirty  years,  the  two 
counties  were  ruled  too-ether  as  a  single  diocese. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  eleventh  century  Cornwall 

'  The  act  of  obedience  is  sufficiently  humble  :  "  Ego  Kenstec,  humilis 
licet  et  indiynus  .  .  .  tibi  tuisque  successoribus,  oba'dibilis  servunculus 
supplexque  clicntulus  usque  ad  terminum  transeuntis  vitic  sine  ullo 
falsitatis  fiivohu  cogitationis  sciupulo  fieri  paratus  sum." — Councils,  etc., 
Haddan  and  Stubbs,  \ol.  i.  p.  674. 


6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

was  formed  into  a  separate  archdeaconry,  the  only 
ecclesiastical  mark  of  its  individuality  that  remained. 

It  has  sometimes  been  said,  that  this  absorption  of 
the  old  Cornish  bishopric  into  that  of  the  Devonshire 
capital,  had  a  very  serious  and  detrimental  effect  upon 
the  spiritual  well-being-  and  ecclesiastical  discipline  of 
the  more  western  county.  Certainly  the  distance  of 
the  more  remote  parts  of  Cornwall  from  the  ecclesi- 
astical centre,  the  imperfect  means  of  communication 
all  through  the  Middle  Ages,  and  right  on  to  modern 
times,  may  have  prevented  the  development  of  the 
higher  forms  of  spiritual  culture,  Church  order,  and 
general  enlightenment.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is 
impossible  to  read  the  records  of  the  great  Bishops  of 
Exeter,  so  admirably  preserved  in  their  Visitations 
and  Registers,  that  have  been  recently  carefully  edited 
and  given  to  the  world  by  Prebendary  Hingeston- 
Randolph,  without  perceiving  that  most  conscientious 
efforts  were  made,  on  the  part  of  these  prelates,  to  do 
their  duty  as  chief  pastors  of  the  remote  western 
portion  of  their  huge  diocese.  More  than  one  Bishop 
of  Exeter  held  high  office  in  the  State,  and  much  of 
their  time  was  necessarily  spent  on  political  affairs  in 
the  capital  of  England.  But,  nevertheless,  they  made 
long  and  toilsome  journeys  at  great  cost  and  with 
niuch  fatigue,  in  the  superintendence  of  their  Celtic 
tlock,  in  the  preservation  of  ecclesiastical  discipline,  in 
the  consecration  of  numerous  churches,  and  in  the 
administration  of  Confirmation. 

We    do    not    wonder    that   a   man   like    Bishop   de 


RETROSPECT  ^ 

Grandisson,  accustoincd  to  the  culture  of  the  Continent 
and  especially  of  the  Court  of  Rome,  when  he  found 
himself  in  his  rude  diocese,  surrounded  by  tempestuous 
seas,  and  inhabited  by  a  people  who  knew  no  English, 
much  less  the  French  of  the  Court,  should  have 
oToaned  at  times  under  the  burden  of  his  lot,  and  of 
all  that  he  was  compelled  to  "endure  daily  at  the 
hands  of  the  wonderful  people  who  inhabited  this 
remote  corner  of  the  world.  "^  But  he,  and  others 
who  occupied  the  See  of  Exeter,  were  indefatigable 
overseers  of  the  Hock.  We  hear  of  Bishop  de  Staple- 
don  going  down  from  Exeter  to  St.  Austell  and  Penryn 
and  thence  to  St.  Buryan  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight, 
after  a  long  and  busy  tour  in  Devonshire.  This  latter 
prelate  founded  a  hall  which  bore  his  name  at  Oxford, 
and  afterwards  became  Exeter  College.  Of  its  twelve 
original  scholars  maintained  by  his  benefaction,  four 
were  to  be  natives  of  Cornwall,  not  necessarily  to  be 
trained  as  clerics,  and  thus  early  the  higher  education 
of  the  laitv  by  the  Church  was  brought  into  this 
remote  peninsula.  In  Bishop  Stafford's  time  the  same 
strenuous  Church  work  was  carried  on,  and  in  the  days 
of  his  immediate  successors  most  of  the  Cornish 
churches  were  rebuilt.  These  almost  all  follow  a 
well-known  type  with  low  walls,  without  a  clerestory, 
and  with  a  waggon  roof.  They  consist  of  nave  and 
aisles,  sometimes  doubled,  and  one  or  two  side  chapels 
or  quasi-transepts,   but  usually  without  any  construc- 

^  Episcopal  Registers,  Diocese  of  Exeter,  John  de  Grandisson,  Preface, 

p.   XX. 


S  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

tional  chancel.  They  were  in  old  days  highly 
decorated  with  colour,  and  possessed  rich  rood  lofts 
and  screens.  Frescoes  of  a  quaint  kind  covered  the 
walls.^  Numerous  crosses  marked  sacred  spots,  or  the 
church  paths  that  traversed  the  downs  and  moors. 
In  addition  to  the  parish  churches,  there  were 
monastic  establishments  at  St.  Germans,  Bodmin, 
St.  Stephen's-by-Launceston,  St.  Michael's  Mount  and 
Tywardreath ;  collegiate  churches  at  St.  Buryan, 
Probus,  St.  Carantoc,  Glasney,  St.  Keverne,  Tresco, 
and  Endellion.  Of  these  latter,  the  college  of 
Augustinian  Canons  at  St.  Buryan,  founded  by 
King  Athelstan,  gave  constant  trouble  to  the  Bishop 
by  its  assertion  of  the  privileges  of  a  royal  peculiar, 
and  its  dean  held  office  down  to  the  middle  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  not  always  to  the  advantage  or 
credit  of  the  Church  in  Cornwall.  There  are  still 
three  Prebendaries  of  Endellion,  without  however  any 
duties  attached  to  the  office  they  hold  in  that  ancient 
church.  A  great  many  chapels  and  oratories  were 
planted  in  every  suitable  spot  throughout  the  county, 
and  there  are  numerous  tokens,  still  remaining,  that  a 
full  provision  was  made  for  bringing  the  means  ot 
orace  within  the  reach  of  the  scattered  inhabitants  of 
this  remote  corner  of  England. 

A  very  full  and  interesting  account  of  the  rich 
provision  made  in  ancient  days  for  the  spiritual  needs 

1  An  interesting  account  of  the  remains  of  these  is  given  in  a  paper 
entitled  "Mural  Paintings  in  Cornish  Churches,"  by  J.  D.  Enys,  F.G.S., 
Thurstan  C.  Peter,  and  H.  M.  Whitley,  printed  in  llie  Journal  of  the 
Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall^  vol.  xv.  part  i.,  1902,  pp.  141  seq. 


RETROSPECT  y 

of  the  pco])lc  in  Cornwall,  is  contained  in  a  paper  on 
"Cornish  Chantries,"  by  Mr.  II.  Michell  Whitley, 
honorary  secretary  of  the  Royal  Institution  of  Corn- 
wall, contributed  to  the  Truro  Diocesan  Kalendar  for 
1883.  The  writer  concludes  his  account  with  the 
following"  words  : — 

"The  suppression  of  these  chantries  and  chapels  with  their 
endowments  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  Church's  utilit}'.  In 
many  a  little  western  combe  where  the  heather  and  gorse 
flame  in  autumn,  gold  and  crimson,  on  the  hillsides  a  few 
crumbling  walls  o'crgrown  with  ivy,  nettles  and  brambles, 
still  mark  the  site  of  a  little  holy  stead.  However  expedient 
their  dissolution  may  have  become,  chantry  endowments  were 
of  great  service  in  supplying  additional  priests  to  assist  the 
parochial  clergy;  and  it  should  be  the  aim  of  Cornish  Church- 
men once  more  to  restore  more  fully  the  daughter  chapels 
dependent  on  the  mother  church  ;  and  thus  in  large  parishes 
to  bring  the  services  of  the  Church  to  the  homes  of  her 
children  in  every  outlying  hamlet." 

Making-  all  allowance  for  the  Celtic  superstitions 
that  even  now  still  linger  among  the  Cornish  people, 
their  religious  spirit  throughout  the  Middle  Ages, 
down  to  the  time  of  Henry  \TII.,  was  undoubtedly 
strong  and  keen  in  its  devotion  to  the  Church,  and  in 
its  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace. 

To  those  who  only  know  Cornwall  and  its  people 
after  the  lapse  of  three  centuries  and  a  half  since  that 
time,  and  after  the  wave  of  Wesley's  movement  has  so 
largely  transformed  the  religious  life  of  Cornishmen, 
it  seems  strange  to  read  of  the  great  uprising  against 
the  introduction  of  the  English  Prayer  l>ook  in  the 
tirst  days  of  Edward  \'I..  when  thousands  of  Cornish 


lo  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

miners  marched  upon  Exeter,  full  of  resentment  at  the 
changes  forced  upon  them  by  a  distant  government 
in  London,  exasperated  at  the  destruction  of  their 
beautiful  rood-lofts,  and  the  introduction  of  a  form  of 
service  strange  and  unfamiliar,  less  intelligible  to 
many  of  them  than  the  Old  Latin  prayers  had  by  long- 
use  become.^  The  revolt  ended  in  disaster,  and, 
along  with  others,  the  rebellious  mayors  of  St.  Ives 
and  Bodmin  were  hanged  at  Launceston.  It  is 
probable  that  the  English  Reformation,  thus  ushered 
in,  was  never  received  with  much  enthusiasm  amonsf 
this  Celtic  people.  Certainly  Puritanism  had  no  hold 
upon  this  emotional  race  in  the  years  that  followed. 
Loyalty  to  the  Sovereign  was  vigorous  in  this  far-off 
land,  and  Cornishmen  were  on  the  side  of  the  King  in 
his  o-reat  struLTcrle  with  his  Parliament,  and  foug-ht 
bravely  and  successfully  in  his  behalf  His  famous 
letter  still  retains  its  place  in  some  Cornish  churches, 
in  which  he  speaks  "of  the  merit  of  our  county  of 
Cornwall,  of  their  zeal  for  the  defence  of  our  person, 
and  the  just  rights  of  our  crown."  But  Cornwall  had 
its  loyalty  sorely  tried,  when  King  James  II.,  forty 
years  later,  imprisoned  Jonathan  Trelawny,  Bishop  of 
Bristol,  with  the  other  six  prelates  who  withstood  his 
absolutism  ;  and  they  raised  the  cry  long  afterwards 
developed  by  Robert  Hawker  into  the  stirring 
ballad — 

'  "We  will  not  leceive  the  new  service,  because  it  is  like  a  Christmas 
game  ;  but  we  will  have  our  old  service  of  Mattins,  Mass,  Evensong,  and 
Procession  in  Latin,  not  in  English.''  See  Fifteen  Articles  of  the 
insurgents  (Strype's  Craitinct\  Appendix  xL). 


RETROSPECT  1 1 

"And  sliall  Trelawny  die? 
And  shall  Trelawny  die  ? 
Then  twenty  thousand  Cornishmen 
AVill  know  the  reason  why." 

Bisliop  Trelawny  li\cd  much  in  the  county  at  his 
own  place,  Trelawne,  where  there  are  still  preserved 
relics  of  him,  })ersonal  and  otticial.^ 

The  religious  and  moral  condition  of  Cornwall, 
during  the  seventeenth  century,  was  probably  not 
much  higher  or  lower  than  that  of  other  parts  of  the 
kinoxlom.  Carew  o;ives  the  Cornish  a  toocI  character, 
for  being  God-fearing,  sober,  and  orderly.  Some 
later  writers,  without  niuch  evidence,  have  described 
theni  as  savage,  drunken,  and  riotous.  But  there  is 
too  much  ground  for  believing  that  the  influence  of 
the  Church  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century 
had  here,  as  elsewhere,  ceased  to  be  very  effective  as 
an  elevating  power.  The  form  of  Anglicanism,  pro- 
duced by  the  expulsion  of  the  Non-jurors  and  the 
patronage  of  Hanoverian  Sovereigns  and  statesmen, 
was  not  very  lovable  and  attractive.  It  is  almost 
certain  that  the  religious  spirit  of  Cornwall,  before  the 
Wesleys  began  their  remarkable  movement,  was 
greatly  dulled  and  deadened.  And  yet  this  lamentable 
state  of  thinos  was  bv  no  means  universal. 

Samuel   Walker,    Curate-in-charge  of  Truro,    is  an 

'  "Bishop  Trelawny,  who  in  1707  was  translated  from  Exeter  to 
Winchester,  in  his  first  charge  to  the  clergy  of  the  latter  diocese  in  1706, 
'  trusted  that  he  might  find  a  clergy  of  as  deserved  honour  and  estimation 
as  he  left  in  the  diocese  of  Exeter  [including  Cornwall]  for  learning,  pietv, 
incessant  pains,  exemplary  lives,  wholesome  and  instructive  doctrine.'" — 
Canon  Huckin  mjoitn  Wesley  and  Modern  Methodisin,  pp.  163,  164. 


12  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

instance,  and  not  a  solitary  one,  of  an  earnest 
Churchman  who  revived  spiritual  religion  in  his  parish, 
on  different  lines  from  those  of  John  Wesley,  and 
more  in  harmony  with  the  discipline  and  principles  of 
the  Church.  Me  was  a  man  of  profoundly  earnest 
and  loving"  nature,  fearless  in  rebuking  vice,  gentle  to 
sinners,  and  a  wise  guide  of  souls.  He  established  a 
regular  system  of  classes  for  young  people  and  revived 
public  catechising,  sometimes  having  as  many  as  five 
hundred  persons  present  at  his  instructions.^  He 
paid  careful  attention  to  the  appointed  seasons  of  the 
Christian  year,  and  Lent  was  always  a  very  solemn 
time  in  his  parish,  as  were  also  the  great  festivals  of 
Christmas,  Easter,  and  Whitsuntide.  He  maintained 
daily  services  and  bestowed  much  time  and  thought 
upon  the  instruction  of  his  communicants  ;  and,  by 
patience  and  devotion,  raised  his  parish  to  so  high  a 
level  of  spiritual  earnestness,  that  his  biographer 
states,  "  The  town  of  Truro  under  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Walker  presented  a  delightful  example  of  the 
happy  effects  which  may  be  produced  on  a  Christian 
community  by  our  Church's  discipline  and  doctrines 
wisely  enforced  and  spiritually  explained.""  He  re- 
spected all  the  good  qualities  of  the  early  Methodists, 
but  distrusted  some  of  the  tenets  of  John  Wesley,  and 
was     keenly    apprehensive    of    the    latent    schismatic 

^  Two  volumes  of  his  sermons,  numbering  fifty-two  in  all,  on  the 
Church  Catechism  published  in  1765  contain  much  \aluablc  spiritual 
teaching. 

-  Life  of  Walker  of  Truro,  by  Edwin  Sidney,  2nd  edition,  1838, 
chap.  iv. 


RETROSPECT  13 

tendencies  of  the  whole  movement,  and  oi  the  more 
serious  danoers  that  lay  close  to  some  of  their  ways  of 
working.  There  were,  besides,  in  the  county  other 
parishes  where  the  ministrations  of  the  Church  were 
valued  and  used,  throughout  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  records  still  remain  that  bear  witness  to  the  large 
congregations,  and  surprising  number  of  communicants, 
that  were  regularly  gathered  together.  Borlase,  the 
well-known  writer,  was  Rector  of  Ludgvan  and  after- 
wards Vicar  of  St.  Just  ;  at  the  latter  place  he 
exercised  some  very  distinct  Church  discipline  among 
an  unruly  and  intemperate  people  :  his  congregations 
numbered  one  thousand  in  the  morning  and  five 
hundred  in  the  afternoon.  Polwhele,  another  Cornish 
writer,  notices  the  simple  reverence  of  his  congregation 
at  Lamorran  in  1780,  and  laments  many  years  after- 
wards a  great  declension  in  religion  and  morals.  ^  To 
these  may  be  added  the  name  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Fisher,  Rector  of  Roche,  who  fostered  all  good  and 
kept  evil  at  bay.-  The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  has  left 
the  following  testimony  : — 

"  It  would  be  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  when  he  (John 
Wesley)  first  began  to  preach  in  Cornwall,  he  found  empty 
churches  and  godless  parishes.  ]\Ir.  Kinsman  of  Tintagel 
told  me  of  an  aged  parishioner  of  higher  rank,  who  died  many 
years  ago,  that  she  used  to  tell  how,  before  Wesley  came,  the 
church  had  been  al\va\-s  crowded,  how  the  monthh'  celebra- 

'   Traditions  and  Rccollcctiois^f^.  139. 

-  The  reader  should  consult  for  the  whole  of  this  period,  A  Church 
History  of  Connvall,  by  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Lach-Szyrma,  m.a.,  f.r.h.s., 
formerly  Vicar  of  Newlyn  St.  Peter,  at  present  \'icar  of  Barkingside, 
Essex. 


14  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

tion  of  the  Sacrament  was  most  largely  attended,  and  the 
children  catechised  every  Sunday  afternoon.  So  too  a 
parishioner  of  Dr.  Martin's  at  St.  13re\vard,  who  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  remembered  her  father's  expression  that, 
'  when  he  was  young  you  might  have  walked  a  mile  to  church 
on  the  heads  of  the  people  in  the  lanes.' "^ 

A  very  interesting  record,  still  extant,  of  spiritual 
work  done  in  a  Cornish  parish,  is  to  be  seen  in  a 
printed  paper  containing  "  Rules  to  be  observed  by 
the  Scholars  of  Veryan  Sunday  and  Day  Schools," 
dated  January  ist,  1817.  The  rules  bear  on  personal 
behaviour  and  cleanliness,  punctuality,  obedience  to 
teachers,  reverence  for  parents  and  all  in  authority, 
regular  attendance  at  church.  Along  with  the  rules, 
is  an  excellent  pastoral  address  on  the  religious  educa- 
tion of  children,  addressed  to  the  parishioners.'^ 

But,  nevertheless,  the  vigour  and  spiritual  fire  of 
Charles  Wesley,  who  was  the  first  of  the  two  brothers 
to  enter  Cornwall,  and  of  his  greater  brother  John, 
swept  through  the  county  with  almost  irresistible 
force.  There  was,  at  first,  much  riotous  opposition 
and  violent  treatment  of  the  preachers,  who  were 
stoned  and  hooted  at.  But  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
first  Methodists  soon  enkindled  a  corresponding  en- 
thusiasm in  the  Cornish  folk.  The  crowds,  that  came 
to  hear  the  great  evangelist,  were  vast  in   numbers, 

1  Private  Diary,  July  29th,  1877. 

^  The  late  Canon  Hockin,  in  his  book  ow  JoJtn  IW'slcy  a7id  Modern 
Methodism  (4th  edition,  1878,  Rivingtons),  says:  "I  do  not  think  that 
any  part  of  England  can  produce  such  a  roll  of  Clerical  worthies  as 
Cornwall  possessed  during  the  early  and  middle  part  of  the  last 
[eighteenth]  century"  (p.  169). 


RETROSPECT  15 

and  were  swayed  as  one  man  by  the  Ijurnin^" 
eloquence  of  a  preacher  who  spoke  from  his  heart 
of  the  thinLTs  of  God.  The  annual  '>atherino-  at 
Gwennap  Pit,  every  Monday  in  W'hitsun  week,  when 
some  rising  Wesleyan  preacher  is  chosen  to  address 
the  great  assembly,  is  at  once  an  imaqc  and  a 
memorial  of  a  ^reat  historic  scene  enacted  in  those 
early  days.  The  great  meeting  at  Gwennap  loomed 
with  an  almost  miraculous  magnitude  before  the  eyes 
of  John  Wesley,  who  declared  that  twenty-five 
thousand  persons  were  gathered  there,  every  one  of 
whom  heard  him  plainly.  Bishop  Benson  has  de- 
scribed the  place,  in  language  that  somewhat  limits 
the  natural  exao^tjeration  of  the  oreat  evanQ-elist. 

"Yesterday  I  rode  with  in)-  bo}-  Martin,  in  driving  rain,  to 
Gwennap  Pit.  The  contradictory  directions  we  received,  as 
to  where  it  was,  were  most  puzzHng  even  when  we  were  quite 
near.  .  .  .  The  Pit  is  in  the  midst  of  the  tract  devastated  by 
mining.  Vast  heaps  of  mundic  and  other  debris,  condemned 
to  everlasting  barrenness.  The  miserable  houses,  lonely  amid 
the  desolateness,  are  so  storm  beaten  that  the  slates  are  held 
in  their  places  by  large  lumps  of  stone,  mortared  on  to  them 
over  all  the  roof,  or  at  the  more  exposed  corners  and  edges. 
At  last  we  reached  it.  I  expected  a  yawning  mouth  like  a 
Peak  cavern,  but  it  is  a  green  funnel — that  c.xacth-  describes 
it — like  the  section  of  the  Inferno  in  the  frontispiece  to 
Dante,  only  with  twent}'  times  as  many  steps.  It  looked  to 
me  about  thirty  yards  wide  at  top,  and  about  two  or  three 
\-ards  at  bottom.  Perfectly  circular,  its  grassy  steps  just 
giving  room  to  stand  or  sit ;  two  stone  posts,  and  a  step 
between  them,  are  (I  conclude)  the  glorious  old  John's 
preaching  place.  But  I  was  greatly  disappointed  with  the 
size  of  it.  ...   I  canntjt  think  that  eight  thousand  could  be  so 


1 6  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

placed  as  to  hear  or  see,  and  there  would  be  nothing  surpris- 
inor  in  the  fact  that  all  who  could  be  there  should  hear.  John 
treats  this  as  a  miracle.  .  .  .  The  miracle  was  John  :  John 
himself  and  his  powers  and  his  attractiveness.  Martin  and  I 
sate  on  our  horses  and  prayed  over  the  place  in  the  deluge."^ 

Later  several  friends  of  Dr.  Benson  went  to  the 
annual  W'hitsun  preaching  there.  Between  three 
thousand  and  four  thousand  persons  were  present, 
and  the  visitors  were  "decidedly  impressed  with  the 
sio-ht  and  the  sinoins:."''^ 

Before  John  Wesley's  death,  Methodism  was  a 
power  (as  he  said)  "  from  Launceston  to  the  Land's 
End."  It  has  been  stated,  that  the  result  of  Wesley's 
work  was  to  "persuade  Cornishmen  to  change  their 
vices."  This  is  a  bitter  and  uncharitable  verdict. 
There  can  be  little  doubt  that,  allowing  for  such  re- 
deeming instances  as  have  been  noticed  above,  the 
religious  condition  of  Cornwall  before  Wesley's  mis- 
sion  was  generally  speaking  stagnant."     Apart  from 

^   Private  Diary,  January  6th,  1877.  -  Ibid. 

^  An  instance  may  be  given  by  way  of  contrast  between  past  and 
present,  and  illustrative  of  the  Church's  growth  in  the  nineteenth 
century.  One  hundred  years  ago,  the  parish  of  Kenwyn  was  served 
along  with  that  of  Kea.  The  two  have  been  long  severed.  Out  of  the 
former  the  following  ecclesiastical  parishes  have  been  formed  : — Baldhu 
(1847,  church  built  1848),  Chacewater  (church  built  1828,  separated 
1837),  Mithian  (1846,  church  built  1847),  St.  George's  Truro  (1846, 
church  built  1855),  St.  John's  Truro  (churchbuilt  1827-8,  separated  1865) 
Where,  at  the  time  indicated,  not  more  than  four  services  were  held  on  a 
Sunday,  and  scarcely  any  on  weekdays,  there  are  now,  every  Sunday,  at 
least  thirty,  as  well  as  numerous  weekday  services  and  meetings,  in  the 
above  new  parishes,  and  in  Kenwyn,  with  its  four  mission  churches  in 
addition  to  the  parish  church.  Among  the  Vicars  of  Kenwyn  have  been 
the  Rev.  (i.  J.  Cornish,  the  friend  of  Keble,  and  the  Rev.  E.  Harold 
Browne,  successively  Bishop  of  Ely  and  Winchester. 


RETROSPECT  17 

the  more  serious  moral  scandals  arisiii!:^'-  from  the 
unworthy  conduct  of  some  of  the  clergy,  the  evils 
of  plurality  and  non-residence,  here  as  elsewhere, 
chilled  religious  aspirations. 

Earnest  persons,  as  has  been  well  said,  had,  in  an 
absent  rector,  '■  want  of  access  for  advice  about 
their  spiritual  state."'  But,  on  the  other  hand,  it 
would  be  a  serious  error  to  suppose,  that,  before  the 
advent  of  the  Methodists,  Cornwall  was  a  county  whollv 
given  over  to  vice  and  irreligion  ;  and,  after  it,  has 
become  a  spiritual  garden  of  the  Lord.  To  a  careful 
observer,  the  results  of  the  Wesleyan  movement  are 
not  as  admirable  as  its  great  leader  hoped  for,  and  in 
no  little  degree  merited.  Among  nearly  all  races,  but 
especially,  perhaps,  among  some  branches  of  the 
Celtic,  it  is  easy  to  arouse  the  emotional  side  of  re- 
liofion,  sometimes  to  the  neo-lect  of  the  oblio-ations  of 
morality.  In  Cornwall,  as  in  other  districts  where 
Dissent  prevails,  the  unity  of  the  Church,  the  grace 
of  the  Sacraments,  the  apostolic  ministry,  are,  not 
only  neglected,  but  too  often  scorned.  In  many  a 
small  village,  besides  the  parish  church,  two  or  three 
meeting-houses  of  rival  sects  divide  and  distract  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  place.  The  condition  to  which 
Cornwall  has  been  to  a  large  extent  reduced,  is  briefly 
and  lucidly  described  in  the  words  of  one,  whose 
natural  gift  of  keen  spiritual  insight  was  wonderfully 
quickened  by  a  full  experience,  but  who  was  certainly 

1  Griffith  ap  Jones  in  Canon  Bevan's  Essays  on  the  Church  in  Wales, 
p.  xx\  i.,  quoted  in  Archbishop  Benson's  Seven  Gifts,  p  93,  note. 
c 


1 8  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

not    biassed   by   any   prejudice    or    lacking-    in    large- 
hearted  and  kindly  sympathy. 

"  The  principal  Church  doctrines  (except  the  Atonement) 
considered  as  mere  'superstitions' — the  Atonement  not  much 
dwelt  on — the  Last  Judgment  supposed  to  be  intended  for 
England,  but  not  for  Cornwall.  Worship  consists  in  singing 
hymns.  For  Sacraments  we  have  the  voice  of  the  preacher 
(sometimes  his  meaning,  but  always  his  voice) ;  it  is  through 
this  that  grace  enters  the  soul.  Calvinism  (of  which  Wesley 
taught  not  a  word)  has  pervaded  nearly  every  place.  Now  in 
all  such  places  Sacraments  are  simply  abhorred."^ 

Some  attempts  were  made  at  various  times,  v^Ithin 
the  pale  of  the  Church  of  England,  to  meet  the  special 
religious  sentiments  of  the  Cornish,  by  adopting 
methods  similar  to  those  of  the  Wesleyans.  Revival 
meetings,  meetings  for  exteiup07'e  prayer,  and  even 
class  meetings,  were  tried.  The  most  remarkable 
effort  of  this  kind  took  place  at  Pendeen,  a  newly 
formed  parish  taken  out  of  the  large  parish  of  St.  Just- 
in-Penwith,  in  which  are  situated  the  well-known 
Botallack  mines,  not  far  from  Cape  Cornwall  and  the 
Land's  End.  The  Rev.  Robert  Aitken,  who  had 
previously  worked  in  Leeds,  was  the  first  Vicar.  He 
built  a  church,  designed  on  the  lines  of  the  old 
cathedral  at  lona,  near  the  wind-swept  cliffs,  among 
the  purple  heather  and  the  golden  gorse.  Some  of 
the  granite  masonry  was  laid  by  his  own  hands.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  earnestness  of  soul,  of  lofty 
stature  and  impressive  bearing.      He  was,  above  all,  a 

^  Life  of  Archbishop  Benson^  vol.  i.  p.  438. 


RETROSPECr  19 

man  of  prayer.  lie  spent  long  hours  of  the  day,  and 
often  too  of  the  night,  wrestHng  with  God,  alone  in 
his  church.  His  wife  was  a  lady  of  ancient  Scottish 
family,  richly  endowed  with  mental  and  spiritual 
gifts.  Together  they  carried  on  for  man\-  years  a 
very  remarkable  work.  They  lived  in  the  most 
ascetic  manner,  denying  themselves  all  luxuries  and 
even  the  simplest  comforts,  that  they  might  be  able  to 
help  the  sick  and  poor.  Mrs.  Aitken's  earnest  efforts 
for  the  welfare  of  the  people,  were  as  great  as  the 
preaching  and  pastoral  labours  of  her  husband.  A 
deep  and  lasting  impression  was  made  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  Pendeen  and  of  the  country  round. 
The  employment  of  some  of  the  methods  of 
Wesleyanism  did  not,  in  this  case,  tend  t(~»  alienate 
Mr.  Aitken's  congregation  away  from  the  parish 
church  and  its  services,  even  after  his  decease. 
Though  his  theology  struck  many  of  his  friends  as 
very  eclectic,  and  his  books,  designed  to  reconcile  the 
tenets  of  Church  and  Dissent,  puzzled  most  readers, 
he  nevertheless  held  strongly  to  the  Divine  character 
of  the  Church  and  her  ministry,  and,  to  this  day,  his 
converts,  and  their  descendants,  are  steadfast  members 
of  the  Church  of  England. 

Similar  attempts  were  made  in  the  parish  of  Baldhu. 
and  much  later  on,  in  one  or  two  other  places,  but  not 
with  any  very  conspicuous  success.  Mr.  Aitken's 
influence  was  not  confined  to  his  own  parish,  and  not 
a  few  great  mission  preachers  of  the  English  Church, 
whose  theology  differed  widely  from  his  own.  cau^'ht 


20  THE   BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

the  sacred  fire  from  the  torch  that  he  hghted.  His 
son,  the  Rev.  W.  H.  INI.  Altken,  now  Canon  of 
Norwich,  Superintendent  of  the  Church  Parochial 
Mission  Society,  inherits  his  father's  gifts,  and  uses 
them  over  a  far  more  extended  sphere. 

The  condition  of  the  Church  in  Cornwall,  up  to  the 
close  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
cannot  have  presented  any  very  admirable  features. 
Non-residence  was  only  too  common  :  the  proportion 
of  non-resident  incumbents  was  about  one  in  three.  ^ 
With  all  that  must  be  said  about  the  disintecrratlncr 
results  of  ^lethodism  upon  Church  life,  it  is  only  fair 
to  express  a  belief,  that  the  multitude  of  meeting- 
houses built,  during  these  years,  all  over  Cornwall, 
were  larg"ely,  on  the  one  hand,  the  result  of  the  closed 
churches  and  cold  and  infrequent  services,  and,  on  the 
other,  served  to  keep  alive  among  the  people  some 
elements  at  least  of  Christianity  ;  imperfect  in  many 
ways,  distorted  perhaps  and  even  perverted,  but  not 
altogether  lacking  in  sincere  spirituality,  and  simple 
earnestness.  Not  a  few  remarkable  characters  were 
nourished  on  this  spiritual  atmosphere,  who,  in  their 
day  and  generation,  prevented  the  light  of  personal 
religion  from  dying  out  in  many  a  corner  of  the 
county.  One  of  these  was  "  Billy  Bray,"  who  was 
born  at  Kea  near  Truro  in  1794,  and  died  at  Baldhu 
in  1868,  and  lies  buried  in  the  churchyard  there.  He 
was,  in  his  youth,  like  too  many  other  Cornish  miners 
of   that    time,    wild,    sensual,    drunken,    and    godless. 

^  See  note  at  the  end  of  chapter  ii. 


RETROSPECT  21 

After  resisting-  nil  religious  inllucnccs  stubbornly  for 
some  time,  he  yielded  himself  to  the  call  of  God,  and, 
ever  afterwards,  not  only  led  a  good  and  consistent 
life,  but  was  most  earnest  and  active  in  his  endeavour 
to  win  souls.  His  methods  and  language  were  not 
such  as  would  commend  themselves  to  cultured  and 
well-trained  Church  people,  but  they  were  undoubtedly 
sincere,  and  bore  no  little  spiritual  fruit.  His  efforts 
for  the  good  of  others  have  been  thus  described  : — 

"  At  one  time  he  might  be  seen  in  the  midst  of  a  group  of 
pleasure-seekers,  seeking  to  impress  them  with  the  idea  that 
real  and  lasting  pleasure  was  only  to  be  had  in  religion  ;  at 
another  time  he  might  be  found  in  the  midst  of  an  angry 
quarrelsome  party,  striving  to  conciliate  them  by  kind 
entreaties  and  loving  arguments,  or,  perhaps,  on  his  knees 
asking  God  to  be  merciful  and  soften  the  hearts  of  the  angry 
ones ;  calling  them  by  name  ;  and,  anon,  you  m.ight  have  seen 
him  accosting  strangers,  whom  he  met  on  his  road  or  in  the 
street  .  .  .  cheerfully  and  lovingly  saying  something  about 
Christ  and  His  salvation."^ 

No  one  who  loves  the  Master  can  think  otherwise 
than  kindly  and  sympathetically  of  such  a  man  ;  nor, 
however  just  it  may  be  to  deplore  the  sad  results  of 
religious  separation,  will  refuse  to  listen  to  the  counsel 
of  an  able  religious  writer,  expressed  in  the  following- 
words  : — 

"  Do  not  despise  these  little  whitewashed  chapels,  which 
dot  the  bleak  hillsides  of  Cornwall  or  cluster  in  the  villages. 
Ugly  and  old-fashioned  though  they  be,  }-et  the\-  are  hallowed 

1  The  King's  Son;  or,  Billy  Bray,  by  F.  \V.  Bourne,  pp.  125,  126, 
35th  edition.     Simpkin,  Marshall,  and  Co.,  London. 


2  2  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

places,  and  man\-  in  heaven  look  down  and  hold  them  dear 
and  sacred,  second  only  to  that  celestial  city  itself,  paved 
with  gold  and  with  gates  of  pearl." ^ 

And  the  Churchman,  while  he  mourns  the  failures 
of  his  own  Communion,  in  the  past  dreary  days,  will 
be  able  to  rejoice  in  the  thought,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
made  good  to  many  a  soul,  the  grace  that  was  sought 
in  simple  good  faith.  It  is  surely  possible,  in  such 
cases,  to  repeat  the  prayer  of  Hezekiah  :  "The  good 
Lord  pardon  every  one  that  prepareth  his  heart  to 
seek  God,  the  Lord  God  of  his  fathers,  though  he 
be  not  cleansed  according  to  the  purification  of  the 
sanctuary"  {2  Chron.  xxx.   iS,  19).'-^ 

^  Daniel  (2tiorm,  second  series  by  Mark  Guy  Pearse,  p.  94,  edition 
1884.  Bishop  Benson,  in  his  Diary,  May  31st,  1879,  alluding  to  the 
Wesleyan  Methodists  at  Launceston,  speaks  of  the  "excellent  Mark  Guy 
Pearse,  author  of  the  admirable  Daniel  Qnormy 

'^-  For  a  very  excellent  account  of  Church  work  and  life  in  Cornwall 
during  the  period  here  described  a  book  by  Canon  Hockin,  Rector  of 
Phillack,  and  Proctor  in  Convocation,  should  be  consulted  ;  entitled 
JoJin  Wesley  and  Modern  Methodism  (fourth  edition,  1887,  Rivingtons), 
especially  the  Appendix,  "Cornwall  and  Methodism,"  pp.  159  seq. 


^^u/a/i  S/^r^c  Snarm>t/w  u." 


C '  ///■//  //  //  //    (  //r/// 1 


CHAPTER    II 

RE  VIVAL 

ANEW  era  of  Church  life  and  work  began  when 
Menry  Phillpotts  was  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Exeter  in  1831.  He  was  a  man  of  great  bodily  and 
mental  vigour  ;  an  acute  thinker,  and  an  able  writer. 
His  work,  as  a  politician  and  a  controversialist,  does 
not  belong  to  this  present  history.  W^hat  he  did  for 
Cornwall,  in  the  gradual  restoration  of  discipline  and 
removal  of  abuses,  may  be  gathered  from  the  com- 
parison of  the  number  of  clergy  resident  and  non- 
resident in  1830  and  those  in  1869,  when  his  episco- 
pate ceased.^  It  was  little  less  than  an  ecclesiastical 
reform  of  the  most  drastic  kind.  In  those  days  not  a 
few  new  churches  were  built.  The  ancient  ones  were 
in  many  cases  restored,  not  always,  alas !  without 
serious  damaoe  to  some  of  their  most  interestinsf 
features,  and  with  consequent  loss  of  much  of  their 
beauty.  Education  was  increasingly  cared  for.  Train- 
ing Colleges  for  Schoolmasters  and  Schoolmistresses 
were  founded  at  Exeter  and  Truro.  The  influence 
of  the  Tractarian  Mcn-ement,  beQ^innino-  at  the  verv 
time  that  Bishop  Phillpotts  came  to  the  Western 
Diocese,    very    soon    made    itself   felt,    even    in    the 

^  See  note  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 
23 


24  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

remotest  corners  of  Cornwall,  as  had  been  the  case 
already  in  the  most  unexpected  quarters  elsewhere/ 

His  vigorous  enunciation  of  Church  principles,  and 
his  strong  commanding  championship  of  Catholic 
doctrine,  won  him  many  enthusiastic  supporters 
among  the  Cornish  clergy.  He  was  a  steadfast 
friend  of  Dr.  Pusey  and  many  of  the  great  Oxford 
leaders  ;  though,  in  the  face  of  his  strong  opposition 
to  papal  claims,  no  one  could  justly  accuse  him  of  any 
undue  sympathy  with  Rome,  The  presentation  of 
the  \  icar  of  a  Cornish  parish,  the  Rev.  G.  C.  Gorham, 
of  St.  Just-in-Penwith,  in  June,  1847,  by  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  to  the  Vicarage  of  Brampford  Speke, 
a  living  in  Devonshire,  gave  rise  to  the  famous  con- 
troversy, which  bore  bitter  and  disastrous  fruit  in  the 
secession  of  not  a  few  devout  and  learned  men  from 
the  Enoflish  Church  to  the  Communion  of  Rome. 
Bishop  Phillpotts,  after  examining  Mr.  Gorham  as  to 
his  tenets  and  belief,  especially  on  the  doctrine  of 
Baptismal  Regeneration,  refused  him  institution. - 
The  case  was  carried  finally  before  the  Judicial 
Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  and  given  in  Mr. 
Gorham's  favour,  though  the  propositions,  on  which 
that  decision  was  based,  were  not  identical  with  the 
original   statements  made  by  Mr.   Gorham  to  which 

^  Dean  Burgon  speaks  of  "that  great  revival  in  the  English  Church, 
which  the  Rt.  Hon.  Thomas  Grenville  (1755-1846)  characterised,  as  by 
far  the  most  remarkable  phenomenon  which  he  had  witnessed  through- 
out his  long  career." — Lives  of  Twelve  Good  Men,  vol.  ii.  p.  i. 

-  The  details  of  the  examination  and  of  the  subsequent  correspond- 
ence were  given  by  Mr.  Gorham  in  a  volume  published  by  Hatchard  and 
Son,  1848. 


REVIVAL  25 

the  Bishop  had  objected.  Even  after  the  decision 
Dr.  Phillpotts  resolutely  persisted  in  his  refusal  to 
institute,  and  when  the  official  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  performed  that  ceremony,  the  Bishop 
of  Exeter  entered  a  solemn  protest  in  the  Court  of 
Arches  against  the  proceedings.  The  Synod  of 
Exeter,  summoned  by  Bishop  Phillpotts  with  charac- 
teristic boldness  and  ecclesiastical  independence  of 
spirit,  reaffirmed  the  ancient  doctrine  of  the  Catholic 
Church  on  Holy  Baptism,  and  to  sonie  extent  re- 
assured troubled  minds.  The  synod  was  the  precursor, 
and  to  some  extent  the  cause,  of  that  re\^ival  of 
synodical  life  in  the  Anglican  Communion,  not  yet 
fully  realised,  which,  from  the  year  1852  when 
Convocation  met  for  discussion  after  a  long  silence 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  years,  has  been  slowly 
but  surely  winning  its  way,  both  in  the  Church  at 
home  and  in  the  Colonies, 

During  Bishop  Phillpotts'  episcopate  much  interest- 
ing spiritual  work  was  begun  in  Cornwall.  The 
Devotional  Conference  for  the  Clergy,  instituted  in 
1869,  mainly  by  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  E.  N.  (now 
Prebendary)  Dumbleton,  met  first  in  January,  1S70, 
and  has  been  maintained  with  two  annual  o-atherino-s 
ever  since,  with  excellent  results.  Education  and 
Church  endowments  funds  were  started  and  gener- 
ously aided  by  the  Bishop.  In  1863,  through  his 
munificence,  the  very  fine  theological  library,  now- 
housed  in  Truro  and  largely  augmented  by  later  gifts 
from  various  donors,  especiall\-  Prebendary  Ford  and 


2  6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  Rev.  F.  Parker/  was  given  to  the  clergy  of  Corn- 
wall. The  inscription  carved  on  the  episcopal  throne 
in  Truro  Cathedral,  presented  by  clergymen  ordained 
by  him,  expresses  very  well  all  that  the  Church  owes 
to  his  faithful  and  vigorous  rule. 

"  Ad  Dei  gloriam  cum  pia  memoria  pni^sulatus  Reverendi 
in  Christo  Patris  Henrici  Phillpotts  S.T.P.,  Exoniensis  Episcopi 
noni  quinquagesimi,  tarn  in  cura  pastorali  quam  in  doctrinse 
Catholicai  defensione  indefessi,  Presbyteri,  qui  sacrum  minis- 
terium  sub  ejus  regimine  exercuerant,  banc  Cathedram  in 
usum  Truronensis  Episcopi  exstruendam  curaverunt. 
"A.D.  MDCCCLXXXVII." 

His  interest  in  Cornwall  showed  itself  in  anxious 
forethought  for  the  future  establishment  of  a  new 
bishopric  in  that  county.  The  retention  of  a  fifth 
endowed  residentiary  canonry  at  Exeter,  when  the 
new  P^cclesiastical  Commission  was  reducing  all  capi- 
tular establishments  to  the  dead  level  of  four 
residentiary  canonries  in  each  cathedral,  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  result  of  his  advice  and  influence. 
He  had  in  view  the  application  of  the  endowment 
of  this  canonry  towards  the  establishment  of  a  Cornish 
bishopric,  or  else,  what  has  since  actually  taken  place 
at  Truro,  the  foundation  of  one  or  more  canonries  in 
a  future  cathedral.  He  lent  the  aid  of  his  great 
abilities  to  the  first  efforts  that  were  made  in  the 
direction  of  the  revival  of  a  Cornish  see,  after  the 
lapse  of  more  than  eight  centuries.  He  had  a  full 
experience  of  the  great  difficulties  of  so  large  a 
diocese,   with   so    many   serious    impediments    in    the 

^  The  bequest  of  the  latter,  who  was  Rector  of  Luffington,  more  than 
doubled  the  library. 


REVIVAL  27 

way  of  travelling",  at  a  time  when  the  standard 
of  episcopal  duties  was  rapidly  chant^'ini^-  from  that 
of  scholarly  leisure  and  dignified  repose,  to  vicrorous 
acti\-it\-  in  every  branch  of  Church  work  and  admini- 
stration. He,  almost  as  much  as  liishop  Samuel 
Wilberforce  of  Oxford,  deserved  the  title  of  "  Re- 
modeller  of  the  Episcopate";^  and,  when  he  began 
his  first  work  in  Cornwall,  soon  after  his  consecration, 
with  a  visit  to  the  Isles  of  Scilly,  he  was  compelled  to 
realise  the  extent  of  that  great  diocese  which  later  on 
he  endeavoured  to  subdivide. 

The  foundation  of  the  Cornish  bishopric  cannot  be 
considered  as  an  isolated  event  in  the  history  of  the 
modern  Church  of  England.  The  older  bishoprics 
of  England  had  had  their  origin  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  early  English  kingdoms.  This  will  account,  in 
the  main,  for  the  discrepancy  in  the  size  of  many 
of  the  dioceses,  as  for  instance,  the  small  territory 
of  the  old  See  of  Rochester,  and  the  vast  regions 
ruled  by  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  at  one  time  stretching 
from  the  H umber  to  the  Thames.  Some  subdivision 
was  made  in  the  days  of  Henry  \'I11.,  when  the  Sees 
of  Gloucester,  Bristol.  Westminster,  Oxford.  Chester, 
and  Peterborough  were  founded,  out  of  the  spoils 
of  ofreat  monastic  establishments.  Cranmer  wished 
for  a  still  larger  number,  but  did  not  succeed  in ' 
loosening  the  grasp  of  the  royal  spoiler  upon  other 
lands  and  possessions  of  the  Church.  Bodmin  had 
indeed  been  named  as  the  seat  of  a  Cornish  bishopric 

'  Dean  lUirgon's  Lives  of  Twek'c  Good  Mm. 


2S  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

at  that  time,  but  the  funds  for  its  foundation  were 
wanted  for  some  royal  favourite.  Westminster  soon 
ceased  to  be  an  episcopal  see,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  years  1836  and  1840,  when  drastic  ecclesistical 
legislation  took  place,  that  any  addition  was  made  to 
the  number  of  the  bishoprics  of  England.  Even 
then  a  proposal  was  made,  though  happily  defeated, 
to  combine  the  See  of  St.  Asaph  with  Bangor,  to 
suppress  the  See  of  Llandaff  and  that  of  Sodor  and 
}klan,  in  order  that  the  Bishoprics  of  Manchester  and 
Ripon  might  be  founded.  Bristol,  however,  was 
actually  removed  from  the  list  of  English  sees,  to 
regain  more  than  half  a  century  later  its  separate 
existence,  mainly  through  earnest  and  generous  efforts 
of  a  noble  band  of  Churchmen,  lay  and  clerical, 
amono-  whom  will  never  be  forootten  Archdeacon 
J,  P.  Norris,  for  some  years  Vicar  of  St.  Mary's 
Redcliffe.  Even  after  the  foundation  of  the  Sees 
of  Manchester  and  Ripon,  such  jealousy  of  the 
influence  of  the  Church  was  felt,  that,  in  order  to 
prevent  any  increase  in  the  number  of  prelates  who 
had  seats  in  the  House  of  Lords,  the  rule  was  made 
that,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  Archbishops  and 
the  Bishops  of  London,  Durham,  and  Winchester, 
the  rest  of  the  Bishops  should  receive  a  seat  in 
rotation,  according  to  the  date  of  their  consecration. 
But,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  great  revival  that 
resulted  from,  or  was  at  all  events  contemporaneous 
with,  the  Oxford  Movement,  Churchmen  everywhere 
were    beginnino;    more    and    more    to    feel    the    great 


REVIVAL  29 

importance  of  r.aking  the  episcopal  office  a  practical 
reality  ;  less  of  a  desirable  position  of  honour  and 
emolument,  and  more  of  an  apostolic  ministry  and 
labour.  In  India  and  the  colonies  bishoprics  were 
beinij;"  founded  ;  at  first  in  Canada,  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  and  South  Africa,  and  then  in  other  and  less 
prominent  places  ;  and  it  was  felt  that  England  herself 
needed  some  serious  reform  in  the  episcopal  oversight 
of  the  Church.  In  1847  a  I)ill  was  introduced  for  the 
foundation  of  four  new  sees,  and  among  these  Bodmin 
was  named  as  the  seat  of  a  new  Cornish  bishopric. 
This  town  is  agreeably  situated,  has  long  been  the 
Assize  town,  and  includes  several  large  and  important 
public  institutions.  It  has,  moreover,  an  ancient 
ecclesiastical  tradition,  not  only  of  its  noble  fifteenth- 
century  churcli  and  the  old  Priory  that  once  stood 
close  by,  but  in  the  records  of  the  original  church  of 
St.  Petroc,  which  was  in  all  probability  used  as  a 
cathedral  by  some  of  the  earlier  Cornish  Bishops. 
But  for  practical  purposes  Bodmin  was  not  a  con- 
venient centre  for  the  whole  county.  It  lies  far  away 
from  the  oreat  mass  of  the  minino-  and  seafarinof 
population,  and  for  many  years  it  had  no  railway 
station  within  several  miles,  while  its  population  was 
much  less  than  that  of  several  other  towns  in  Corn- 
wall. 

But,  at  all  events,  the  Bill  for  the  formation  of  these 
four  new  bishoprics,  introduced  by  Lord  John  Russell, 
came  to  nothing  ;  and  so  the  question  of  the  choice  of 
an  episcopal  cit\"  was  postponed. 


30  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Some  years  later,  Bishop  Phillpotts  received  an 
offer  from  Dr.  Edmund  Walker,  Rector  of  St,  Columb 
Major,  of  the  advowson  of  that  wealthy  benefice,  for 
the  endowment  of  a  new  see  in  Cornwall  or  for  the 
foundation  of  canonries.  The  Bishop  was  himself 
willing  to  resign  ^500  a  year  of  his  income  to  further 
the  scheme.  The  Cathedral  Commission  recommended 
the  plan,  and  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Exeter,  were 
approached  with  the  view  of  assigning  an  income  out 
of  old  capitular  property  which  included  valuable 
lands  in  Cornwall.  The  names  of  two  earnest  men 
deserve  to  be  remembered  in  connection  with  this 
effort.  Prebendary  Tatham  and  the  Rev.  Reginald 
Hobhouse,  afterwards  the  first  Archdeacon  of  Bodmin, 
wrote  able  pamphlets,  held  enthusiastic  meetings,  and 
actively  stirred  up  a  great  and  increasing  interest.  A 
memorial,  largely  signed  by  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the 
diocese,  was  presented  to  Lord  Palmerston  in  i860  by 
a  deputation  headed  by  the  Earl  of  St.  Germans. 
The  Prime  Minister  of  the  day,  popular  as  he  was 
with  the  multitude,  never  had  any  deep  interest  in 
Church  matters,  nor  much  knowledge  of  the  Church's 
needs.  As  is  well  known,  he  practically  delegated  to 
Lord  Shaftesbury  the  task  of  selecting  nominees  for 
vacant  bishoprics.  Certainly  he  treated  in  a  somewhat 
light  and  airy  manner  the  proposal  for  satisfying  the 
legitimate  desires  of  Cornish  Churchmen.  Bishop 
Benson  has  recorded  some  recollections  ot  this 
occasion. 


REVIVAL  31 

"Sir  M.  S.  had  been  one  of  the  original  deputation  which 
waited  on  Lord  Palmerston  to  urge  a  bishopric  for  Cornwall. 
He  kept  them  long  waiting,  and  came  down  unshaved,  un- 
buckled, almost  unwashed.  To  stop  their  mouths  he  said, 
'  First,  gentlemen,  you  must  have  a  church,  a  house,  an  estate. 
Where  would  you  place  him?  Have  you  thought  of  that?' 
'  Oh  yes,'  one  of  the  members  broke  out,  '  all  is  ready. 
St.  Columb,  beautiful  house  built  by  Dr.  Walker  on  purpose 
— large  nucleus  of  endowments.'  '  Gentlemen,'  said  Lord 
Palmerston,  'you  must  do  what  Mrs.  Glasse  said,  first  catch 
your  hare  ;  you  must  first  catch  your  Bishop.'  "^ 

Perhaps  the  attempt  to  utilise  St.  Columb  and  its 
revenues  was  not  a  very  wise  or  practical  one,  and  its 
defeat  not  greatly  to  be  deplored.  The  situation  was 
rather  remote  ;  the  church,  though  very  interesting, 
quite  inadequate  for  cathedral  purposes.  The  rectory 
and  its  grounds  would  have  made  a  charming  episcopal 
residence  ;  but  the  little  town  could  scarcely  expect  to 
rise  to  the  dignity  of  a  city.  And  so,  for  years 
discouraged  but  not  in  despair,  men  waited  till  better 
times,  when  a  more  enlightened  appreciation  of  the 
growing  requirements  of  the  Church,  should  compel  a 
proper  solution  of  the  difficulty.  The  "good  Earl  of 
Devon  "  was  a  prominent  leader  of  these  persistent 
efforts. 

There  was  also  one  faithful  friend  and  counsellor, 
who  himself  was  an  earnest  advocate  for  the  increase 
of  the  home  episcopate,  who  often  cheered  and 
encouracred  the  distressed  and  baffied  Cornish  Church- 
men,  Dr.  Christopher  Wordsworth,  Canon,  and  after- 

'   Private  Diary. 


32  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

wards  Archdeacon,  of  Westminster,  and  subsequently 
Bishop  of  Lincoln.  In  his  sermons,  and  even  in  his 
commentaries,  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  pointing 
out  the  need  of  making  the  office  of  a  Bishop  more  of 
a  reality,  by  a  wise  subdivision  of  dioceses.  To  one 
who  MTOte  to  tell  him  of  one  of  the  above-mentioned 
failures,  he  replied  from  his  vicarage  of  Stanford-in- 
the-Yale,  "  Let  us  not  despair  :  fxeTu^v  6t]piow,  /j-eraiv 
Geov."  And  then  he  v/ent  on  to  speak  of  "  consolation 
and  hope,"  through  faith  in  "an  heavenly  Master, 
through  the  thorns  and  briars  of  contradiction  and 
blasphemy  to  His  heavenly  grace.  Our  faith  in  Him 
is  now  being  tried,  and  through  His  strength  it  will 
conquer." 

In  1 86 1  Lord  Lyttelton  made  another  earnest,  but 
unsuccessful  effort  ;  and  in  the  following  year  the 
Cathedral  Commissioners  again  urged  the  foundation 
of  a  Cornish  see.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
Dr.  Longley,  lent  the  aid  of  his  personal  influence  and 
that  of  his  high  office  to  the  cause,  and  took  the 
trouble  to  visit  Cornwall,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
press  upon  the  Government,  by  his  own  experience  of 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard  on  the  spot,  the  pressing 
necessity  for  a  subdivision  of  the  Western  Diocese. 
But  matters  remained  as  before,  until  the  year  1869, 
when  Bishop  Phillpotts  died.  The  occasion  was  at 
once  taken  to  urge  upon  the  Government  the  need  of 
separating  Cornwall  from  Exeter,  and  so  break  up 
what  had  long  been  felt  to  be  a  most  unwieldy 
diocese.      Fresh    petitions    were    signed    and     fresh 


REVIVAL  33 

pamphlets  written,  but  without  avail  ;  and  Dr.  Temple, 
Head  Master  of  Ru_L;by,  was  appointed  to  the  undivided 
Diocese  of  Exeter.  Of  the  storm  of  feeling  aroused  at 
this  appointment,  on  account  of  his  authorship  of  one 
of  the  papers  in  the  notorious  volume,  called  Essays 
and  Reviews,  published  nine  years  before,  this  is  not 
the  place  to  speak.  He  came  into  the  West  in  the 
midst  of  much  ecclesiastical  resentment,  but  he  won 
the  hearts  of  the  clergy  and  laity  alike  by  his  vigorous 
personality,  his  untiring  energy  and  his  Christian 
manliness.  They  were,  as  time  went  on,  to  learn  the 
earnestness  and  truthfulness  of  his  character,  and  to 
find  in  him  a  strongly-rooted  faith  that  seemed  to 
grow  and  expand  more  and  more  as  the  years  passed 
by.  Later  on,  he  quite  disarmed  all  suspicion  of  the 
soundness  of  his  orthodoxy  and  the  strength  of  his 
Church  principles.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  firm  faith 
in  the  fundamental  truths  of  Christianity,  lucidly  ex- 
pressed in  his  Bampton  Lectures  ;  nothing  could  be 
more  outspoken  in  defence  of  the  Divine  origin  and 
character  of  the  Church,  than  the  sermon  that  he 
preached,  many  years  later,  at  the  evening  service  on 
the  day  of  die  consecration  of  Truro  Cathedral.  ^ 

The  very  vigour  of  his  administration  soon  made 
him  realise  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  division  of  the 
diocese.  The  effort  to  brinor  this  about,  which  had 
been  so  ably  m:ide  by  Prebendary  Tatham,  was  on  his 
death    in     1S74    warml\-    renewed    by    Mr.    Edmund 

1  Catholicity  and  Indh'uhialisiii,   tweh-e   sermons    preached   at    the 
consecration  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Truro,  pp.  14-22. 
D 


34  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Carlyon  of  St.  Austell,  to  whom  the  whole  Church  in 
Cornwall  owes  a  debt  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
estimate,  not  only  on  account  of  all  that  he  accomplished 
for  the  foundation  of  the  bishopric,  but  for  equally 
valuable  labours  as  Secretary  of  the  Diocesan  Con- 
ference of  the  new  diocese,  and  later  still  of  the 
Buildine  Committee  of  Truro  Cathedral.  One  of  the 
happiest  results  of  the  foundation  of  the  new  see  has 
been  seen  in  the  awakening  of  zeal,  liberality  and  hard 
work  for  the  Church,  among  a  very  large  number  of 
Cornish  laymen. 

Dr.  Temple  saw  that  there  was  no  hope  of  per- 
suading the  State  authorities  to  recognise  the  just 
claims  of  Cornwall  to  a  share  in  ancient  episcopal 
endowments  for  the  purposes  of  creating  a  see  in 
that  county.  "  What  do  you  want  to  do  ?  "  he  wrote. 
"To  convert  the  Legislature,  or  to  get  the  bishopric? 
The  former  will,  I  can  answer  for  it,  take  twenty 
years  at  least,  even  if  you  could  do  it  in  twenty  years." 
But  he  not  only  gave  good  advice,  but  made  a  very 
important  contribution  towards  the  foundation  of  the 
Cornish  bishopric  by  his  surrender  of  ^800  of  his 
episcopal  income,  and  by  his  promise  to  hand  over 
the  episcopal  patronage  in  Cornwall  to  the  Bishop 
of  the  new  see.  This  generous  offer  was  announced 
at  a  meeting  held  at  Plymouth  on  March  1st,  1875, 
and  proved  to  be  a  great  stimulus  to  further  efforts 
on  the  part  of  those  who  were  anxious  to  bring  the 
matter  to  a  successful  issue.  Once  more  a  memorial, 
largely  signed,  was  presented  by  a  great  deputation 


REVIVAL  35 

of  Cornish  Churchmen,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr. 
Temple,  and  was  far  more  favourably  received  by 
Mr.  Disraeli  than  a  similar  one  had  been  twenty 
years  before  by  the   Prime  Minister  of  the  day. 

But  it  was  not  until  a  noble  benefaction  by  Emily 
Lady  Rolle,  amounting  to  ^^40,000,  had  been  promised, 
that  the  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  was  able 
to  take  definite  steps  to  complete  the  scheme.  Few, 
if  any,  of  the  wealthy  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
Church  have  made  so  splendid  an  offering  as  this 
West-country  lady  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God's 
Church.  It  perhaps  can  only  be  paralleled,  or  ex- 
ceeded, in  modern  times,  by  the  foundation  of  several 
colonial  sees  by  another  generous  Englishwoman, 
Lady  Burdett-Coutts.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
there  was  a  pleasant  friendship  and  intercourse  be- 
tween the  first  Bishop  of  the  new  see  and  its  generous 
benefactress.  In  Dr.  Benson's  diary,  on  June  17th, 
1882,  it  is  written  : — 

"  Went  and  sat  with  m)-  ancient  foundress  for  half  an 
hour,  Lady  Rolle.  Very  clear  and  very  clever,  and  interested 
about  all  things ;  full  of  old  knowledge  of  Cornwall,  and  of 
horror  at  the  people  like  X.  Y.,  who  (as  she  said)  think  the 
Bishops  the  last  people  who  ought  to  have  any  authority." 

An  instantaneous  and  enthusiastic  response  to  this 
great  act  of  generosity  was  made  by  many  private 
individuals,  and  by  the  Council  of  the  Additional 
Home  Bishoprics  Endowment  Fund,  ^3,000  being 
ofiven  from  this  last-named  source.  On  August  i  ith, 
1876,   the   patient   faith  and   strenuous  efforts  of  the 


36  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF   TRURO 

earnest  Churchmen  of  Cornwall  were  at  length  re- 
warded, by  the  passing  of  the  Bishopric  of  Truro  Bill 
by  which  the  see  was  founded.  For  thirty  years  the 
attempt  had  been  made,  again  and  again,  to  reverse 
the  act  of  union  of  Cornwall  with  Devon  under  one 
Bishop,  so  far  back  as  the  eleventh  century,  and  had 
at  last  been  crowned  with  deserved  success.  Even 
then  the  resources  of  the  new  see  were  somewhat 
scanty  and  meagre.  There  was  no  cathedral,  no 
collegiate  church,  as  at  Manchester,  or  Ripon,  or 
Southwell  ;  no  splendid  abbey  church,  as  at  St. 
Albans,  that  could,  at  once  and  without  question, 
become  the  central  church  of  the  diocese.  Truro,  for 
sufficient  reasons  already  indicated  above,  com- 
mended itself  as  the  most  suitable  town  for  the 
setting  up  of  the  "  Bishop's  stool."  Situate  on  the 
main  line  of  railway,  easily  accessible  to  the  popula- 
tions of  the  chief  mining  districts,  as  well  as  the  sea- 
port of  Falmouth  ;  besides  being  the  most  ancient 
municipal  borough  in  Cornwall,  and  the  seat  of  the 
then  existing  Stannaries  Court,  it  had,  for  many 
years,  been  growing  into  something  like  a  county 
town.  Since  that  time,  the  holding  of  the  meetings 
of  the  County  Council  at  Truro  has  impressed  upon 
it  still  more  the  character  of  the  civil  capital  of  the 
Duchy.  But  its  church,  the  ancient  sanctuary  of  a 
venerable  municipality,  with  a  history  reaching  far 
beyond  the  actual  date  of  the  existing  fabric,  which 
was  erected  in  1518  on  the  same  site  as  two  previous 
churches  had   occupied,   had   no   pretensions   to  any- 


REVIVAL  37 

thing-  more  th;in  those  of  a  fairly  ^^^ood  specimen  of 
an  ordinary  Cornish  town  church.  There  were  no 
parochial  resources  that  could  form  a  nucleus  tor  a 
cathedral  establishment.  The  rectory  was  miserably 
endowed.  There  was  no  residence  in  the  city  that 
could  be  assigned  as  a  "palace"  to  the  new  Bishop. 
The  only  prospective  provision  for  the  endowment 
of  a  residentiary  chapter  was  the  income  of  the  fifth 
Canonry  of  Exeter  of  the  value  of  /^i,ooo  a  year, 
which  did  not,  however,  become  available  for  several 
years  afterwards. 

Nevertheless,  the  great  achievement  had  been 
accomplished.  Henceforth  a  Cornish  Bishop  was  to 
rule  the  Cornish  Church,  and  to  give  undivided 
attention  to  the  oversight  of  that  most  important, 
interesting,  and,  at  the  same  time,  exceedingly  difficult 
portion  of  the  "Vineyard  of  the  Lord." 


38  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 


NOTE 

COMPARATIVE     STATE     OF     THE     DIOCESE     IN     REGARD     TO     NUMBERS 
AND     RESIDENCES     OF     INCUMBENTS     AND     CURATES 


1830    1850    1869    1876    1885 

85  ...  150  ...  178  ...  183  ...  195 

In  Licensed  House, or  in  Parish...       4  ...     25  ...     })■}>  •■■     25  ...     24 


Incutnbents  Resident 

In  Glebe  House 85  ...   150  ...  178  ...   183  ...  195 


Incumbents  Non-Resident 
By  Exemption 
Otherwise  ... 


Of  Non-Resident  Incumbents  there "\ 
were  performing  duties    ...         ...) 

Curates  of  Non-Resident  Incumbents     72> 
Curates  of  Resident  Incumbents     ... 

Number  of  Clergy  serving — 
Incumbents 

Curates    of    Non  -  Resident    \n-\ 
cumbents  ...         ...         ...J 

Curates  of  Resident  Incumbents 


Parsonage  Houses      150  ...   171    ...   190  ...   198  ...  210 


89 

175 

211 

208 

219 

31  •• 

.   8  .. 

•   7  •• 

.  II  .. 

.   7 

61  .. 

.  17  .. 

•   5  •• 

.  14  .. 

.   6 

92 

25 

12 

25 

13 

[,5.. 

.   5  •• 

.   6  .. 

.   7  .. 

,.   6 

73  ■■ 

.  19  .. 

,.   4  •• 

,.  14  .. 

••   5 

14  .. 

•  47  •• 

.  50  .. 

,.  51  .. 

..  78 

104  .. 

.  180  .. 

,.  217  .. 

..  215  .. 

222 

1-  73 .. 

.  19  .. 

..   4  ., 

..  14  .. 

••   5 

14  .. 

,.  47  .. 

..  50  .. 

..  51  . 

..  78 

191 

246 

271 

280 

305 

(y.  (IJ.  .yjaiao/i 


CHAPTER   III 

THE   FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO 

IT  has  already  been  noticed,  that  the  position  of  the 
first  Bishop  of  the  newly  created  diocese  had  very 
few  attractions  to  offer,  beyond  those  of  a  new  and 
interesting  sphere  of  labour,  with  great  opportunities, 
and  not  a  few  obstacles.  In  spite  of  all  the  previous 
good  work  carried  out  by  the  last  two  Bishops  of  the 
undivided  diocese,  there  was  large  scope  for  new 
organisation,  fresh  reforms  and  venturesome  enter- 
prises. A  large  portion  of  the  Cornish  people  still 
held  the  attitude  of  distrust  and  suspicion  towards  the 
Church,  disbelieved  in  her  spiritual  character,  and 
held  aloof  from  her  ministrations.  To  regain  a  hold 
for  the  Church,  first  on  the  respect,  and  then  on  the 
affection,  of  the  people  of  Cornwall,  was  the  great 
task  laid  upon  the  new  Bishop.  To  extend,  and  in 
some  degree  to  create,  the  machinery  of  Church  work  ; 
to  seize  upon  the  best  elements  of  Cornish  religious 
sentiment  ;  to  direct  strong  emotionalism  into  sane 
directions  ;  to  dissipate  prejudice  ;  all  this  demanded  a 
leader,  wise,  sympathetic  and  skilful.  No  hard  parti- 
san, anxious  to  push  a  cut-and-dried  scheme  of  Church 
work,  no  dreamy  idealist,  no  man  of  mere  shibboleths, 

39 


40  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

would  have  had  a  chance  of  success.  What  was 
wanted  was  one  who  could  appreciate  the  individuality 
of  the  Cornish  race,  and  take  a  real  delight  in  its 
unique  history  ;  who  could  make  himself  at  home  in 
the  midst  of  new  and  quaint  customs,  strange  and 
incongruous,  very  often,  to  the  mind  and  taste  of 
persons  trained  elsewhere  under  very  different  con- 
ditions. A  great  opportunity  might  have  been  lost, 
if  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro  had  been  a  mere  scholarly 
pedant,  or  a  hard-and-fast  organiser,  or  a  rigid  cham- 
pion of  one  narrow  school  of  thought. 

To  those  who  know  anything  of  Cornwall  it  must 
always  be  a  matter  of  great  thankfulness,  that  so 
happy  a  choice  was  made,  in  the  person  of  Edward 
White  Benson,  for  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro.  Born 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham,  he  was  educated 
at  Kino-  Edward's  School  under  Mr.  Prince  Lee,  and 
had  amonor  his  schoolfellows  and  intimate  friends 
Joseph  Barber  Lightfoot  and  Brooke  Foss  Westcott. 

The  great  Midland  hardware  town  held  a  high 
place   in   his   affections.      Late  in  life  he  thus  spoke 

of  it : — 

"  How  can  any— how  can  I — look  on  this  strong  city  of  the 
Midlands  and  not  feel  the  enchantment?  How  was  it  grow- 
ing when  I  knew  it  for  fifteen  years  of  happy  life  near  it,  and 
all  the  keenest  interest  of  school  life  within  it !  The  dark 
haze  of  countless  industries  ever  hanging  over  it,  pierced  by 
spire  and  dome  ;  the  solemn  music  of  its  great  hall  and  the 
noble  roofs  from  which  the  look  and  memory  of  scholarly 
wisdom  and  aspiration  will  never  be  parted.  Even  so  long 
ago  we  were  '  citizens  of  no  mean  city.'  "  ^ 

'  Church  Congress  sermon  at  Ijiriningham  in  Fishers  of  Men,  p.  140. 


THE  FIRST  JUSIIOP   OF  TRURO  41 

Of  the  debt  that  he  owed  to  the  Head  Master,  whose 
memory  he  cherished,  and  whose  character  and  work 
he  defended  with  a  strong-  affection,  and  sometimes 
with  a  passionate  indignation,  to  the  end  of  his  \\{<i,  he 
has  left  a  touching  record. 

"  I  know  how  in  my  own  boyhood  it  was  the  dissociation 
of  labour  from  vexation,  the  unfailinc;  kindly  wit,  the  rapid 
illustration,  the  endless  happy  allusion  to  men  and  books  and 
things,  the  brightness  which  flashed  a  cheer  into  a  difficulty 
and  made  every  knotty  point  of  scholarship  into  a  pleasure 
of  the  mind,  only  waiting  to  be  realised  :  above  all,  it  was 
never  presenting  to  our  minds  the  standard  of  an  examina- 
tion ;  the  keeping  before  us  that,  if  a  subject  was  worthy 
of  intense  study,  it  was  worthy  in  itself  for  its  own  sake. 
This  was  the  spirit  which  took  us  all  captive,  and  enamoured 
us  of  the  eloquence,  the  knowledge,  the  insight  of  the  ancient 
masters,  and  of  the  acuteness  and  precision  of  the  Scholar- 
critics."  ^ 

His  career  at  Cambridge  was  marked  by  great  self- 
denial,  under  the  stress  of  very  narrow  means.  He 
was  a  Subsizar  of  Trinity  College,  and  held  a  small 
exhibition  from  Birminoham.  That  he  was  enabled 
to  complete  his  course  was  due  to  the  wise  generosity 
of  Francis  Martin,  Bursar,  and  afterwards  \'ice-?^Iaster 
of  the  College.  His  degree.  Senior  Optime  and  Eighth 
Classic,  was  a  disappointment  to  himself  and  to  others, 
but  his  success  as  Senior  Chancellor's  Medallist  made 
up  for  everything,  and  gave  him  his  true  place  among 
the  ablest  men  of  his  year.  He  was  ordained  Deacon 
in  1S53  and  Priest  in  1857. 

^  "The  Teacher's  Frceduni "  in  Living  Theology,  by  .\rchbishop 
Benson,  2nd  edition,  1893,  p.  47.     Cf.  Fis/urs  of  Men,  pp.  72-4. 


42  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO  • 

His  fellowship  at  Trinity  did  not  keep  him  long  in 
residence,  and  he  went  to  Rugby  as  a  Master,  where 
he  first  was  brought  into  contact  with  Dr.  Temple, 
whose  strong  character  greatly  attracted  and  influenced 
him. 

In  1859  he  was  elected  first  Head  Master  of  the 
newly  founded  Wellington  College.  Here,  his  creative 
genius  found  ample  scope  for  successful  organisation 
and  development  of  the  new  school,  which  has  ever 
since  held  a  high  place  among  the  great  public  schools 
of  England.  He  made  many  friends  among  masters 
and  boys,  and  favourably  impressed  Queen  Victoria  and 
the  Prince  Consort,  who  felt  a  keen  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  College.  The  impression  thus  made 
was  not  without  its  influence  in  his  selection  for  the 
successive  offices  of  Bishop  of  Truro  and  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury. 

One  who  knew  him  well,  both  at  Rugby  and  Wel- 
lington, bears  testimony  to  his  ability  as  a  teacher, 
and  his  success  as  an  organiser.  At  the  former 
school,  he  is  said,  in  teaching  the  upper  forms,  to 
have  united  "  two  sfreat  Sfifts,  beino-  clear  and  vigorous 
in  his  style  of  teaching,  and  giving  a  general  stimulus 
to  the  minds  of  his  pupils.  He  taught  and  in  the 
true  sense  of  the  word  educated.  .  .  ."  At  Wellington 
"difficulties  were  unusually  great,  but  Dr.  Benson,  by 
clearness  of  purpose  and  by  unfailing  courtesy  and 
tact,  made  them  disappear.  During  his  tenure  of 
office,  a  marvellous  change  took  place  in  the  sandy 
waste   which   at   first   surrounded   the   Colles^e.     The 


THE  FIRST  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  43 

wilderness  literally  blossomed  as  the  rose  ;  houses 
were  built,  gardens  laid  out,  roads  were  made.  .  .  . 
The  distinofuishino-  mark  of  Dr.  Benson's  Headmaster- 
ship  was  his  earnest  desire  to  produce  and  fasten  a 
religious  tone  in  the  school."  In  describing  "the  beauti- 
ful and  striking  Chapel  "  and  its  services,  the  writer 
records  the  great  attention  paid  to  the  hymns  used 
and  the  book  compiled  for  the  College  by  Dr.  Benson, 
and  adds,  "The  effect  of  the  whole  was  to  feel — 
certainly,  this  College  is  meant  to  be  a  place  of 
religious  education,  a  training  place,  not  only  for  this 
life,  but  for  the  higher  life  which  is  to  come."^ 

The  fifteen  years  spent  at  Wellington  were  to  him 
(to  use  his  own  words)  a  time  of  "ever-increasing 
happiness.""  The  work  was  very  congenial.  He 
loved  the  very  uphill  labour  that  made  his  head- 
mastership  something  of  a  leadership  in  a  warlike 
conflict.  He  had  to  meet,  from  time  to  time,  not 
a  few  difficulties  arising  out  of  questions  of  discipline 
and  relioious  teaching.  He  was  attacked  from  one 
side,  as  too  extreme  a  High  Churchman,  and  from 
another,  as  a  Latitudinarian.  There  were  perhaps 
some  superficial  grounds  for  these  two  contradictory 
impressions  concerning  him.  While  he  never  was  in 
close  sympathy  with  the  Tractarian  School,  and  had 
a  singularly  inadequate  opinion  of  the  great  powers 
and  commanding  character  of  Newman,  he  was, 
nevertheless,   from   his   earliest   days,  an   enthusiastic 

'  "The  Bishop-Designate  of  Truro,"  a  paper  by  W.  J.  Tait,  in  The 
Church  in  Cornwall,  January,  1877,  PP-  -'8,  219. 
-  Li/c,  p.  56  r. 


44  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

admirer  of  all  that  was  great  and  noble  in  the  history 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  was  possessed  by  an 
ever  -  increasing  interest  in  oreat  Churchmen,  their 
lives,  characters,  and  achievements.  Men,  like  St. 
Cyprian  and  St.  Hugh,  fired  his  imagination,  and 
compelled  his  veneration.  He  was  passionately 
devoted  to  ancient  cathedrals  and  everything  con- 
nected with  their  constitution  and  worship  ;  he  fully 
appreciated  careful  and  reverent  ceremonies ;  was 
particular  about  the  cut  of  a  rochet,  and  Indignant 
at  unworthy  heraldic  details  in  the  design  for  a  seal.^ 
Very  early  in  life  he  prayed  for  the  revival  of 
cathedrals.  In  early  manhood  he  began  to  recite 
the  canonical  hours  ;  and,  from  a  careful  study  of 
ancient  Liturgies  was  led  to  see  the  beauty  of  prayers 
for  the  departed,  and  the  authority  for  them  in  very 
early  primitive  days." 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  influence  of  such  minds 
as  Maurice  and  Kingsley  moulded  his  character  to 
a  very  considerable  degree.  The  memory  of  the 
personality  of  the  latter  remained  fresh  and  keen  to 
the  very  end  of  his  life.  He  thought  the  strong 
feeling-  roused  by  Dr.  Colenso's  writings  needlessly 
exao-aerated  and  unbalanced,  and  even  subscribed  to 
a  fund  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Bishop  of  Natal. 
This  act,  that  has  received  strong  adverse  criticism, 
was  probably  inspired  by  his  great  natural  sense  of 
fairness,    and    not    from    any    sympathy,    either    with 

^  See  note  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 

-  See  Prayers  Public  and  Private,  by  the  Most  Rev.  E.  W.  Benson, 
sometime  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  pp.  214,  223,  227. 


THE  FIRST  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  45 

Dr.   Colenso's   views,   or   with   the   manner   in   which 
they    were    laid    before    the    world   and    the   Church. 
He    criticised    freely,    and    even     severely,    the    now 
almost    forgotten    volume    Essays    and   Reviews,    but 
considered  that  Dr.  Temple  had  been,  without  reason, 
implicated  in  the  charge  of  unsoundness  of  doctrine, 
brought  against  all   the  seven  writers,   whose  essays 
had   been   included  in  the  book.      He  was  never   in 
sympathy  with  "  Evangelicalism  "  as  a  party,  or  even 
as  a  school  of  thought,  but  at  Wellington  he  adopted 
one  of  its  modern  innovations,  Evening  Communions, 
curiously    combined,     however,    with    language    and 
ritual  derived  from  a  very  different  source.      In  later 
life  he  diverged  altogether  from  this  particular  usage. 
And  yet  he  could  thoroughly  understand  and  value 
much   that    the    Evangelicals    held   dear.      He    knew 
very    well    the    great    importance    of    that    spiritual 
awakening,  which  is  involved  in  the  word  "conver- 
sion," however   much   it   has   become    perverted   and 
misused.      He    certainly    came    to    realise,    that,    no 
clergyman  had  any  chance  of  accomplishing  any  real 
spiritued  work  among  the  Cornish,  who  had  not  some 
true,   real,   inward  experience  of  the  soul,   such  as  is 
often  called   by  that  name.     At  the  same  time,   the 
shallow    and    merely   emotional    excitement,   that  too 
often  passes  for  a  true  "change  of  mind,"  met  with 
no  sort  of  encouragement  from  him. 

It  was  the  next  stage  in  his  life  that,  beyond  all  the 
previous  epochs  in  proportion  to  its  length,  moulded 
and     trained     his     character.        His    appointment    as 


46  THE  BISHOPRIC    OF  TRURO 

Chancellor  and  Canon  Residentiary  of  Lincoln  by 
Bishop  Christopher  Wordsworth,  who  had,  in  1869, 
shortly  after  his  consecration  made  him  his  Examining 
Chaplain  and  Prebendary  of  Heydour  in  his  cathe- 
dral, broueht  him  into  close  contact  with  one  who 
was  not  only  an  accomplished  scholar,  biblical  com- 
mentator, and  learned  theologian,  but  a  Bishop  whose 
Ideal  of  his  high  office  and  admirable  discharge  of 
his  episcopal  duties  have  seldom  been  equalled.  He 
has  been  well  described  "as  a  Churchman  in  every 
fibre  of  his  beino-  •  he  was  also  the  soul  of  chivalrous 
honour,  and  of  undoubted  faith,  with  the  touch  of  a 
Prophet  upon  him.  ...  It  was  a  splendid  type  of 
consecrated  scholarship."^  Benson  came  under  the 
spell  of  this  strong  but  sanctifying  personality,  and 
was  greatly  Influenced  by  it.  It  is  not  too  much  to 
say,  that,  at  Lincoln,  he  received  a  fresh  kind  of 
inspiration  that  restrained  something  of  the  strong 
impetuosity  of  his  nature,  and  elevated  and  refined 
the  whole  tone  of  his  character.  It  was  here  that, 
more  fully  than  ever,  there  was  developed  in  him 
that  romantic  love  for  cathedrals  which  had  shown 
itself  in  his  boyhood,  which  led  him  to  take  exultant 
dello-ht  in  the  noble  buildlno^s  at  Rheims  and  Amiens, 
and  now  in  the  glorious  Minster  crowning  the  hill  of 
the  old  Roman  city.  Later  on  It  showed  Itself  in  the 
absorbing  keenness  with  which  he  gave  himself  to 
plan    every    detail    of   his    "own    dear    Cathedral    at 

1  Canon  Scott   Holland,  Journal  of  Theological  Studies,    October, 
1900,  vol.  ii.,  No.  5. 


THE   FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  47 

Truro."  At  Lincoln  he  studied,  with  reverent  care 
and  intelliL>ent  historic  insight,  the  statutes  of  the 
ancient  Minster.  He  made  these  the  basis  and  model 
of  those  statutes  at  Truro  which,  thoucjh  even  now 
possessing  no  actual  legal  force,  have  been  ever  care- 
fully studied  and  obeyed,  by  those  who  worked  with 
him  and  followed  him  in  the  Cornish  Cathedral.  It 
was  at  Lincoln  that  he  learned  to  understand  and 
value  the  all-important  place  that  the  cathedral  once 
occupied  in  tlie  ancient  Church,  and  gathered  material 
for  his  plans  for  the  revival,  in  our  own  day,  of  the 
influence  that  the  Mother  Church  ought  to  exercise 
throughout  the  diocese,  which  he  developed  in  his 
book  The  Cathed7'aL  and  in  his  visitation  chars^es  and 
conference  addresses,  first  at  Truro  and  afterwards  at 
Canterbury. 

It  was  at  Lincoln,  too,  that  he  had  his  first  actual 
experience  of  pastoral  work  in  a  city,  for  which  his 
previous  life  at  Cambridge,  Rugby,  and  Wellington 
had  given  him  little  or  no  opportunity.  Now  he 
threw  himself  into  the  work  of  night  schools, 
temperance  meetings,  special  missions.  He  had 
close  intercourse,  and  even  friendships,  with  lads  and 
men,  artisans,  and  others ;  and  in  his  afternoon 
sermons,  in  the  nave  of  the  Minster,  preached  gener- 
ally from  slight  notes,  he  attracted  and  impressed 
large  congregations  of  people  of  the  middle  class. 
By  some  short  remarkable  expositions  of  St.  John's 
Gospel  at  early  morning  prayers,  twice  a  week,  he 
touched   other   classes.       Two    iniportant    features    of 


48  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

his  life  at  Lincoln,  both  of  which  trained  him  for  his 
future  work  in  Cornwall,  were  the  restoration  of  the 
Scholcc  Cancellarii,  and  the  formation  of  the  Society 
of  Mission  Preachers,  afterwards  known  from  its 
motto,  taken  from  the  Vulgate  of  Hosea  x,  12,  chosen 
by  himself,  as  the  "  Novate  novale,"  "  Break  up  your 
fallow  ground." 

The  Scholce  Cancellarii  was  an  ancient  institution 
for  the  training  of  candidates  for  Holy  Orders,  that 
had  existed  in  old  times  as  a  part  of  the  foundation 
of  many  cathedrals,  both  on  the  Continent  and  in 
England,  the  head  of  which  had  generally  been  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Church.  Benson,  holding  this 
office  at  Lincoln,  felt  impelled  to  revive  the  ancient 
Chancellor's  school.  He  threw  himself  into  it  with 
ardour  and  delight.  He  took  great  pains  with  the 
preparation  of  his  lectures,  and  drew  up  an  admirable 
little  manual  on  reading  and  prayers,  called  Vigilermis 
et  Orevncs,  for  the  use  of  the  students.  The  "  prac- 
tical hints"  on  "how  to  begin  and  end  a  subject," 
"how  to  prepare  for  lectures,"  contain  excellent 
advice,  not  only  for  theological  students,  but  also  for 
clergymen  of  all  stages  of  experience.  He  laid  great 
stress  on  "reading  aloud,"  and  recommended  the 
reading  of  Greek  and  Latin  writers  in  this  way,  as 
well  as  the  great  masters  of  English.  It  is  charac- 
teristic of  him  to  give  the  advice,  "  read  authorities 
whom  you  love."  He  endeavoured  to  foster  the  life 
of  prayer  and  meditation,  and  his  counsels  on  "orderly 
devotions,"  and  "a  sense  of  God's  loving  presence," 


THE  FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  49 

made  it  quite  clear  that,  in  his  o[)inion,  these  were 
"conditions"  without  which  study  would  prove  barren 
and  useless.  In  the  development  of  the  Scholae  he 
was  happy  in  finding  sympathetic  colleagues  in 
Canons  Crowfoot  and  Worlledge. 

The  Society  of  Mission  Priests,  which  was  founded 
in  1876,  had  the  advantage  of  his  guiding  hand  as 
first  Warcien.  The  first  fruit  of  the  society  was  a 
general  mission  throughout  the  city  of  Lincoln  early 
in  1876.  The  Chancellor  took  a  prominent  part  in 
it.  The  effect  upon  the  people  was  great,  but  not 
greater  than  the  effect  upon  himself.  Dr.  Mason, 
afterwards  so  closely  connected  with  him  in  his  work 
in  Cornwall,  has  described  this  as  "a  o-reat  comino; 
02U  into  the  directness  and  freedom  of  spiritual 
ministry,  which  was  so  much  needed  for  success  in 
Cornwall."  This  was  indeed  a  time  when  he,  and 
those  closely  connected  with  him,  came  under  special 
influences  of  teaching  about  personal  religion  that 
are  usually  called  "evangelical."  There  was  opened 
out  that  side  of  spiritual  truth,  which  must  be  the 
complement  of  dogmatic  and  ecclesiastical  ortho- 
doxy, if  the  Christian  is  to  be  truly  "perfect"  and 
"throughly  furnished."  There  were  those  at  Lin- 
coln who  were  able  to  contribute  towards  the 
realisation  of  this  most  valuable  and  precious  side 
of  truth,  which,  instead  of  contradicting  the  reality 
of  sacramental  grace,  enables  the  soul  to  use  every 
ordinance  of  the  Church  with  a  keener  and  more 
fervent    desire    to    become    increasingly    united    with 

E 


50  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  beloved  and  adorable  Person  of  the  Incarnate 
Lord  and  Saviour,  This  side  of  truth  belongs  not 
to  a  sect  or  school  of  thought,  but  is  the  heritage 
of  the  saints  and  a  priceless  element  of  the  Catholic 
Faith ;  it  finds  its  expression  in  the  devotions  of 
Thomas  a  Kempis,  as  well  as  in  the  hymns  and 
sermons  of  St.  Bernard.  And  so  he  and  his,  thus 
illuminated  and  enlarged,  were  all  the  better  fitted 
for  that  great  opportunity  and  work,  that  was  awaiting 
him  among  those  people  of  warm  religious  instincts, 
over  whom  he  was  so  soon  to  be  called  to  rule. 

This  life  at  Lincoln  has  been  described  "in  years 
a  very  short  one  ;  but,  like  his  life  as  a  whole,  it  was 
a  very  full  one."  And  it  certainly  formed  a  most 
admirable  time  of  preparation  and  training  for  what 
was,  perhaps,  the  most  striking  and  characteristic 
epoch  of  his  life,  the  six  years  of  his  episcopate  in 
Cornwall. 

"  He  never  got  nearer  to  the  flesh  and  blood  of  average 
men  than  he  did  in  those  few  years  at  Lincoln.  And  this 
told  on  him.  It  opened  fresh  doors.  It  taught  him  his 
powers.  It  softened  and  enheartened  him  .  .  .  the  spiritual 
transformation  that  was  begun  at  Lincoln  was  completed  at 
Truro." 

The  announcement  that  Dr.  Benson  had  received 
the  offer  of  the  Bishopric  of  Truro  aroused  great 
interest  everywhere,  and  in  Lincoln  was  received 
with  no  little  regret.  His  stay  there  had  been  only 
too  short,  and  he  had  begun  many  things  that, 
perhaps,   another   Chancellor   might    not    be    able    to 


THE  FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  51 

carry  out.  He  himself  hesitated  at  first,  but  the 
opinions  of  his  nearest  friends  were  unanimous  in 
favour  of  his  acceptance  of  the  office.  And  so  he 
prepared  himself  to  take  the  next  great  step  in  the 
advancing  progress  of  his  life's  work. 

Before  he  left  Lincoln,  the  students  and  tutors  of 
the  ScJiolcc  Cancellarii  presented  him  with  a  hand- 
some pastoral  staff  of  Celtic  design,  which  he  used 
for  nearly  twenty  years  in  his  dioceses  of  Truro  and 
Canterbury,  and  which  now  occupies  a  niche  in  the 
southern  or  "Benson"  transept  of  Truro  Cathedral. 
Underneath  is  a  brass  with  the  following  inscription, 
composed  by  his  son,  Mr.  A.  C.  Benson  : — 

"This  pastoral  staff  was  presented  to  Edward  White 
Benson,  first  Bishop  of  Truro  and  ninety-second  Archbishop 
of  Canterbur}-,  b\'  the  Tutors  and  Students  of  the  SdioUc 
Cancellarii  at  Lincohi,  Wednesday,  21st  March,  1877,  and 
borne  by  him  for  a  sign,  that  he  should,  as  a  Father  in  God, 
rule  with  diligence  and  guide  with  love.  It  comforted  his 
ministries  for  nearly  20  years,  and  was  by  him  bequeathed 
to  his  own  most  dear  Cathedral  Church,  a.d.  1896." 

He  received  also  a  pectoral  cross  and  a  ring,  now 
deposited  in  a  case  with  other  memorials  in  the 
chapter  room  of  Truro  Cathedral,  from  the  Society 
of  Mission  Clergy  ;  a  service  of  silver  plate  from  the 
city  of  Lincoln,  and  a  set  of  dessert  dishes  of  bronzed 
metal  from  a  Bible-class  of  mechanics. 

When  the  third  Bishop  of  Truro  was  about  to  be 
enthroned,  and  the  pastoral  staff  which  he  now  uses 
in  the  diocese   was  not  yet   ready,    Dr.    Benson   was 


52  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

asked  to  lend  his  staff  for  the  occasion.  His  charac- 
teristic and  humorous  letter,  granting  a  somewhat 
reluctant  permission,   is  given  in  his   Life.^ 

The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  was  consecrated  by 
Archbishop  Tait  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  on  St. 
Mark's  Day,  April  25th,  1877.  This  festival  has,  in 
later  days,  gained  for  English  Churchmen  a  fresh 
significance  as  the  birthday  of  John  Keble  and  the 
foundation  day  of  the  great  college  at  Oxford  that 
commemorates  his  name  and  holy  life.  For  Cornish 
Churchmen  it  will  long  possess  a  special  and  sacred 
interest.  For  on  this  day  Cornwall  once  more  re- 
gained its  ecclesiastical  Individuality,  when  the  first 
of  a  new  line  of  Cornish  Bishops  was  consecrated  to 
his  office.  Six  years  later,  this  interest  was  renewed 
afresh,  when,  on  the  same  festival,  the  second  Bishop 
of  Truro  was  sent  forth  to  fill  the  throne,  left  vacant 
by  the  elevation  of  the  first  to  the  Primacy  of  All 
England.  Dr.  Benson  was  presented  by  two  Bishops 
specially  connected  with  himself  and  his  work,  Bishop 
Wordsworth  of  Lincoln  and  Bishop  Temple  of 
Exeter.  That  the  former  should  have  undertaken 
this  office  w^as  the  natural  sequence  of  their  fellowship 
in  Church  work  at  Lincoln  :  and  It  was  very  fitting 
that  the  latter  should  do  the  same,  as  the  Bishop  of 
the  undivided  Western  See  and  as  his  old  Rugby 
friend.  That  the  two  should  thus  act  together  was 
a  happy  circumstance  and  symbol  of  unity,  when  it 
is  remembered  that,  eight  years  before,  Dr.  Words- 

'  P-  434- 


THE   FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  53 

worth  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  oppose  the  appoint- 
ment of  Dr.  Temple  to  the  See  of  Exeter.  Canon 
Lightfoot,  his  schoolfellow  and  lifelong  friend,  preached 
the  sermon,  remarkable  for  its  eloquence,  "in  a  voice 
broken  with  emotion."  After  the  consecration  Dean 
Church  sent  the  new  Bishop  on  his  way  with  sanguine 
words  of  happy  augury  : — 

"  I  hope  you  may  be  permitted  to  add  in  Cornwall  another 
to  the  many  victories,  which  the  revived  English  Church  has 
achieved,  and  which,  in  spite  of  disasters,  and  many  troubles, 
make  it  the  most  glorious  Church  in  Chcistendom."^ 

The  Bishop's  enthronement  at  Truro,  on  the  festival 
of  St.  Philip  and  St.  James,  May  ist,was  the  occasion 
of  tJ-reat  rejoicing.  Finis  coronal  opns  was  felt  to  be 
the  true  expression  of  many  a  Cornish  Churchman's 
joy  at  the  fulfilment  of  long-deferred  hopes.  The 
authorities  of  the  county  and  the  city,  the  Lord 
Lieutenant  (the  Earl  of  Mount  Edgcumbe),  the  High 
Sheriff  (Mr.  Jonathan  Rashleigh),  the  ]Mayor  of  Truro 
(Mr.  J.  G.  Chilcott),  and  a  great  company  of  leading 
laymen,  united  with  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  in 
CTivine  a  true  Cornish  welcome  to  their  new  Bishop, 
introduced  by  their  tried  and  well-beloved  friend  and 
pastor,  the  Bishop  of  Exeter.  The  service  of  enthrone- 
ment in  St.  Mary's  Church  was  dignified  and  stately. 
The  new  Bishop  was  received  by  the  Rector,  the 
Rev.  C.  Fox  Harvey,  the  churchwardens,  and  other 
officials.     The  Bishop  of  Exeter  enthroned  him,  and 

1  Dean  Church's  Life  and  Letters,  p.  257. 


54  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

then  he  celebrated  the  Holy  Eucharist  and  preached 
his  first  sermon  from  the  text,  St.  John  xvii.  21, 
"That  thev  all  may  be  one."  It  was  a  strikino- 
setting-  forth  of  the  power  of  Christian  unity,  and  an 
affectionate  call  to  Cornish  Christians  to  consider  the 
disastrous  results  of  religious  separation,  and  to  work 
and  pray  for  a  restoration  of  the  unity  that  had  been 
lost.  He  summed  up  the  plan  of  his  work  as 
follows :  "  Perfect  Life,  positive  Teaching,  fearless 
Labour.  These  three  words  sketch  the  chart  of  our 
spiritual  campaign.  The  weapons  God  Himself  pro- 
vides—  daily  grace  and  growing  knowledge."  At 
Evensong  the  preacher  was  Archdeacon  Earle,  of 
Totnes,^  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Bishopric  Committee, 
who  commended  the  Bishop  and  his  great  work  to 
the  Church  in  Cornwall,  and  to  the  affectionate  and 
willing  obedience  and  co-operation  of  those  who  were 
now  his  flock. 

And  so,  if  in  one  sense  a  great  work  had  been 
accomplished  by  generous  sacrifice  and  hopeful  per- 
sistence, yet,  in  another,  a  great  and  serious  responsi- 
bility was  laid  upon  him  who  had  been  given  to 
Cornwall  as  its  chief  pastor,  to  gather  together  in 
disciplined  order,  and  lead  onward,  the  forces  of  the 
Church  in  faith  and  patience,  towards  a  victorious 
triumph  of  truth  over  error,  and  holiness  over  sin. 

^  Afterwards  Bishop  Suffragan  of  Marlborough  and  Dean  of  Exeter  : 
his  efforts,  at  a  peculiar  crisis,  were  of  invaluable  service  in  securing 
funds  for  the  See  of  Truro. 


THE   FIRST  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  55 


NOTE   ON    THE  ARMS    OF   THE    lilSHOPRIC    OF  TRURO. 

The  Arms  of  the  See  of  Truro  involved  Dr.  Benson,  immediately 
upon  the  publication  of  his  nomination,  in  a  long  and  intricate 
correspondence.  Through  the  Earl  of  Devon,  Mr.  Stephen  'J'ucker, 
who  was  at  the  time  Rouge-Croix  Pursuivant  of  the  College  of  Arms, 
expressed  a  desire  "  to  design  and  pass  the  Patent  for  the  Arms  of 
the  new  Cornish  Fiishopric."  At  St.  Germans,  on  a  carved  oak 
fragment  of  a  thirteenth-century  bench-end,  there  is  a  shield  charged 
with  key  and  sword  in  saltire  with  wards  and  hilt  upward,  which  was 
supposed  to  be  the  Arms  of  the  old  Cornish  Bishopric,  but,  as 
Rouge  Croix  truly  observed,  "  Whether  the  seat  of  that  See  was  at 
Bodmin  or  St.  Germans,  1  think  we  may  safely  assume  that  it  was 
extinct  before  the  time  when  any  heraldic  cognisance  could  have 
been  associated  with  it."  The  ^dXXxco.  gules  on  a  field  argetit  was  even- 
tually adopted  to  signify,  as  it  is  St.  Patrick's  Cross,  the  Early  Irish, 
or  more  correctly  Scotic  Christianity,  which  gave  rise  to  the  Cornish 
Episcopate,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  have  occurred  either  to  the 
Heralds'  College,  or  anyone  else,  at  the  time,  that  the  key  and 
sword  also  most  fitly  introduced  into  the  Truro  Arms  are  far  more 
likely  to  have  had  some  connexion  with  the  Arms  of  Exeter^ 
than  to  have  been  even  a  medieval  sign  of  the  old  Cornish 
Bishopric.  Into  all  the  details  of  the  Arms,  Dr.  Benson  entered 
with  the  utmost  minuteness,  but  certain  suggestions  appear  to  have 
caused  quite  a  disturbance  in  the  corporation  of  the  Heralds' 
College.  Prebendary  J.  F.  Wickenden  put  all  his  accurate  know- 
ledge into  the  discussion ;  Professor  Westcott,  in  a  singularly 
interesting  and  characteristic  letter,  offered  his  suggestions.  Garter 
King-at-Arms  took  alarm  at  any  representation  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary — the  dedication  of  the  Cathedral  Church— finding 
a  place  in  the  coat,  so  apprehensive  was  he  of  any  Romanising 
tendencies,  while  a  long  discussion  ensued  on  the  impaling  of  the 
Benson  family  Arms  {argent,  a  quatrefoil  between  two  trefoils  slipt 
•  sable,  between  four  bendlets  gtdes).  Prebendary  Wickenden  desired 
a  simpler  coat,  and  illustrated  his  arguments  by  an  amusing  descrip- 
tion of  the  Arms  of  the  Bishopric  of  Worcester  (as  they  might  have 

'  The  position  of  the  key  and  sword  is  peculiar,  and  not  unlike  the 
coat  of  the  Priory  of  Plympton,  of  which  it  »iay  be  an  inaccurate 
representation.     That  great  priory  was  near  St.  Germans. 


56  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

been)  in  "  the  historico- Victorian  style,"  in  contrast  with  the  Arms 
of  that  See  "as  they  are  happily."  However,  at  last,  after  a 
correspondence  of  more  than  three  months'  duration,  the  coat  was 
completed,  and  the  following  description  from  the  pen  of  Bishop 
Benson  will  be  read  with  interest : — 

"The  following  bearings  have  been  assigned  by  the  College  of 
Heralds  under  the  warrant  of  the  hereditary  Earl  Marshal  to  the 
Bishopric  of  Truro.  ^Argent  on  a  saltire  gules,  a  key  ward  upwards 
and  a  sword  hilt  upwards  salterwise  or,  in  base  a  fieur-de-lys  sable} 
The  whole  within  the  bordure  of  Cornwall,  viz.  sable,  fifteen 
bezants.'  Such  regard  as  was  possible  has  been  had  to  the  high 
antiquity  of  the  Cornish  See.  From  primitive  centuries  British 
Bishops  ruled  in  Cornwall.  .  .  .  The  saltire  gules  is  the  earliest 
heraldic  symbol  of  the  Celtic  Church,  and  as  such  is  borne  on  the 
cross  of  Saint  Patrick.  The  bordure  sable  with  its  fifteen  bezants 
is  the  oldest  form  of  the  famous  cognisance  of  Cornwall,  and  was 
thus  borne  by  the  King  of  the  Romans  in  the  thirteenth  century. 
More  recently  the  Princes  of  Wales  have  borne  the  bezants  on 
a  sable  shield.  The  cross,  sword,  and  key  are  from  a  unique  shield 
in  the  church  of  St.  Germans,  traditionally  indicating  the  seat  of 
the  Bishops  there,  in  a  fashion  not  unusual  after  the  general  adop- 
tion of  heraldic  devices.  The  fleur-de-lys,  as  a  difference,  symbol- 
ises the  transference  of  the  Cathedral  to  St.  Mary's,  at  Truro.  It 
has  a  corresponding  reference  in  the  Arms  of  the  City  of  Lincoln." 

The  Bishop  afterwards  summarised  the  correspondence  in  an 
amusing  dramatic  sketch  entitled,  "  How  they  made  him  a  coat 
of  many  colours,"  in  which  the  many  distinguished  personages 
involved  in  the  controversy  all  figure,  and  the  variety  of  opinions 
expressed  are  skilfully  hit  off. 

With  equal  care  the  design  of  the  Episcopal  See  was  elaborated 
in  correspondence  with  Messrs.  J.  S.  and  A.  B.  Wyon  and  Preb- 
endary Wickenden,  and  within  a  few  months  of  the  Bishop's  arrival 
in  Truro,  when  in  September,  1877,  by  Letters  Patent,  the  town 
was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  city,  the  Mayor  turned  to  him  for 
counsel  as  to  a  motto  for  the  City  Arms.  A  draft  of  his  reply, 
written,  corrected,  and  re-written  with  his  usual  care  remains. 

1  The  Rev.  W.  Jago,  f.s.a.,  of  Bodmin,  has  explained  that  the  lily  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  is  depicted  sable,  because  the  field  of  the  shield 
of  Cornwall  was  of  that  tincture,  and  the  lily  had  to  be  placed  on  the 
argent  ground  of  the  entire  composition. 


THE  FIRST  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  57 

"I  thought,"  he  wrote,  "we  ought  to  have  in  our  motto  an 
allusion  (i)  to  the  elevation  of  the  town  into  the  city;  (2)  to  the 
religious  feeling  with  which  we  regard  the  city  and  its  duty  (most 
old  mottoes  have  a  touch  of  ancient  piety  in  them);  (3)  if  possible, 
a  verbal  allusion.  It  is  quite  the  character  of  our  older  mottoes. 
I  venture,  therefore,  to  submit  to  your  consideration,  before  it  goes 
to  your  committee,  words  from  i  Samuel  ii.  i,  Exaltatum  Cornu 
in  Deo— Hannah's  Song,  'Mine  horn  is  exalted  in  the  Lord.'  The 
Cornu  giving  an  allusion  to  Cornubia,  and  is  by  some  people 
thought  to  be  the  origin  of  the  word  (in  some  Celtic  co-relative) 
Horn  being  used  for  a  cape  or  promontory.  Perhaps,  too,  it  is 
graceful  for  Truro  to  wish  to  share  her  honour  with  all  Cornwall,  as 
if  she  felt  that  all  Cornwall  would  rejoice  with  her."  ^ 

'  This  note  has  been  supplied  by  Chancellor  Worlledge. 


CHAPTER    IV 

LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS 

AS  has  already  been  stated,  there  was  no  episcopal 
L  palace  provided  in  the  city  of  Truro,  and  the 
residence  of  the  Bishop  was  fixed  at  Kenwyn  Vicarage, 
surrounded  by  ample  grounds  about  a  mile  out  of 
Truro,  with  a  very  agreeable  aspect,  and  conveniently 
situated.  During  one  of  his  visits  to  Cornwall,  John 
Wesley  was  a  guest  at  Kenwyn  Vicarage,  and  de- 
scribed it  in  his  Journal  as  "fit  for  a  nobleman."^  This, 
though  perhaps  not  untrue  of  the  environment  and 
the  grounds,  is,  as  regards  the  house,  an  exaggerated 
and  misleading  description  ;  for,  before  it  could  be 
made  suitable  for  an  episcopal  residence,  a  fund  had 
to  be  raised  out  of  which  a  library  and  some  additional 
rooms  and  offices  were  built.  But  even  now,  the 
house  is  inadequate  for  its  purpose  ;  there  is  no  real 
chapel,  and  quite  insufficient  accommodation  for  re- 
ceiving candidates  for  Holy  Orders  and  other  guests. 
But  the  place  has  many  charms,  and  the  Bishop  and 
his  family  spent  many  happy  days  there.     The  view 

1  "Sept.  1787,  Mon.  loth.  I  went  to  Mr.  Mill's,  the  Rector  of 
Kenwyn,  half  a  mile  from  Truro  ;  a  house  fit  for  a  nobleman  ;  and  the 
most  beautifully  situated  of  any  I  have  seen  in  the  zo\xn\:jr— Wesley's 
Journal^  edition  1864,  vol.  iv.  p.  382. 

58 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  59 

of  the  Truro  river,  the  pleasant  walks  and  rides,  and 
above  all  the  quiet  and  peaceful  services  "  in  the 
dimly  lighted  silent  church,"  had  qreat  attractions. 
Dr.  Benson  called  the  house  "  Lis  Escop,"  the  old 
Cornish  equivalent  for  "  Bishop's  Court."  The  name 
has  been  reproduced  in  a  far-off  Queensland  diocese, 
just  as  the  Cathedral  of  Truro,  its  services  and  its 
statutes,  have  served  as  models  to  more  than  one 
colonial  bishopric  at  the  Antipodes. 

The  Bishop  and  his  family  entered  warmly  into  the 
work  of  the  parish  where  they  lived  ;  he,  Mrs.  Benson, 
and  their  children  worshipped  at  Kenwyn  Church 
more  often  than  at  Truro,  where  his  Cathedral  was, 
though  he  himself,  when  not  encjacjed  elsewhere  in 
the  diocese,  was  generally  present  at  St.  Mary's 
Church  in  the  city  once  on  a  Sunday.  He  has 
recorded  that  he  had  preached,  on  each  Friday  in 
the  Advent  of  1878,  a  course  of  sermons  "on  pre- 
paration for  the  Christmas  Communion."  His  sub- 
jects were,  "The  way  and  the  tree  of  life";  "The 
pure  offering";  "The  One  Altar  [Hebrews]  of  the 
Cross";  and  adds,  "I  had  some  of  Wesley's  Sacra- 
mental  Hymns  printed  to  be  sung."^ 

A  year  or  two  later  he  gave  a  well-remembered 
series  of  addresses  on  his  favourite  St.  Cyprian. 

But  he  felt  the  somewhat  anomalous  position  of  a 
Bishop  in  relation  to  a  cathedral,  which  was  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  still  a  peirochial  church.  The 
difficulties  of  the  situation  are,   to  some  extent,   ex- 

'  Diary. 


6o  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

pressed  in  a  letter  addressed  by  Bishop  Benson  to 
the  Cathedral  Establishment  Commissioners,^  where 
he  makes  certain  sua-aestions  for  the  reconciliation 
to  be  effected  between  the  conflicting  interests  of 
cathedral  and  parish,  which  eventually  formed,  through 
the  report  of  the  Commissioners  (1883),  the  basis  for 
the  Act  of  Parliament^  which  established  the  present 
condition  of  things  at  Truro.  It  cannot  be  denied  that, 
in  those  early  days,  and  indeed  for  some  time  after- 
wards, the  situation  was  a  very  perplexing  one.  On 
the  one  hand,  the  Bishop  and  the  Canons  were  eager 
to  evolve  and  develop  the  capitular  system,  and  make 
the  cathedral  a  real  and  vioorous  diocesan  centre.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  parochial  authorities  felt  it  in- 
cumbent on  them  to  protect  the  individuality  and 
rights  of  an  ancient  parish,  with  interesting  character- 
istics, and  long-standing  traditions.  These  circum- 
stances, however,  perhaps  only  acted  as  an  additional 
stimulus  to  that  ardent  desire  of  Bishop  Benson  to 
found  a  true  cathedral,  which  happily  he  was  able  to 
accomplish  with  so  much  success,  with  so  little 
opposition,  and  within  so  comparatively  short  a 
time. 

Dr.  Benson  was  particularly  fortunate  in  the  friends 
and  companions  who  came  with  him  into  Cornwall  ; 
or  perhaps  it  would  be  more  just  to  say,  that  he 
possessed,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the  gift,  so  neces- 

^  "  Her  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  inquiring  into  the  condition  of 
Cathedral  Churches  in  England  and  Wales,"  appointed  1S79. 

^  Truro  Bishopric  and  Chapter  Acts  Amendment  Act,  1887  (50  and 
51  Vict.  ch.  12). 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  6i 

sary  to  a  ruler  and  a  statesman,  of  choosing  able  and 
cong-enial  fellow-workers.  Arthur  J.  Mason,  Fellow 
of  Trinity,  Cambridge,  served  him  as  a  son  with  a 
father,  and,  like  G.  H.  Whitaker,  Fellow  of  St.  John's, 
had  been  an  assistant  master  at  Wellington  under 
him.  John  Andrewes  Reeve,  afterwards  successively 
Vicar  of  St.  Just  and  Addington  and  Rector  of 
Lambeth,  became  his  intimate  friend  and  close  neiorh- 
bour  as  Curate  of  Kenwyn.  Later,  George  Howard 
Wilkinson,  Vicar  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square,  was 
appointed  one  of  his  Examining  Chaplains,  and 
eventually  became  his  successor  as  second  Bishop  of 
Truro.  How  great  was  the  value  to  the  new  Bishop 
of  these  able  and  earnest  men,  may  be  gathered  from 
one  of  his  early  letters  from  Kenwyn.  "  What  brave 
helpers  He  bestows  upon  us,  as  it  were  direct  from 
heaven !  Mason  to  spread  the  fire,  Whitaker  to 
broaden  knowledge,  Wilkinson  to  deepen  and  deepen 
us  all  without  stopping."  ^ 

How  much  spiritual  power  he  recognised  in  him 
who  became  his  immediate  successor  may  be  learned 
from  the  following  extract  from  a  letter : — 

"The  candidates  for  Orders  are  here  now,  and  Mr.  Wilkin- 
son, of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square,  is  staying  with  us,  and  is, 
oh !  such  a  holy  man  of  God.  He  made  us  all  not  merely 
have,  but  keep  tears  in  our  eyes.  Not  by  anything  particular, 
but  by  simply  making  us  feci  the  truth  and  greatness  of  the 
work  to  be  done  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  poor  creatures  we 
are,  in  working  out  the  Kingdom  of  God,  though  God  Him- 
self gives  us  such  storehouses  of  power  if  we  will  only  draw 

'  Life,  abridged  edition,  p.  184. 


62  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

from  them.  '  Nothing  impossible  waits  you,'  he  said.  And 
he  brought  out  wonderfully  the  power  of  one  single  soul  for 
good  on  the  society  about  it,  if  it's  really  in  simple  earnest, 
and  sees  things  as  they  cd-c.  He  made  the  next  world  seem 
(as  it  is)  all  ready  to  burst  in  on  this,  and  the  separation  so 
.slight." 

But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  new  Bishop 
was  compelled  to  import  able  and  enthusiastic  workers, 
because  there  were  no  men  among  the  existing  Cornish 
clergy  who  were  worthy  of  being  called  to  his  coun- 
sels, or  of  becoming  fellow-helpers  with  him  in  his 
great  work  of  organising  the  newly  created  diocese. 
There  had  been,  as  Bishop  Benson  always  recognised 
and  repeatedly  said  to  Dr.  Mason,  for  many  years 
excellent  Priests,  appointed  to  their  benefices  either 
by  private  patrons  like  the  Rev.  W,  P.  Chappel, 
Rector  of  Camborne  (who  for  more  than  forty  years 
did  an  excellent  work  in  a  very  difficult  parish),  or 
the  Rev.  R.  F.  Wise,  Rector  of  Ladock,  or  the  Rev. 
R.  H.  K.  Buck,  Rector  of  St.  Dominic  ;  or  appointed 
by  colleges,  like  the  Rev.  Paul  Bush,  successor  to 
Dean  Scott  (Master  of  Balliol  and  Dean  of  Rochester). 
There  were  earnest  workers  like  Saltren  Rogers,  the 
amiable  cultured  Vicar  of  Gwennap ;  the  Rev.  G. 
Martin,  d.d.,  of  St.  Breward  ;  the  Rev.  R.  Martin,  of 
Menheniot ;  the  Rev.  A.  Mills,  at  St.  Erth  ;  the  Rev. 
J.  Balmer  Jones,  at  St.  Ives  ;  the  Rev.  F.  Hockin, 
Rector  of  Phillack  with  Gwithian  for  nearly  half  a 
century,  a  man  of  learning,  generous  in  gifts  to  the 
Church  and  the  poor,  an  excellent  Parish  Priest, 
Proctor  in  Convocation,  and  Dean  Rural  of  Penwith, 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  63 

afterwards  Canon  of  Truro,  author  of  many  useful 
pamphlets  and  books  ;  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Sowell,  at  St. 
Goran  ;  the  Rev.  T.  Lockyer  Williams,  at  Porthleven  ; 
to  name  only  a  few,  who  held  up  a  hi^h  standard  of 
clerical  life  and  work  with  excellent  results.  The 
new-comers  brought  fresh  zeal  and  fervour,  which 
quickened  these  older  labourers,  and  cheered  them 
in  their  difficult  work.^ 

There  were  three  principal  spheres  in  which  the 
new  Bishop  planned  his  schemes  of  actixity.  (i) 
Education,  and  specially  the  training  of  the  clergy. 
(2)  Awakening  of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  people  in 
Church-like  fashion,  through  parochial  missions  and 
kindred  agencies.  (3)  Organisation  of  the  diocese,  by 
the  unifying  and  inspiring  influences  of  a  cathedral. 

Without  attempting  to  follow  out  a  stricdy  chrono- 
logical history  of  the  way  in  which  each  of  these  parts 
of  the  new  Bishop's  great  plan  of  a  spiritual  campaign 
was  organised,  set  on  foot,  and  carried  out,  some  slight 
sketch  of  each  will  now  be  laid  before  the  reader. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  arrival  in  Truro,  that  the 
first  steps  were  taken  to  form  the  Theological  College, 

^  Among  the  clergy  of  Cornwall  who  have  been  distinguished  for 
scholarly  and  literary  work  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  should 
be  mentioned,  besides  Dr.  Mason  and  Canon  Whitaker,  the  Rev.  A.  J. 
Worlledge,  Canon  and  Chancellor  of  Truro  Cathedral,  author  of  Prayer 
in  the  "  Oxford  Library  of  Practical  Theology"  ;  Canon  C.  E.  Hammond, 
Vicar  of  Menheniot,  author  of  Outlines  of  Textual  Criticism,  and 
Liturgies,  Eastern  atui  Western;  Canon  J.  Hanmiond,  \'icar  of  St. 
Austell,  author  of  Church  and  Chapel,  and  other  works  ;  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Eagar,  Vicar  of  Manaccan,  author  of  Butler's  Analogy  and  Modern 
Thought;  the  Rev.  G.  H.  S.  Walpole,  author  of  Daily  Teachings  of  the 
Christian  Year,  a  Commentary  on  Joshua,  and  other  valuable  works. 


64  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

or  Schohc  Canccllarii,  on  very  much  the  same  plan  as 
had  been  followed  at  Lincoln,  though  under  far  less 
favourable  conditions.  There  was  none  of  the  pres- 
tige of  an  old  cathedral  city,  no  endowments  for  a 
Chancellor  or  Tutor,  no  building  of  a  suitable  character 
in  the  city.  But  Dr.  Benson  was  not  deterred  by 
any  difficulties,  nor  discouraged  by  any  lack  of  re- 
sources. Canon  Mason  was  selected  to  begin  the 
work  of  instruction.  Of  him  one  of  the  earliest 
students  thus  writes  : — 

"  I  remember  the  impression  produced  by  Canon  Mason 
on  me  when  I  first  saw  him  in  the  Hbrary  of  the  Hostel,  and 
the  way  in  which  he  pointed  out  the  need  of  whole-hearted 
consecration  to  the  service  of  the  Church.  In  a  letter  written 
to  me  at  Christmas  1877,  I  remember  his  defining  personal 
faith  as  '  the  sober,  serious,  responsible  way  of  regarding 
unseen  things,  which  the  Bible  calls  faith.'  This  definition 
has  never  been  forgotten  by  me.  ...  His  sermons  were  '  town 
talk,'  especially  a  course  on  the  Holy  Catholic  Apostolic 
Church.  ...  I  do  not  suppose  that  there  ever  was  in  Truro, 
so  outspoken  an  advocate  for  the  distinctive  doctrine  and 
practice  of  the  English  Church,  as  Canon  Mason  in  those 
early  days.  He  did  not  scruple  to  speak  openly  and  plainly 
of  the  differences  between  Church  and  Dissent,  yet  I  doubt  if 
any  man  has  ever  been  so  respected,  and  even  beloved,  by 
Nonconformists,  ministers  as  well  as  people."^ 

Another  early  student  states  that,  in  those  days, 
"  some   of  the  men   thouo-ht   it   the  correct   thinor   to 

o  o 

copy  Mason  in  everything — the  tone  of  his  voice,  his 
walk,   and    even   made   vain   attempts    to   wear   their 

'  From  a  letter  sent  by  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Newman,  Vicar  of  St.  George's, 
Truro. 


LAYING    THE  FOUNDATIONS  65 

hair  in  the  same  way."  The  Sc'.me  correspondent 
writes  that,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  after  the 
opening'  of  the  College,  "  Mason  told  me  that  they 
had  secured  the  best  Chancellor  in  England  for 
Truro,  and  when  Whitaker  came  he  at  once  won  all 
our  hearts."^  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  J.  Isabell, 
formerly  Rector  of  St.  Sennen,  for  the  following 
interesting-  reminiscences  of  the  early  days  of  the 
Scholcc  Cancellarii : — 

"  I  saw  Dr.  Benson  in  the  room  behind  the  S.P.C.K.  depot 
in  the  summer  of  1877,  and  was,  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
admitted  then  and  there  as  the  first  member  of  the  projected 
ScholiV  Cancellarii.  The  Scholce  was  actually  inaugurated  in 
October  of  that  year,  by  a  celebration  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion in  the  old  St.  Mary's  Church,  followed  by  a  solemn 
address  by  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Mason.  The  service  was  held  at 
7.30  a.m.  on  a  very  dark  morning.  The  church  was  dimly 
lighted,  and  I  believe  the  congregation  consisted  only  of  the 
above-named,  together  with  Mrs.  Benney  and  Jackson  the 
Verger.  The  somewhat  weird  scene  has  left  an  indelible 
impression  on  my  memory. 

"  Lectures  were  given,  during  the  first  term,  in  a  little 
back  room  of  the  Hostel  (10,  Strangways  Terrace),  by 
Mason  and  Walpole  ;  the  first-named  taking  as  his  subjects 
the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  the  .Apostles'  Creed,  and  Earl}' 
Church  Histon,-,  and  the  second  dealing  with  the  Psalms. 
The  gospel  was  treated  with  microscopic  minuteness,  the 
whole  of  the  first  term  being  taken  up  with  the  first  two  or 
three  chapters. 

"  After  Christmas  Whitaker  came,  and  Mason  ceased  to 
take  part  in  the  training  of  the  students.  Under  Whitaker's 
rule  students  came  rapidly ;  and  at  the  beginning,  I  think,  of 
the  third  term,  there  were  about  twenty  in  residence. 

'  The  Rev.  J.  J.  Murley,  Vicar  of  St.  Day. 

F 


66  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

"At  the  beginning  of  1S78,  Canon  IMoor  of  St.  Clement's 
formed  a  small  class  for  Hebrew,  attended  by  Newman, 
Behenna,  and  Isabell. 

"  Weekly  sermons  on  prescribed  subjects  were  required 
from  the  beginning ;  the  first  text  given  by  Canon  Mason 
being  '  The  Gospel  of. the  Kingdom,' suggested  probably  by 
his  lectures  on  St.  Matthew's  Gospel.  Westcott's  Introduc- 
tion to  the  Study  of  the  Gospels  was  used  at  an  early  date, 
but  was  afterwards  abandoned  as  being  too  stiff  for  the 
average  man. 

"  Whitaker's  early  subjects  included  St.  Cyprian's  De 
Oratione  Doinmica,  a  very  able  summary  of  Hardwick's 
History  of  t]ie  Thirty-nine  Articles,  ■a.wA  lectures  on  the  Gospel 
of  St.  Matthew  in  a  less  concentrated  form. 

"  Beyond  having  the  students  to  dine  with  him  once  or 
twice,  the  Bishop  rarely  came  into  contact  with  them,  though 
he  was  kept  well  informed  of  their  doings.  I  do  not 
remember  seeing  him  in  the  lecture-room  more  than  once 
or  twice. 

"The  first  four  men  to  complete  the  full  two  years' 
training  were  Behenna,  Isabell,  Lock,  and  Newman.  They 
took  '  the  Preliminary  Examination  for  Holy  Orders '  in 
October,  1879,  and  all  passed,  two  obtaining  firsts. 

"Just  after  the  death  of  Martin  White  Benson,^  Bishop 
Wordsworth  gave  Bishop  Benson  his  Conunentary  on  the 
New  Testament  for  one  of  his  students,  in  memory  of  the 
lad,  and  Dr.  Benson  offered  it  to  the  man  of  the  Scholce 
Canccllarii  who  should  pass  the  best  examination  in  Priest's 
Orders.  The  book  is  now  in  the  possession  of  John  Isabell, 
and  bears  the  inscription,  '  Li  menioriani  Martini  White 
Benson,  tov  fxaKaplrov,'  together  with  the  signatures  of  both 
Bishops. 

"  Parish  work  was  undertaken  by  the  students,  almost 
from  the  first,  together  with  services  and-  addresses  at 
St.  Mary's  Mission  Chapel.  Whitaker  extended  this  work 
to  Kenwyn,  St.  Clement's,  St.  John's,  etc.,  himself  preaching 
the  first  sermon  in  the  Fairmantle  Street  Schoolroom." 

'  See  chapter  ix.  pp.  172  seq. 


LAYING   THE   FOUNDATIONS  67 

The  writer  of  the  above  interesting  statement  was 
doubtless  accurate  in  his  remarks  on  the  infrequent 
presence  of  Bishop  Benson  at  the  lectures,  or  indeed 
at  the  whole  daily  routine  of  the  ScJiolcs  Cancellarii. 
But  it  must  not  be  inferred  that  his  Interest  in  its 
work  was  slight,  or  his  knowledge  of  its  progress 
superficial.  Me  felt  that  he  was  able  thoroughly  to  trust 
those  to  whom  he  had  committed  its  discipline  and 
teaching  ;  and,  like  a  wise  ruler,  he  knew  that  it  was 
his  place  to  watch  over  it  and  pray  over  it,  unseen 
and  unheard  as  far  as  possible.  But,  from  time  to 
time,  he  showed  himself  keenly,  and  even  passion- 
ately, alive  to  the  merits  and  also  the  faults  and 
defects  of  the  students.  And  he  could  praise  and 
rebuke  with  his  well-known  justice  and  generosity 
when  occasion  required.  It  was  like  himself,  with  all 
his  large  grasp  of  great  principles  combined  with 
a  careful  attention  to  details,  to  devise  the  College 
hood  of  black  stuff  trimmed  with  grey  fur,  luid  keenly 
to  resent,  years  afterwards,  a  suggestion  to  alter  it  for 
some  ambiguous  type  with  a  coloured  edging. 

What  w^ere  Dr.  Benson's  own  feelings  towards  the 
Truro  Scholce  Cancellarii  may  be  gathered  from  the 
letter  of  farewell,  addressed  to  its  members  on  his 
departure  from  Cornwall. 

"Lambeth  Palace,  S.E., 

''July  20th,  1883. 
"  Mv  DEAR  Friends, 

Students  of  the  Chancellor's  School  at  Truro, 

"  I  have  just  received  and  worn  for  some  days  the 
noble   engraved    sapphire  signet,   which  you   have,  with  so 


68  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

much  love,  given  me.  It  is  my  wedding  ring  to  my  new 
See  ;  and  I  rejoice  to  think  that  you,  as  it  were,  constitute 
yourselves  to  be '  The  Bridegroom's  Friend,'  and  have  marked 
his  wedding  by  this  most  perfect  gift. 

.  "  I  cannot  attempt  to  describe  it,  except  by  saying  that  it 
incessantly  reminds  me  of  '  the  body  of  heaven  in  his  clear- 
ness,' like  the  sapphire  which  the  elders  saw ;  and  that  the 
engraving  of  it  is  exquisite  in  execution  and  design — but 
any  of  }'Ou  who  will  come  to  see  it  /;/  digito  anmilari  will  be 
indeed  welcome. 

"  I  feel  how  little  I  did,  or  could  do,  for  you  while  at 
Truro,  save  by  my  poor  prayers,  which  you  had  and  have 
frequently  still  ;  but  I  know  that  you  share  with  me  a 
devoted  love  for  the  Chancellor,  and  my  real  help  to  you 
is,  that  I  have  placed  you  in  contact  with  a  character  and 
gifts,  which  must  always  bind  together  those  who  have  lived 
and  worked  near  him. 

"  Once  more  thanking  you  most  affectionately,  and  feeling 
sure  that  you  will  always  do  what  I  have  most  at  heart,  viz, 
that  you  yourselves  should  keep  the  love  of  your  College, 
both  whilst  you  are  in  it,  and  by  personal  interest  in  it  when 
you  have  left  it,  pure  and  high  and  bright  with  all  the 
associations  which  it  is  in  your  power  to  invest  it  with,  and 
praying  that  every  one  of  you  may  in  His  time  prove  himself 
'an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament'  in  Christ  Jesus, 
"  I  remain, 

"  Your  devoted  friend, 

"EdW:   CanTUAR:" 

The  work  of  the  Scholcc  Canccllarii  continued  for 
many  years  with  considerable  though  varied  success. 
After  Bishop  Benson  succeeded  to  the  primacy,  Canon 
Whitaker  remained  at  its  head  for  a  year  or  two 
longer,  till  1885  ;  but  being  recalled  to  Cambridge  to 
take  up  duties  at  St.  John's  College,  of  which  he  was 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  69 

Fellow,  the  Rev.  J.  V .  Keating  (now  Pantonian  Pro- 
fessor of  Theology,  and  Chancellor  of  St.  Mary's 
Cathedral,  Edinburgh)  acted  as  Principal  for  nearly 
two  years,  until  the  appointment  of  the  second 
Chancellor,  the  Rev.  A.  J.  W^orlledge,  formerly  Canon 
of  Lincoln  and  Tutor  at  the  Lincoln  Scholcc  Cancel- 
larii,  and  afterwards  Principal  of  the  Clergy  School 
at  Leeds. 

The  Theological  School  at  Truro  has  had  some 
able  tutors:  the  Rev.  G.  H.  S.  Walpole,  first  Suc- 
centor  of  Truro  Cathedral,  and  at  present  Principal 
of  St.  Bede's  Training  College,  Durham  ;  the  Rev. 
H.  O.  F.  Whittingstall,  first  Vice-Chancellor  of  Truro 
Cathedral,  afterwards  Vicar  of  Great  Marlow  and 
now  Rector  of  Chalfont  St.  Giles  ;  the  Rev.  C.  H. 
Robinson,  now  Honorary  Canon  of  Ripon  and 
Editorial  Secretary  of  the  S.P.G. ;  and  the  Rev.  H.  R. 
Jennings,  at  present  Vicar  of  Millbrook,  Cornwall. 

In  spite  of  several  earnest  efforts  to  revive  interest 
in  the  College  at  the  Universities,  and  other  places, 
by  the  third  Bishop  of  Cornwall,  the  Archdeacon  of 
Cornwall,  and  others,  various  causes  combined  to 
brincr  the  work  of  the  ScJioUc  Cancellarii  of  Truro 
to  a  conclusion  in  1900.  The  growing  sense  of  the 
importance  of  a  stricter  entrance  examination,  as  well 
as  the  increasing  desire  for  a  previous  university 
training,  have  seriously  diminished  the  number  of 
persons  entering  the  smaller  non-graduate  colleges. 
Moreover,  the  alarming  decrease  of  young  men  pre- 
sentino-    themselves    as    candidates    for    Holv   Orders 


70  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

everywhere  has  made  itself  felt  in  the  case  of  colles^es 
such  as  that  of  Truro,  more  than  anywhere  else.  It 
is  also  very  probable  that  the  remoteness  of  the 
Cornish  diocese,  its  distance  from  all  the  great  centres 
of  intellectual  culture,  the  absence  of  any  large 
parishes  in  Cornwall,  with  teeming  populations,  where 
young  curates  can  have  wide  and  varied  experience 
and  manifold  training,  are  potent  factors  in  the  dying 
down  of  the  earlier  enthusiasm  that  marked  its  first 
beginnings.  Nevertheless,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
newly  formed  diocese,  and  indeed  through  the  whole 
period  of  its  existence,  the  College  supplied  a  real 
want,  and  many  excellent  clergymen  have  received 
their  training  there.  From  1878  to  1900  about  145 
clergymen,  mostly  non-graduates,  but  some  graduates, 
were  trained  for  their  future  work  at  Truro. ^ 

Dr.  Benson  was  not  only  anxious  about  the  train- 
ing of  the  younger  clergy,  but,  as  was  natural  from 
his  own  experience  and  work  at  Rugby  and  Welling- 
ton, very  desirious  of  raising  the  whole  standard  of 
education  so  far  as  his  influence  extended.  In  Truro, 
with  the  co-operation  of  Mrs.  Benson,  Miss  Bramston, 
Miss  Hedley,  to  whom  many  parents  and  children 
owe  a  debt  of  gratitude,  and  other  friends,  he 
laboured  hard  and  successfully  in  the  foundation 
of  an  excellent  High  School  for  girls,  which 
now    possesses    its    own    admirable    buildings,    and 

^  One  of  the  two  houses,  rented  as  a  hostel,  is  at  present  (1902) 
retained,  and  occasionally  candidates  for  Ordination  are  received  there 
for  private  instruction  by  the  Chancellor.  The  Library  and  Oratory  are 
preserved,  and  the  examinations  for  ordination  are  held  in  the  building. 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  71 

under  three  very  capable  Head  Mistresses  — Miss 
Key,  Miss  Arnold,  and  Miss  Morison— has  estab- 
lished itself  as  a  place  of  solid  teachin.c^  and  culture 
for  a  lap^e  number  of  the  girls  of  Truro  and  else- 
where. His  efforts  were  also  directed  towards  making 
the  ancient  foundation  of  Truro  Grammar  School, 
dating  from  1549,  as  good  and  efficient  a  secondary 
school  for  boys  as  the  High  School  has  proved  to  be 
for  girls.  He  was  ably  seconded  by  the  Head  Master, 
the  Rev.  Lewis  Evans,  and  a  scheme  was  drawn  up 
and  approved  by  the  Charity  Commissioners  for  the 
starting  of  a  school  of  the  foundation  in  its  own  build- 
inos,  with  the  existincr  endowments  of  the  scholarships 
created  by  the  Rev.  St.  John  Eliot,  formerly  Rector 
of  Truro  (1746-61)  attached  to  it.  As  yet  this 
scheme  (May,  1882)  has  not  been  completed,  but 
provision  has  been  made  for  the  continuation  of  the 
old  Grammar  School  at  Newham   House,  Truro. 

When  Dr.  Benson  left  Truro  he  sent  the  following 
letter  to  the  High  School  : — 

"Truro,  2W1  February,  1883. 
"My  dear  Headmistress,  Mistresses,  and  Scholars 
OF  Truro  Hioii  School, 

"The  last  letter  I  write  on  the  last  night  in  the  old 
home  shall  be  to  you,  for,  while  I  grieve  at  leaving  so  many 
friends,  I  feel  that  in  you  I  leave  a  dear  part  of  my  family 
behind  me— leave  you  with  the  prayer  that  each  may  work, 
and  live,  and  grow  up  in  favour  with  God  and  all  who  know 
you,  just  as    I   should   trust  and   pray  for  daughters  of  my 


own. 


"  I    shall   always   look  on   and   use  your  beautiful   seal — 


72  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

which  so  cleverly  combines  Cornwall  and  Canterbury — with 
great  delight ;  I  thank  you  for  it  affectionately  and  for  your 
most  touching  address,  and  for  all  the  navies,  so  familiar 
to  my  ear,  written  so  clearly  and  spotlessly  by  every  one  of 
your  own  hands. 

"  Your  progress  and  your  honours,  your  mutual  good  feel- 
ing, high  tone  and  earnestness  in  the  faith  and  fear  of  God, 
will  always  be  of  the  deepest  importance  to  me. 

"  And  I  look  fondly  forward  to  the  time  when,  under  the 
auspices  of  such  a  Head  Mistress  and  such  a  Council  as 
govern  you,  you  may  have  a  fine  building  of  your  own,  and 
a  history  full  of  honour.  May  every  one  ever  enjoy  gifts, 
graces,  and  blessings  from  our  Father,  and  those  especially 
which  He  makes  to  rest  on  a  diligent  and  faithful  house  and 
Society. 

"  Yours  ever  most  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

"EdW:  CantuaR:  (Elect)." 

The  following  ode,  written  by  Mr.  A.   C.   Benson, 

for  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of  the  foundation,  has 

been   adopted    as    the   school    song    for   Truro    High 

School  : — 

LUCE   MAGISTRA 

(the  school  motto) 
I 
Amid  green  vales  the  city  lies, — 

Grey  roof  and  climbing  street; — 
The  golden  sea,  'neath  sunset  skies, 
Steals  up  to  kiss  her  feet. 

All  day,  when  landward  airs  blow  soft, 

Or  wrap  the  world  in  wet. 
The  huge  train  thunders,  borne  aloft 

The  airy  parapet. 

And  from  her  high  vault  echoing  down, 

With  hymn  and  chiming  bell. 
The  great  Church  guards  the  clustering  town, 

A  sacred  citadel. 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  73 

II 

And  he,  who  sowed  the  gracious  seed 

That  flowers  around,  above, 
The  fruit  of  whose  unfaltering  Creed, 

Was  Labour,  knit  with  Love, — 

He  knew  that  to  the  heart  of  Youth 

Divinest  dreams  are  given, 
That  through  pure  Knowledge,  purest  Truth, 

The  soul  must  climb  to  Heaven  ; 

He  might  not  see  the  sacred  sign 

Surmount  that  vision  fair, 
Borne  to  his  Rest,  within  the  shrine, 

Soft  on  the  tide  of  prayer. 


All  dreams  of  good,  all  hopes  of  Grace, 

All  tender  service  sweet. 
Shall  bloom  within  this  quiet  place, 

Where  Love  and  Labour  meet. 

Far  hence,  as  from  a  secret  spring. 

Whose  welling  waters  rise, 
The  tides  of  many  a  holy  thing. 

Shall  stream  'neath  Western  skies. 

Through  hearth  and  home  the  stream  shall  roll. 

And,  on  its  gentle  breast. 
Shall  bear  the  onward-speeding  soul. 

Through  Light  and  Love,  to  rest. 

The  Bishop  was  also  greatly  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Diocesan  Training  College  for  Mistresses,  and 
a  passage  in  an  address,  delivered  at  the  first  anniver- 
sary after  he  became  Bishop,  was  long  remembered. 
Speaking  of  the  trials  and  disappointments  of  teachers, 
he  said  : — 

"  It  is  told  of  a  great  Frenchman  (St.  Cyr)  that  a  teacher 
went  to  him,  almost  broken-hearted  because  he  was  having 


74  THE   BISHOrRIC   OF  TRURO 

such  ill  success  with  those  to  whom  he  was  laboriously  de- 
voting his  best  energies  in  tr}nng  to  teach  them.  '  I  am 
always  bringing  before  them  their  religious  duty  of  working 
better,  yet  I  fail.'  And  this  man  took  the  teacher's  hands 
tenderly  between  his  own,  and  said,  '  It  is  possible  that  you 
talk  to  them  now  too  much  about  God.  Take  my  advice, 
talk  to  them  for  the  present  a  little  less  about  God,  but  talk 
to  God  a  great  deal  more  about  them.' " 

The    following    letter    was    written    by    him,    after 

leaving  Truro,  in  reply  to  a  farewell  communication 

sent    to    him    by    the    authorities    of    the    Training 

College  : — 

"Lambeth  Palace,  S.E. 

"  To  the  CoiiiDiittce  of  tJie  Truro  Diocesan  Training  College. 

"MVVERYDEAR  FRIENDS, —  It  is  a  little  difficult  to  thank 
you,  as  I  ought,  for  the  kindness  and  reality  of  your  farewell 
words  to  me. 

"  I  beg  you  to  receive,  and  also  to  convey  to  the  subscribers, 
at  whose  annual  meeting  your  report  was  passed  (as  you 
kindly  tell  me),  the  assurance  of  the  gratitude  with  which 
I  accept  this  pledge  of  their  regard. 

"  But  my  little  difficulty  arises  from  this,  that  you  thank 
me  so  affectionately  and  trustingly  for  doing  what  not  only 
cost  no  trouble  to  do,  but  for  what  was  so  very  much  less 
than  I  meant  to  do,  when  I  first  had  the  happiness  of  being 
added  to  your  body.  But  the  fact  was  that  the  constant 
success,  and  the  admirable  condition,  of  the  College  called 
for  no  exertion.  The  accuracy  and  the  harmony  with  which 
the  committee  worked,  the  skill  and  the  loving  energy  of  the 
officers,  the  bright  relations  with  the  clergy  of  the  parish, 
moved  my  affection  and  my  respect,  but  gave  me  nothing 
to  do. 

"  The  kindness  with  which  they  several  times  granted  me 
favours,  the  pleasure  which  a  visit  to  the  College  always  in- 


LAYING    THE   FOUNDATIONS  75 

spired,  the  happiness  of  the  few  devout  services  which  1 
enjoyed  with  the  staff  and  the  pupils,  and  all  my  intercourse 
with  yourselves,  will  always  place  my  recollections  of  the 
College  among  the  brightest  of  my  Cornish  life — and  for  this 
and  for  all  you  are  contributing  through  teachers,  so  well 
trained  and  of  such  high  character,  to  the  instruction  of  the 
poor  and  their  education  in  all  that  most  concerns  for  this 
life  and  for  that  which  is  to  come,  I  beg  you  to  accept  my 
most  grateful  respect. 

"  I  trust  that  you  may  have  ever  increasing  support,  and 
rejoice  that  a  practical  connection  will  still  subsist  between 
myself  and  what  must  ever  be  almost  the  most  important  of 
the  diocesan  institutions  of  Cornwall. 
"  I  am  ever 

"  Your  loving  and  grateful  servant, 

"EdW:   CaxTUAR:" 


CHAPTER     V 

MISSION   WORK 

IN  Cornwall  perhaps  more  than  in  any  other 
county,  what  is  commonly  spoken  of  as  "mission 
work "  in  distinction  from  ordinary  parochial  minis- 
trations, is  an  essential  element  in  successful  Church 
life.  First,  because  of  the  widely  scattered  popula- 
tions that  so  often  in  the  larger  parishes  live  far  away 
from  the  "church  town"  and  ancient  parish  church. 
Secondly,  because  of  the  great  alienation  of  many 
persons  from  the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the 
Church,  arising  from  the  insufficient  care  for  them 
in  times  past,  resulting  from  non-residence  and  other 
causes,  combined  with  the  distinctly  hostile  opposition 
that  has  grown  out  of  the  Wesleyan  movement,  which 
was  meant  by  its  founders  to  supplement  and  not  to 
rival,  the  work  of  the  Church.  Bishop  Benson  saw 
that  there  was  need  not  of  any  spasmodic  effort  here 
and  there  to  awaken  dead  souls  and  quicken  indi- 
vidual parishes,  but  of  a  thoroughly  well-organised 
and  sustained  effort  to  send  throughout  the  diocese 
a  band  of  trained  and  earnest  preachers,  who  would 
come  to  the  help  of  the  parochial  clergy,  refresh  and 
revive    them   and   their   people   by   visits   and   efforts 

76 


MISSION   WORK  77 

that  should,  by  God's  providence,  be  marked  by  un- 
mistakable sii^ns  of  spiritual  awakening,  and  be 
followed  by  solid  results  in  the  strengthening  and 
building  up  of  the  Church  of  God. 

From  the  first  he  contemplated  the  foundation  of 
a  body  of  preachers  similar  to  the  society  called  the 
Novate  novale  inauo-urated  bv  him  at  Lincoln.  But 
at  Truro  he  was  very  desirous  to  link  the  work  defin- 
itely and  closely  with  the  Cathedral  as  the  centre  of 
the  life  and  work  of  the  whole  diocese.  He  there- 
fore appointed  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Mason  the  first  Canon 
Missioner,  not  only  of  the  Diocese  of  Truro,  but  the 
first  who  has  held  this  office  in  the  Church  of 
England.  At  the  Diocesan  Conference  held  in 
October,  1S77,  some  months  after  his  arrival  in 
Truro,  Bishop  Benson  thus  explained  his  purpose  : — 

"  The  work  anciently  expected  of  the  old  Prebendaries 
who  preached  up  and  down  the  diocese,  seconding,  aiding, 
and  enforcing  the  work  of  the  Parish  Priest,  at  his  own 
request,  is  no  less  required  than  ever.  The  tired  and  weary 
and  often  lonely  clergyman  asks  it ;  the  people  ask  it ;  their 
condition  asks  it.  I  should  be  no  true  shepherd  here  did 
I  veil  the  truth  from  such  an  assemblage  as  this.  And  sure 
I  am  that  the  chaotic  religious  beliefs  and  the  inexplicable 
severance  and  gulf  which  in  some  places  exists  between 
moral  practice  and  fervent  religionism,  do  absolutely  need 
this  identical  work  to  be  done.  One  missioner  attached  to 
the  Cathedral  will  be  Umcs  pro  vuiltis,  will  stand  single- 
handed  to  represent  the  man\'  mission  preachers  of  the  old 
idea.  But  I  believe  he  will  not  want  for  helpers  ;  I  believe 
that  the  mission  chapels,  fast  multiplying,  with  their  la\- 
readers,  who  will  need  some  help,  some  caution,  some  train- 


78  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

ing,  will  be  deemed  by  us  all  to  offer  great  scope  for  such 
work — to  say  nothing  of  parochial  missions  which  have  so 
happily  affected  the  well-being  of  many  parishes." 

An  important  paper  read  by  Canon  Mason  at  the 
same  Conference  dwelt  on  the  distinction  between 
a  "  Mission  "  and  a  "  Revival." 

"  No  late  hours,  no  setting  of  young  persons  of  opposite 
sexes  to  pray  or  reason  with  each  other,  no  groaning  or 
crying  out  to  arouse  (like  Dervishes)  fictitious  enthusiasm  ; 
no  shaking  or  striking  of  persons  as  I  have  known  in 
revivals.  .  .  . 

"  The  '  Revival '  expects  the  conviction  or  conversion  to 
take  place  in  the  meeting  itself,  and  the  persons  who  show 
signs  of  yielding  are  detained,  prayed  at,  goaded  on.  .  .  . 
We  expect  the  main  struggle  with  God,  which  ends  in  the 
soul's  daybreak,  to  take  place,  as  Jacob's  did,  when  all  the 
company  is  departed,  and  the  soul  feels  itself  alone,  in 
the  closet  with  the  door  shut  to,  face  to  face  with  the 
living  God." 

He  laid  great  stress  on  realising  diocesan  unity  in 
Cornwall  in  connection  with  the  mission  work.  "As 
a  rule,  the  missioners  should  not  be  strangers  to  the 
diocese."  Everything  should  be  clone  "authorita- 
tively under  the  eye  of  the  Bishop."  The  missioners 
when  at  home  should  be  "incessantly  engaged  in 
study  and  in  prayer  and  in  the  training  of  others." 

Canon  Mason  has  recently  published  some  very 
important  results  of  his  experience  in  mission  work  ; 
and,  speaking  of  "the  cause  of  a  great  many  failures 
in  evangelistic  work,"  puts  it  down  to  the  fact  that 

"  Excitement  has  been  too  much  relied  upon,  and  it  has 
been    allowed  to    push    beyond    its    proper    place.     A   little 


MISSIO.V   WORK  79 

experience  of  the  development  of  this  method  in  Cornwall 
would  be  enouLjh  to  undeceive  any  who  were  inclined  to 
favour  it. 

"  In  one  place,  a  Methodist  said  that  he  preferred  the 
revivals  at  the  Bryanite  Chapel  to  those  at  the  Wesleyan 
(or  vice  versa,  I  forget  which),  because  at  the  one  place  you 
could  sometimes  hear  a  little  of  what  was  being  said,  while 
at  the  other  you  could  hear  nothing,  the  uproar  was  too 
great.  I  myself  have  seen,  in  a  revival  which  was  supposed 
to  be  going  on  under  Church  control,  a  room  in  similar 
uproar,  and  a  poor  body  rocking  backwards  and  forwards 
in  intense  effort,  surrounded  by  persons  of  experience 
clamouring  to  her,  as  they  swayed  with  her  swayings, 
'  Say,  I  yield  ;  only  say,  I  yield  ' ;  and  at  last  she  said  it, 
and  rose  up  and  made  the  round  of  the  room  with  smiles 
to  receive  the  congratulations  of  her  friends.  There  seemed 
to  me,  looking  upon  it  with  eyes  which  desired  to  be  as 
sympathetic  as  possible,  to  be  no  difference  between  this  and 
the  religious  methods  of  the  Dervish."^ 

It  was  on  the  sober  and  Churchlike  lines  indicated 
in  both  the  addresses  above  quoted  that  the  mission 
work  of  the  diocese  was  begun  and  carried  on. 

"  Among  the  early  missions  held  in  the  diocese  after  Bishop 
Benson's  coming  to  Truro  was  one  at  St.  Erth.  The  Bishop 
came  down  and  remained  during  the  service  unknown  to  the 
congregation,  but  at  the  after-meeting  joined  the  other  clergy 
in  speaking  to  those  who  remained,  and  gave  a  few  words  of 
counsel  and  his  blessing  on  the  work.  This  parish  included 
the  Hayle  Foundry,  and  three  hundred  men  employed 
assembled  daily  for  an  address  by  one  of  the  missioners. 
At  the  daily  evening  mission  services  and  after-meeting  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Church   might  be  seen  men  touched 

^  The  Ministry  of  Conversion,  pp.  67-8.  (In  the  series  "  Handbooks 
for  the  Clergy,"  Longmans,  1902). 


8o  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

by  the  Holy  Spirit,  kneeling  in  humble,  earnest  prayer, 
guided,  helped,  and  wrestled  for  by  some  devout  laymen  ; 
while  on  the  south  side  a  band  of  women  prayed  as  earnestly 
for  the  souls  of  their  own  sex,  who  were  touched  by  the 
same  gracious  influence.  The  clergy  in  the  meantime,  either 
in  the  vestry  or  in  the  quieter  corners  of  the  Church,  saw  any 
who  specially  wished  for  counsel  and  advice."^ 

But  the  first  reo-ularlv  authorised  "  diocesan " 
mission  was  held  in  January,  1879,  at  Veryan,  of 
which  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Cornish  was  the  Vicar,  who 
was  afterwards  so  well  known  as  Canon  Cornish, 
Vicar  of  Kenwyn  and  Archdeacon  of  Cornwall. 
Canon  Mason,  the  Diocesan  Missioner,  and  the 
Rev.  F,  E.  Carter,  Prebendary  of  Endellion,  were 
the  principal  missloners,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  R.  E. 
Trefusis  (now  Bishop  of  Crediton)  and  the  Rev.  G. 
Perrin,  late  Vicar  of  St.  Mawgan-In-Pydar.  The 
services  were  well  attended  and  the  addresses  listened 
to  with  close  and  Intense  Interest. 

The  followino-  recollections  of  the  mission  have 
been  kindly  supplied  by  Archdeacon  Cornish  : — 

"There  were  two  main  centres  —  the  parish  church  and 
the  mission  chapel  at  Portloe,  with  occasional  services  at 
Port  Holland,  Reskivers,  and  other  places.  I  well  remember 
entering  the  church  on  the  first  Saturday  evening  about  five 
minutes  before  service  began,  and  the  little  start  Canon 
Mason  gave  when  we  found  it  quite  empty.  About  seventy 
or  eighty,  however,  came  a  few  minutes  later.  The  special 
characteristic  of  the  mission  was  its  extreme  quietness.  We 
were  at  first  almost  afraid  of  it.  But  it  was  not  indifference. 
An  old  Wesleyan,  now  gone  to  his  rest,  said  to  me  of  one 

^  Cliiircli.  in  Cor/t7vall,  January,  1878,  p.  5. 


MISS/ON    WORK  8t 

of  the  services.  '  I  never  felt  the  Spirit  of  God  so  clearly 
present  before.'  This  was  the  more  striking  as  shortly  before 
there  had  been  a  revival  in  two  chapels  in  the  parish,  and  a 
man  who  had  attended  both  expressed  his  preference  for  one, 
because  in  it  \-ou  could  hear  when  the  preacher  was  preach- 
ing, though  you  could  not  when  he  was  praying ;  whilst 
at  the  other  you  could  not  hear  him  at  either  time.  Large 
congregations  were  present  at  the  services,  and  a  consider- 
able impetus  was  given  to  religious  life  in  the  parish,  which 
was  subsequentlx-  maintained  by  a  monthly  prayer-meeting 
after  Evening  Prayer  in  the  church.  During  the  three  or  four 
years  that  I  remained  in  the  parish,  the  number  that  stayed 
for  this  averaged  about  fifty.  A  considerable  amount  of 
house-to-house  visitation  took  place  ;  and,  although  at  first 
none  came,  and  then  a  i^w,  to  seek  advice,  before  the  end 
several  came  to  the  room  at  the  Vicarage,  where  Canon 
Mason  saw  all  who  wished  to  see  him.  As  ever  the  good 
old  fishermen  were  most  hearty  in  responding  to  all  efforts 
made  to  help  them.  A  useful  feature  of  the  mission  was  the 
use  made  of  the  Vicar,  when  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  so  as 
to  identify  him  with  the  mission,  and  strengthen  his  hands 
in  carr}-ing  on  the  work,  after  it  was  over." 

This  mission  was  shortly  afterwards  followed  by 
one  at  Launceston,  inaugurated  by  a  quiet  day  for 
Church  workers  with  addresses  by  the  Bishop.  The 
Rev.  V.  S.  S.  Coles  was  the  principal  missioner, 
assisted  by  Canon  Mason  and  Mr.  Carter.  The  im- 
pression made  upon  the  parish  was  remarkable,  and  a 
great  many  Nonconformists,  who  were  present  at  the 
services,  showed  the  deepest  interest  and  sympathy. 

A  mission  which  was  held  at  Kilkhampton,  in 
March  of  the  year  1879,  where  the  Rev.  Canon  A.  C. 
Thynne    has    been    Rector    for    over    forty    years,    is 


G 


S2  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

described  as  "  very  quiet  without  noise  or  excite- 
ment. .  .  .  Every  evening,  for  sixteen  days,  the 
church  was  occupied  by  numbers  of  earnest  hsteners 
and  devout  worshippers.  The  Rev.  J.  Andrewes 
Reeve  assisted  the  Canon   Missioner." 

In  July  of  the  same  year  a  mission  was  held  at  a 
small  agricultural  parish  in  North  Cornwall,  with  a 
population  of  four  hundred.  In  spite  of  drawbacks 
good  results  were  produced. 

The  following  extracts  from  Canon  Masori's  diaries 
give  some  interesting  particulars  of  the  work  carried 
on  by  iiim  and  his  fellow-workers  : — 

"Callington,  Febniajy  2\st,  1880. — We  held  our  first 
meeting  at  7.30,  and  the  church  was  full — though  the  first, 
and  on  Saturday ;  and  we  hardly  know  what  we  shall  do 
later  on.  The  St.  Dominick  people  (where  a  mission  had 
been  held  a  year  before)  are  threatening  to  come  in  waggon- 
loads,  and  I  have  been  obliged  to  send  over  a  message  with 
a  letter  to  the  people  there  beseeching  them  not  to  come. 


"February  2^tk. — Preached  this  evening  on  Judas.  .  .  . 
At  the  beginning,  many  of  the  people  seemed  in  the  highest 
spirits,  laughing  and  talking,  and  I  had  to  speak  very  sharply. 
I  saw  one  young  woman  afterwards  crying,  who  began  with 
great  levity,  and  the  congregation  were  remarkably  still  after 
the  first  few  minutes.  We  made  an  attempt  at  a  second 
sifting  to-night :  after  the  instruction  we  sang  a  hymn,  and 
then  held  a  prayer-meeting,  which  caused  several  to  stay, 
and  give  us  opportunities  of  speaking  with  them  then  and 
there. 

"  Wednesday,  February  2^ih,  1880. —  ...  In  the  afternoon. 
Evensong  ended,  the  missioners  sallied  out,  with  four  or  five 


MISSION   irORK'  83 

others,  and  sang  a  liymn  at  the  entrance  of  the  market,  and 
then  I  spoke  for  a  few  minutes,  and  invited  them  into  church, 
and  preached  on  '  Buy  the  truth  and  sell  it  not.'  It  was 
a  strange  sight  and  they  were  much  affected.  .  .  .  We  were 
able  to  get  hold  of  several  people  at  the  end.  ...  In  the 
prayer-meeting  we  adopted  Aitken's  and  the  dissenting  plan 
of  moving  about  from  one  to  another,  but  none  of  us  liked 
it,  and  though  we  got  several  names  of  persons  to  come  and 
see  us,  I  do  not  think  we  shall  try  it  again. 

"  Thursday,  February  26th,  1880. — Heard  that  there  was 
a  sort  of  missionary  meeting  last  Friday  at  CI  think;  the 
Bible  Christian  Chapel  here,  at  which  the  superintendent  got 
up  and  inveighed  against  the  coming  mission,  and  told  how 
bad  and  what  a  failure  the  St.  Dominick  mission  had  been  ; 
whereupon  the  superintendent  of  one  of  the  other  sects  who 
was  present,  said  that  he  believed  the  mission  would  do  a  lot 
of  good,  and  that,  if  he  were  permitted  he  would  help  it  all 
he  could  ;  and  one  of  the  St.  Dominick  local  preachers  rose 
and  spoke  most  warmly  of  the  mission  there,  how  the  people 
had  flocked  to  it,  and  what  good  had  been  done. 

"Monday  {St.  David),  1880.— Mr.  Mann  (Vicar  of  St. 
Issey)  preached  a  noble  sermon  yesterday  morning  with  the 
utmost  fire  and  eloquence. 

"  Thursday,  March  ^th,  1880. — I  have  had  a  grand  thanks- 
giving service  to-night.  .  .  .  During  the  last  few  days  there 
has  been  a  most  marked  wave  among  the  people,  and  several 
— especially  men — have  taken  a  step  forward.  One  whom 
I   visited  this  morning  stooped   down   and   kissed   my  hand 

as  I  left  his  house.    Poor  dear  X thanked  me  again  most 

kindly  to-day  and  said  .  .  .  'You  have  both  lifted  me  up  and 
brought  me  down.' " 

The  results  of  this  mission  m;iv  be  traui^-ed  to  some 

extent  by  the  followin^j;-  later  entries  : — 

''April  yd,  1880. — Heard  from  C that  the  number  of 

communicants  at  Callington  was  larger  than  ever  belore. 


84  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

"  Sunday,  J\IaTch  6th,  i88i. —  . . .  Left  Truro  yesterday  at  2.8 
for  the  anniversary  of  the  mission  here  [at  Callington].  Very 
few  people  last  night,  as  was  natural  ;  but  very  good  con- 
gregations to-day  at  all  the  services — to-night  crammed  to 
suffocation.  The  most  striking  feature,  however,  hitherto  was 
the  afternoon  gathering.  It  was  supposed  to  be  chiefly 
intended  for  the  members  of  adult  Bible  classes.  They 
occupied  the  nave — men  on  the  south,  women  on  the  north — 
and  completely  filled  both  sides.  They  say  that  these  are 
entirely  the  fruit  of  the  mission.     Blessed  be  God  !  " 

The  following  relate  experiences  at  another 
mission  : — 

"April  i6th,  1880. — Found  this  morning  that  a  good  deal 
of  blasphemy  had  been  going  on,  and  bitter  cavilling,  which 
had  caused  sad  grief  to  some  of  the  devout  old  people. 
To-night  the  church  was  rather  fuller  than  ever  ;  and  though 
I  had  felt  all  abroad  during  the  day,  and  distracted  with  the 
thought  of  the  opposition  raised,  when  it  came  to  the  preach- 
ing and  after-meeting.  God  helped  me  so  much,  and  the 
people  seemed  deeply  impressed.  The  last  night  or  two 
I  have  ventured  in  the  after-meeting  to  catechise  the  people, 
and  they  have  answered  very  readily,  and  to-night  I  have 
heard  that  they  have  been  much  pleased  with  it.  I  have 
long  wished  to  do  so,  but  never  had  the  courage  before. 

"  Third  Sunday  after  Easter,  April  I'iih,  1880. —  .  .  . 
Preached  to  the  men  in  the  afternoon  upon  the  adulteress, 
(St.  John  viii.),  and  to-night  upon  the  necessity  of  an  effort  in 
religion  and  in  prayer.  The  people  were  extremely  attentive, 
and  in  five  minutes  we  might  have  had  a  revival,  if  we  had 
wished,  with  the  people  leaping  and  shouting. 

"  Wednesday,  April  21st,  1880. —  .  .  .  Have  had  several 
visitors  to-day;  one  dear  man  of  about  fifty  told  me  that  he 
'  passed  all  Tuesday  night  as  Jacob  did':  and  he  could  do  nothing 
but  laugh  very  quietly  and  happily,  when  he  tried  to  express 


MISSION   WORK  85 

what  it  had  ended  in  ;  he  had  been  quite  surprised  at  what 
he  found.  .  .  .  Preached  to-night  on  St.  Paul's  conversion, 
as  compared  with  Saul's  in  the  morning's  lesson  ;  and  it  was 
very  noticeable  how  the  dear  people's  countenances  fell  when 
we  got  to  the  subject  of  Baptism.  Up  to  that  point  they  had 
been  as  light  and  sympathetic  as  possible,  and,  all  of  a  sudden, 
it  was  like  lifting  lead. 

"  Friday,  April  2yd.—  .  .  .  The  people  wept  much  at  the 
evening  sermon  on  the  Crucifixion,  but  was  very  dry  myself. 

"  Tuesday,  April  27th,  1  880.— Last  night  we  had  a  really 
grand  thanksgiving  service.  The  church  was  nearly  as  full 
as  on  Sunday,  and  not  so  many  strangers,  and  the  feeling 
was  one  of  real  joy  through  the  whole  congregation.  Several 
very  interesting  interviews.  .  .  .  This  morning  a  beautiful 
Communion." 

The  characteristics  of  Cornish  fishermen,  and  their 
reliolous  enthusiasm,  are  recorded  in  the  account  of  a 
mission  at  Sennen.  ''  Sunday,  January  yth,  1883. — 
Beautiful  celebration  at  ei^^ht,  the  dear  fishermen 
coming  in  a  row,  with  many  groans  and  heart-deep 
cries  of  '  O  Lord ! '"  And  the  following  days  were 
spent  amid  a  "tremendous  gale  from  the  west  all 
night  and  day,"  followed  by  "floods  of  rain;  .  .  . 
the  Longships  sometimes  completely  lost  in  solid 
spray."  Here  a  warm-hearted  man  called  the  missioner 
back  into  the  church  after  Evensong  one  day,  saying, 
"  I've  something  to  tell  you,"  and  then  with  loud  voice 
and  waving  hands,  told  the  joyful  news  of  his  having 
"found  Christ,"  being  as  the  missioner  said  "quite 
intoxicated"  in  the  spirit,  "but  quite  real."  And  the 
mission  closed  "on  a  most  glorious  morning"  after  all 


86  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  violence  of  the  storm,  quite  a  type  of  the  peace 
that  comes  to  troubled  souls  when  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness shines  upon  them  in  love  and  forgiveness. 

Bishop  Benson  has  noted  one  or  two  reminiscences 
of  the  earlier  missions.  At  St.  Issey,  which  he  visited, 
and  where  he  found  "a  crowded  church  and  most 
devout  service  from  the  whole  congregation,  the 
churchwardens  told  me  afterwards,  with  tears  in  their 
eyes,  of  the  mission  work  of  '  dear  Canon  Mason '  and 
the  number  of  people  who  had  been  affected  by  it, 
coming  on  the  top  of  the  long  preparation.  Fancy 
Cornishmen  talking  of  '  Canons  '  in  this  way  !  "  Later 
on  he  says  : — 

"  Carter's  mission  to  Endellion  has  been  very  happy.  At 
first  they  refused  him  the  Board  school  to  have  service  in. 
Then  when  he  went  away  to  St.  Issey  for  a  day  or  two,  a 
young  farmer  rode  thirteen  miles  to  tell  him  they  had  found 
him  a  large  boat-house.  Then  the  Bible  Christians  offered 
him  their  chapel  ;  then  the  Wesleyans  said  '  It  would  never 
do  for  him  to  have  such  a  shabby  room  at  Port  Isaac,  they 
must  give  them  their  new  chapel'  His  simplicity,  faith,  and 
resolution  won  all  hearts  soon."  ^ 

And  so  the  missionary  work  began,  and  was  carried 
on  with  much  zeal  and  earnestness  and  love.  Some- 
times, in  a  fishing  village,  the  mission  would  be 
prolonged  for  three  weeks  or  a  month  :  sometimes  the 
mission  took  the  form  of  itinerant  work,  the  missioners 
passing  from  parish  to  parish,  holding  outdoor  services 
at  different  centres.  At  other  times  the  Canon  Mis- 
sioner  would  stay   in  a  parish,   and  visit   from   house 

1  Uiai-v. 


MISSION    WORK  87 

to  house  :  and  now  and  acrain  take  charcre  of  a  llock, 
in  the  absence  of  the  pastor  or  during  a  vacancy. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  newly  formed  diocese,  there 
was  no  lack  of  readiness  to  hear  the  message,  and 
welcome  the  messengers.  Apart  from  the  comparative 
freshness  of  the  efforts  that  were  being  made,  the 
strangeness,  to  some  at  least,  of  the  Cornish  people, 
of  such  aggressive  spiritual  work  on  the  part  of  what 
they  had  deemed  a  dead  Church  ;  the  singularly  at- 
tractive natural  gifts  and  personal  piety  of  the  first 
Canon  Missioner  and  his  assistant,  won  great  accept- 
ance everywhere.  The  warm-hearted  and  emotional 
Cornish  folk  recognised,  not  without  surprise,  in  the 
cassock-clad  preachers  who  came  amongst  them,  the 
unmistakable  tone  of  "  converted  men,"  and  were 
even  willing  to  listen  to  teaching  that  previously  had 
not  formed  part  of  "the  gospel"  received  by  them. 

Canon  Mason's  labours  as  missioner  were  very 
arduous.  Bishop  Benson  in  his  Diary  records  that 
"  the  Canons  have  worked  well.  Mason  will  have 
eight  or  nine  long  missions  this  year."  A  little  later 
he  says  : — 

"In  the  year  1879  Alason  had  two  remarkable  missions — 
Torpoint  and  St.  Dominick.  At  the  latter,  where  there  is 
a  very  High  Churchman,  the  local  preachers  helped  with  all 
their  power.  The  crowds  were  surprising,  and  (most  strangely) 
they  proposed  themselves  to  commemorate  the  mission  by  a 
beautiful  cross,  which  they  solemnly  placed  on  the  altar  in 
time  of  service,  with  a  special  hymn  and  sermon.  This  is 
beautiful  when  it  rises  spontaneous!}'  out  of  the  people 
thus." 


88  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Canon  Mason  continued  to  act  as  .'iiissioner  until 
1884,  when  he  was  appointed  to  All  Hallows,  Barking, 
near  the  Tower  of  London,  by  his  friend  and  chief. 
Dr.  Benson,  then  lately  translated  to  the  Archbishopric 
of  Canterbury.  Canon  Mason  accepted  the  post, 
after  long  and  painful  heart- searchings.  He  had 
already  refused  more  than  one  important  office  both 
abroad  and  at  home.  Cornwall  was  very  dear  to  him, 
and  it  was  not  until  he  was  persuaded  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  obey  the  call  of  his  friend  and  Father  in  God, 
that  he  made  the  sacrifice  of  long-cherished  schemes 
for  his  life  and  work  in  Cornwall.  At  All  Hallows 
he  gathered  a  band  of  clergy,  living  together  in  a  kind 
of  community,  going  out  from  time  to  time  to  preach, 
conduct  missions,  and  hold  "  quiet  days  "  and  retreats, 
wherever  invited. 

Canon  Mason  was  succeeded  by  his  friend  the 
Rev.  F.  E.  Carter,  for  many  years  his  companion 
and  fellow -worker,  who  was  appointed  Canon  of 
St.  Cybi  and  Diocesan  Missioner  in  1885.  He  carried 
on  the  admirable  traditions  of  his  predecessor,  in  his 
laborious  work  and  excellent  methods,  till  he  was 
appointed  Tait  Missioner  and  "  Six  -  Preacher "  at 
Canterbury  Cathedral.  After  five  years'  work  in  that 
diocese  he  was  invited  to  go  out  to  South  Africa  as 
Dean  of  Grahamstown.  Canon  Carter  will  long  be 
remembered  for  his  deeply  spiritual  discourses,  and 
for  what  was  once  well  described  as  his  "cultured 
eloquence." 

His  place  was  taken  by  the   Rev.  B.  G.  Hoskyns, 


M/SS/O.V    JVORK  89 

Vicar  of  St.  Denys,  Southampton,  under  whom  the 
diocesan  mission  work  has  grown  in  various  ways.^ 
Canon  Carter  was  able  to  organise  what  Bishop 
Benson  and  Canon  Mason  greatly  desired — a  society 
of  mission  clergy  on  the  lines  of  the  Novate  Novale 
at  Lincoln  ;  but  Canon  Hoskyns  largely  increased  the 
numbers  of  the  clersjv  belonoino;-  to  it,  and  added  a 
useful  band  of  lay  associates,  including  men  of  all 
ranks  and  positions  in  the  diocese,  some  of  them  very 
well  qualified  to  take  an  active  part  in  mission 
services.  In  addition  to  this,  a  very  useful  and  pro- 
mising society  for  men,  called  "  The  Brotherhood  of 
the  Cross,"  has  been  formed.  It  numbers  several 
hundreds  of  members,  organised  into  branches  in 
some  of  the  principal  parishes  of  Cornwall.  It  has 
a  simple  rule  of  life  and  of  prayer ;  and,  without 
makinof  too  oreat  a  demand  upon  the  time  of  its 
members,  gives  much  support  and  encouragement  to 
men  anxious  to  become  earnest  Churchmen,  and  to 
persevere  in  their  good  resolutions. 

As  time  went  on,  the  regular  and  systematic  "paro- 
chial missions  "  held  by  the  first  missioners,  lasting  as 
a  rule  for  ten  days,  and  sometimes  even  longer,  were 
not  so  frequently  held.  "Itinerant  missions"  were 
attempted  from  the  very  first,  and  continued  to  be 
held  from  time  to  time.  In  these  a  body  of  missioners 
was  gathered  at  a  centre,  and  went  out,  day  after  day. 
to  villages  and  hamlets  in  a  fairly  wide  circuit,  passing 

'  He  was  appointed  Vicar  of  Hiighton  in  1903,  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Gerald  \'ictor  Sampson  of  the  Gloucester  Diocesan  Mission. 


90  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Irom  one  parish  to  another,  for  Sunday  and  weekday 
services  in  church,  as  well  as  holding-  outdoor  meet- 
ings at  china-clay  pits,  or  quays  and  harbours  of 
fishing  villages  and  "porths,"  or  in  the  streets  and 
open  places  of  "church  towns." 

"St.  Issey,  Saturday,  August  ^th,  1882. — Arrived  here 
to-day  from  our  first  itinerant  mission,  which  began  this  day 
three  weeks,  July  15th.  It  embraced  the  three  parishes  of 
Endellion,  St.  Minver,  and  St.  Kew.  We  proceeded  ac- 
cording to  a  fixed  plan,  which  Francis  made  out  in  advance, 
and  had  printed  and  circulated  in  the  district.  We  aimed  at 
and  fulfilled,  as  nearly  as  we  could  in  modern  life,  the  in- 
structions given  to  the  Seventy.  On  Sundays  we  preached  at 
the  parish  churches,  but  on  weekdays,  every  afternoon  and 
evening,  at  one  of  the  scattered  hamlets,  never  twice  con- 
secutively at  the  same,  and  making  pretty  nearly  the  circuit 
of  the  three  parishes  thrice  in  the  three  weeks.  Two  young 
laymen — George  Scantlebury,  of  St  Winnow,  and  Fred 
Thomas,  of  Helston — ^joined  us  for  the  last  ten  days  :  though 
I  sent  Thomas  back  on  Tuesday.  We  walked  everywhere  in 
our  cassocks  and  capes,  and  carried  our  bags,  no  one  seeming 
to  think  it  anything  but  '  fitty.'  On  '  St.  James',  Wednesday,' 
we  preached  at  Polseath  races,  and  the  people  were  perfectly 
respectful,  though  we  had  been  told  beforehand  that  there 
would  be  a  disturbance.  We  stayed  about  in  various  farm- 
houses, and  sometimes  smaller  houses  as  well,  meeting  every- 
where the  greatest  kindness,  not  less  from  Dissenters  than 
from  Catholics ;  indeed,  three  times  I  stayed  at  Lower  Amble, 
with  Mr.  Charles  Menhinnick,  the  leading  Dissenter  of  that 
part.  It  is  an  experiment  in  missions  which  has  not  been 
tried  before,  but  bids  fair  to  be  very  useful,  in  popularising 
Church  ministrations  at  any  rate,  quite  apart  from  the  con- 
version of  souls.  The  Parish  Priests  have  been  most  kind,  and 
deeply  interested.  On  arriving  at  any  hamlet  we  selected 
our  station,  and  then  went  round  to  each  house  to  invite  the 


MISSION   WORK  91 

people ;  then,  after  a  hymn  and  short  invocation,  came  a 
lesson  and  a  sermon,  another  hymn  and  prayer,  and  then  one 
or  two  more  addresses  with  hymns  and  prayers,  kneeling 
down  wherever  it  was  dry  cnouc,d-i.  We  visited  the  sick 
wherever  we  went,  and  tried  to  go  to  all  the  houses  by  the 
wayside  on  our  journeys.  Mr.  Mann  helped  us  several 
times,  Townend  once,  and  Magor,  of  Lamellyn,  once.  The 
substance  of  our  teaching  (almost  entirely  taken  from  the 
daily  lessons)  was  chiefly  repentance  and  holiness." 

The  following  interesting-  details  of  this  mission, 
written  for  The  Church  in  Cornwall  (a  periodical  that 
for  several  years  recorded  the  work  of  the  diocese 
monthly)  : — 

"  Nothing  could  exceed  the  hospitality  and  kindness  of  the 
people.  .  .  ."  The  missioners  "  were  never  reduced  to  paying 
for  lodging  and  board,  or  to  going  without.  It  was  not  only  in 
the  houses  of  the  clergy,  nor  even  only  in  those  of  professed 
Churchmen,  that  they  were  warmly  received.  Poor  people 
and  well-to-do  farmers  received  them  with  equal  cordiality; 
and  everywhere  they  were  told  that  they  '  must  look  for  no 
compliments.'  It  would  be  difficult  for  them  to  express  their 
gratitude  for  the  innumerable  kindnesses  shown  them  for 
their  work's  sake. 

"  One  scene  deserves  special  mention.  On  the  \\'ednesda\- 
after  St.  James'  Day,  it  has  long  been  the  custom  for  the 
parishioners  of  St.  Kew  to  picnic  in  great  numbers  on  the 
lovely  beach  of  Polseath,  near  the  mouth  of  Padstow  Harbour, 
together  with  friends  from  all  the  country-side.  For  some 
years  past  the  old  famil\-  character  of  the  da)-  has  been  a 
good  deal  spoilt,  by  the  introduction  of  racing  and  a  canteen. 
The  missioners  had  hoped  to  visit  Polseath  that  day  without 
their  intention  being  known  before;  but  the  people  got  wind 
of  it,  and  many  persons  tried  to  dissuade  them  from  going, 
lest  some  insult  should  be  offered  to  religion  in  their  persons. 


92  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

When  the  da}-  came,  liowcver,  and  they  presented  tlicmselves, 
in  company  with  the  much-loved  Vicar  of  the  parish,  they 
were  as  kindly  received  as  anywhere.  Two  services  were 
held  at  2.30  and  6.30  p.m.  The  preachers  stood  on  the  slope 
of  the  low  cliff,  and  gathered  the  people  round  them  in  the 
usual  way — in  the  evening  to  the  number  of  seven  or 
eight  hundred  at  least.  It  was  a  sight  worth  remembering 
— perfect  weather,  the  green  waves  breaking  crisply  on  the 
broad  beach,  and  the  fine  headlands  of  Stepper  Point  and 
Pentire,  and  the  happy  crowd,  as  respectful  and  attentive  as 
could  be.  Even  some  of  the  jockeys  rode  up  in  their  gay 
costume,  and  listened  quietly  among  the  rest.  It  was 
magnificent  when  the  company  took  uj)  the  hymn  '  All  hail 
the  power  of  Jesu's  Name'  to  its  noble  old  tune."  ^ 

The  results  of  such  efforts  are  not  easy  to  gauge  or 
tabulate.  Impressions  are  made,  that  do  not  always 
manifest  themselves  on  the  surface  at  the  tinie  ;  but 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Church  missions 
of  Cornwall  have  had  an  excellent  effect  in  various 
directions.  They  have  largely  dissipated  prejudice, 
and  removed  the  deeply  rooted  belief  that  the  Church 
is  not  a  spiritual  body  at  all.  The  Cornish  have  at 
least  been  led  to  see  that  the  Church  cares  for  their 
souls,  and  desires  their  salvation.  Perhaps  the  self- 
restraint  of  the  missioners  of  the  Church  has  been 
sometimes  unfavourably  compared  with  the  fervour 
(not  to  say  noisiness)  of  the  Methodist  revivalist. 
"Ah!  sir,"  once  said  a  warm-hearted  man  to  a 
missioner  from  Truro,  "just  let  me  and  one  or  two 
praying  men  have  our  way  at  the  after-meeting,  and 

^  The  Church  in  Cornwall,  No.  I.  vol.  i.,  new  and  enlarged  series, 
July,  1882,  pp.  47,  48. 


MISSION   WORK  93 

you  will  soon  see  a  grand  sight."  The  missioner 
declined  to  let  the  reins  go  from  his  own  hands.  The 
preaching  of  repentance,  eminently  necessary  as  it  is 
where  sometimes  lofty  profession  is  not  followed  by 
moral  obedience,  has  been  not  infrequendy  criticised  as 
dwelling  too  much  on  "sin,"  and  not  enough  on  "the 
gospel."  1  Ijv  this  is  implied  a  somewhat  one-sided 
aspect  of  the  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  God,  which 
errs  in  the  direction  of  not  insisting  sufficiently  on  the 
need  of  a  very  deep  contrition  or  thorough  confession 
of  sins,  and  is  too  apt  to  rest  satisfied  with  a  somewhat 
shallow  emotionalism,  that  never  leads  to  any  true 
or  lastino-  change  of  heart  and  life. 

o  o 

But  a  considerable  alteration  of  feeling  has  taken 
place  even  since  those  days  ;  and,  after  twenty  years 
or  more,  among  the  more  thoughtful,  cultured,  and 
enlightened  Wesleyans,  the  strong  and  coarse  methods 
of  the  old  "revivals,"  with  all  the  serious  dangers  that 
accompanied  them,  are  being  less  and  less  approved 
and  used.  It  is,  however,  greatly  to  be  hoped,  that  the 
erowth  of  reverence  and  of  self-restraint,  will  not  be 
followed  by  a  loss  of  real  earnestness,  religious  sim- 
plicity, and  spiritual  fervour. 

A  very  great  deal  of  help  is  given  to  the  parishes 
of  Cornwall    outside   the   regular  lines   of  "  Parochial 

1  On  the  other  hand  Dr.  Mason  gives  wise  counsel  when  he  says  : 
"An  evangehst  not  only  commits  a  theological  mistake,  but  throws  away 
an  important  opportunity,  and  is  in  danger  of  actually  repelling  and 
alienating  souls,  if  he  begins  his  work  by  dwelling  upon  sin  and  its 
consequences,  h  is  more  profitable  in  most  cases,  as  well  as  more  true, 
to  begin  with  that  which  is  inviting,  and  attractive,  and  hopeful."—  .J/////>/r>' 
of  Conversion^  pp.  79,  80. 


94  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Missions."  Courses  of  sermons  in  Advent  and  Lent, 
quiet  days  for  clergy  and  lay  people,  "  Sunday  visits," 
are  planned  by  the  Canon  Missioner,  and  undertaken 
bv  himself  and  the  members  of  the  Mission  Society 
of  Clergy,  year  after  year,  throughout  the  diocese. 

The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  was  particularly  anxious, 
in  connection  with  the  mission  work  of  the  diocese,  to 
found  a  Society  for  Holy  Living.    This  had  been  begun 
in  one  or  two  places  some  years  before  by  the  Rev. 
A.  Mills,  Vicar  of  St.   Erth,  and  the  Rev.   J.   Sidney 
Tyacke,    Vicar     of    Helston,     afterwards    Canon    of 
St.   Li  in  Truro  Cathedral.      Canon  Mason  and  Mr. 
Tyacke  were   selected   by  the    Bishop   to  inaugurate 
it  on  a  new  footing.      He  preferred,  as  he  recorded, 
a  "single  society"  "ramifying  through  the  diocese,  to 
having  a  variety  of  guilds  united  more  or  less  loosely, 
but  wholly  dependent  for  continuing  on  the  clergyman 
for   the    time   being   in   the   parish,   and   liable   to   be 
extino-uished,  all  at  once,  if  ever  a  time  of  deadness 
comes."     "  We  want  a  closely  bound  religious  society, 
which  shall  incorporate  the  clergy  of  the  Established 
Church,  each   in  their  parishes  ;  and  which,  while  he 
is  a  holy  man,  shall  work  under  him,  but,  if  he  is  a 
careless  man,  shall   not  cease  to  exist."  ^     A  manual 
of  prayer  and  work  was  drawn  up,  the   Bishop  was 
to   be   the   head,    with   two   general   wardens   for   the 
diocese,   and    the    parochial    clergy  to   be    invited    to 
become   local    chaplains.      He  strongly  recommended 
the  newly  confirmed  to  enrol   themselves   for  mutual 

1  Diary. 


MISSION    WORK  95 

help  in  this  society.  V^ery  many  did  so,  and  there- 
were  instances  wliere  ycjuni;-  jjersons  suffered  ridicule 
and  persecution  for  membership  in  it. 

The  Canon  Missioncr  made  use  of  it  to  gather  up 
the  fruits  of  his  work  in  many  parishes. 

This  "Church  Society,"  as  it  came  to  be  called,  has 
lived  on  in  the  diocese,  in  some  places  with  a  con- 
tinuous and  vigorous  existence  ;  in  others  in  a  more 
languid  and  fitful  manner.  If  it  has  not  altogether 
answered  the  expectation  of  its  founders  throughout 
the  diocese,  it  has,  in  not  a  few  places,  supplied  a 
greatly  needed  spiritual  means  of  help. 

Much  mio-ht  be  recorded  of  the  blessinos  that  came 
to  individual  souls,  through  the  spiritual  revival  that 
was  manifested  in  many  parts  of  the  diocese.  Godly 
fishermen  and  earnest  miners,  and  simple  souls  in 
agricultural  parishes,  were  moved  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  became  joyous  and  consistent  followers  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  loyal  and  ardent  children  of  His 
holy  Church. 

Tales  like  the  following  might,  without  difficulty,  be 
multiplied,  illustrating  the  blessed  results  both  of  earnest 
mission  and  faithful  pastoral  work  at  this  time  : — 

"  I  was  told  of  two  girls,  sisters,  living  in  an  ungodh' 
farmhouse,  miles  away  from  the  church,  who  since  their 
Confirmation  have  never  missed  a  Communion.  It  is  their 
business  to  milk  the  cows  ;  and  when  the  Communion  is 
early,  they  get  up  at  half-past  four,  and  the  elder  milks  five 
cows,  and  the  younger  three,  and  then  they  dress  and  go 
to  church."  ^ 

'  Canon  Mason's  Diary,  January  22,  1880. 


96  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

But  there   are  two   lives,   that   have   been   written, 
that  deserve   some  special   notice  in  any  account   of 
Church  work  in   Cornwall,  in  the  times  that  are  now 
under    consideration.      One     is     that    of    Mary    Ann 
Davies,    whose   spiritual   history   has   been   published 
in    a    little    book,    prefaced    with    a    short    notice    by 
Canon   Mason,   who  knew  her  well,   and  valued   her 
truly    Christian    character.^      She    had    a    somewhat 
broken    and    varied    experience     in    her    soul's    life. 
Much  illness  and  sorrow  through  the  loss  of  children, 
hard  work  and   penury,   were   among   her  trials,    cul- 
minating in  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  finally  her 
ov/n  broken  health  ending  in  paralysis.      In  the  parish 
where  she  came  to  live,   St.  Mawgan-in-Pydar,  with 
its    lovely   wooded   vale    of    Lanherne,   is  a  convent, 
formerly  the  manor  house  of  the   Cornish  Arundells, 
afterwards  the  property  of  Lord  Arundell.      Here  in 
the   days   of   the    great    French    Revolution,   a   com- 
munity of  Carmelite  nuns  took  refuge.      Ever  since 
that  time  there  has  been  a  resident  Roman  Catholic 
Priest,  and  a  good  deal  of  influence  exercised  by  the 
community  and   their  chaplain  among  the   people   of 
the    village.      But    Mary    Ann,    though    in   her    early 
days  a  member  of  the   Bryanite  or  "  Bible  Christian  " 
body,  came  to  feel  the  restfulness  and  comfort  of  the 
teaching  of  the  Church  of  England.     "  She  entered 
into   its   public   services   and   private   rules  of   life   so 
fully  ;  following  the  daily  Psalms  and  Lessons,  enter- 
inn-  deeply   into   the   spirit  of  the  Christian   seasons  ; 

1  Told  for  a  Memorial     Third  edition.     James  Nisbet,  etc. 


M/SSIOIV   WORK  97 

and  valuing,  above  all,  the  Holy  Communion,  which, 
when  unable  to  come  to  church,  she  especially  desired 
to  receive  on  her  birthday,  as  well  as  at  the  time 
of  special  Christian  festivals."^  Her  quaint  cottac,^e 
is  described,  with  its  "furniture  painted  by  her  own 
hands  a  bright  blue  colour,  .  .  .  the  walls  covered 
with  pictures,  many  of  them  having  a  history.  Placed 
just  where  she  could  see  them  were  two  portraits,  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  (Dr.  Benson),  and  the 
black  Bishop  of  the  Niger  (Dr.  Crowther),  character- 
istic of  M;iry  Ann's  two  special  interests,  the  Church 
at  home  and  in  the  mission  field ;  while,  put  under  these 
pictures,  stood  her  missionary  box,  wonderful  in  shape, 
of  her  own  making,  but  such  an  unspeakable  treasure 
to  her,  that  when  it  went  away  for  a  few  days  to 
be  emptied,  she  would  speak  of  herself  as  being 
'fine  and  wisht '  without  it."'  For  the  last  ten  years 
of  her  life  she  only  went  to  church  twice,  "brought 
down  a  very  steep  hill  in  a  wheelbarrow."  She  lived 
a  life  of  patient  resignation  and  constant  intercession, 
that  was  greatly  valued  by  her  Bishop,  who,  when 
leaving  for  Canterbury,  sent  her  the  following  message 
written  on  a  card  : — 

"Mary  Anne, —  I  doubt  not  your  quiet  lonely  prayers 
have  helped  me  man\'  a  time,  when  I  knew  it  not.  Go  on 
praying,  and  send  me,  from  time  to  time,  one  of  your  kind 
messages.  God  grant  we  may  see  each  other  in  Paradise, 
if  not  before.  -  E.  \V.  TruR0N:"=^ 

1  Ibut,  p.  86.  -  Ibid.,  pp.  I2  and  13. 

2  J  bid.,  p.  27. 
H 


g8  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

She  valued  greatly  the  friendship  of  Canon  Mason 
and  Canon  Carter,  and  helped  the  interesting  work 
at  Port  Isaac,  carried  on  by  the  latter  with  her  fervent 
intercessions  ;  and  contributed  by  generous  offerings, 
out  of  her  poverty,  towards  the  mission  church  in  that 
place.  The  former  was  "the  last  person  to  whom  she 
spoke  intelligently ;  and  she  passed  away  on  May 
1 8th,  1884."  She  is  described  as  of  singularly  tender 
conscience,  of  great  calmness  and  self-possession, 
with  much  quaint  and  shrewd  wisdom  and  spiritual 
insight,  due  "  to  her  constant  study  of  God's  Word  and 
direct  communion  with  Himself."^ 

Another  life,  equally  interesting  in  its  spiritual 
earnestness  and  depth  of  character,  is  that  of  Mrs. 
Benney,  also  written  by  the  same  author  that  has 
given  us  the  one  already  alluded  to.  Sarah  Pollock 
Benney  was  the  wife  of  a  steamboat  proprietor  and 
skipper,  plying  on  the  River  Fal  between  Truro  and 
Falmouth.  At  one  time  an  attendant  at  Wesleyan 
places  of  worship,  she  came  under  the  influence  of 
Canon  Mason,  the  missioner  during  the  early  days 
of  Dr.  Benson's  episcopate.  The  teaching  of  Canon 
Whitaker,  and,  later  on,  of  Canon  Carter,  greatly 
moulded  her  devotional  character  and  life.  Her  full 
surrender  to  the  Church's  Lord  and  Master  in  her 
own  soul's  life,  was  accompanied  by  a  singularly  loyal 
and  constant  devotion  to  the  interests  of  His  Holy 
Church.  The  worship  of  the  sanctuary,  the  daily 
offices  of  Mattins  and  Evensong,  the  Holy  Eucharist 

^  Ibid.,  p.  90. 


MISSION    WORK  99 

on  Sundays  and  weekdays,  were  her  never-endini^ 
joy  and  satisfaction.  Her  brioht,  keen  countenance, 
as  she  sat  in  her  place  in  the  Cathedral,  was  in  itself 
an  inspiration  to  the  preacher,  while  she  followed  the 
unfoldino-  of  his  subject,  and  L^ave  evident  signs  of 
delight  in  all  that  concerned  her  dear  Lord  and 
Saviour,  and  His  blessed  Person  and  redeeming 
work.  Nor  did  she  rest  satisfied  with  her  own 
spiritual  privileges  and  blessings,  received  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Word  and  Sacraments.  When  first 
she    oave    her    adhesion    to   the   Church's    rules    and 

o 

order,  she  asked  what  "private  means  of  grace" 
were  provided  for  Christian  souls.  Her  delight  was 
great  when  she  found  that,  not  only  might  she  herself 
have  the  "benefit  of  absolution  together  with  ghostly 
counsel  and  advice,"  but  that  God  would  use  her,  if 
she  so  willed,  to  work  with  Him  and  for  Him,  in 
winning  and  building  up  the  souls  of  others.  Hence- 
forth she  became  (|uite  a  centre  of  spiritual  acti\'ity. 
She  held  a  Bible-class  in  her  own  rooms,  and  some- 
times in  the  vestry  of  the  wooden  church  ;  cottage 
meetinos  for  reading-  and  praver  in  more  than  one 
humble  house  in  Truro  ;  and,  by  her  vigorous  spiritual 
life,  infiuenced  a  large  number  of  persons  among  her 
neighbours  and  friends.  Grace  softened  a  naturally 
strong  and  vehement  nature,  which  yet  never  lost  its 
natural  quick  alertness ;  and  the  change  that  came 
over  her  character,  in  gentleness  and  courtesy,  was  so 
remarkable  as  to  attract  much  notice  from  her  early 
friends.      She   was  a   keen   business  woman,   and  the 


loo  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Steamboats,  navigated  by  her  husband  and  sons,  owed, 
to  a  great  extent,  their  financial  success  to  her  excel- 
lent manao-ement.  She  was  a  orenerous  o^iver,  as 
became  one  who  had  "  first  o-iven  herself  to  the  Lord," 
and  no  good  and  deserving  object  failed  to  receive  her 
cordial  support.  She  entered  with  all  her  heart  into 
her  Bishop's  great  idea  of  the  Cathedral,  and  con- 
tributed quite  a  large  sum  towards  its  erection.  When 
the  site  of  the  present  nave  was  being  laid  out  with 
grass,  before  any  hope  of  the  foundations  being  put 
in  had  as  yet  been  conceived,  slie  said  one  day,  as  she 
passed  two  members  of  the  Building  Committee  in 
the  High  Cross,  "Gentlemen,  you  ought  to  be  sowing 
it  with  buildinor  stones."  Not  loner  before  she  died, 
after  her  speech  had  become  greatly  affected,  she  met 
one  of  the  secretaries  near  the  Cathedral,  and  put 
Into  his  hand  a  packet  of  sovereigns,  pointing  signifi- 
cantly to  the  place  where  she  hoped  the  walls  of  the 
nave  would  soon  be  rising.  When  the  second  Bishop 
of  Truro  started  the  Cornish  Women's  Association 
for  supplying  the  "  Internal  fittings "  of  the  Cathedral, 
Mrs.  Benney  undertook  to  collect  the  money  required 
to  purchase  the  chairs  ;  and,  with  indomitable  energy 
and  perseverance,  raised  sufficient  to  purchase  one 
thousand  of  these.  She  was  moreover  very  generous 
in  her  private  benefactions.  "  She  never  could  pass 
over  any  distress  that  came  under  her  notice,  without 
ministering  to  body  and  soul."^  She  treated  one  in 
trouble  "like  a  mother,   taking  her  to  her  house  at 

'  A  Mother  iit  Isi-ael^  p.  86. 


MISSION   WORK  loi 

a  time  of  trial  and  bereavement,  and  keeping-  her 
there  for  nearly  a  year,  and  afterwards  makini,^  her 
feel  she  had  a  friend  she  could  always  turn  to  for 
comfort  and  advice."^ 

She  was  devoted  to  Bishop  Benson,  whom  she 
looked  u})  to  as  a  "prince  of  the  Church,  grand  and 
simple.""  Canon  Mason  and  Canon  F.  E.  Carter 
valued  her  friendship,  and  have  borne  willing  testimony 
to  her  many  spiritual  gifts.  Bishop  Wilkinson  used  to 
say  often  "We  should  like  to  hear  what  Mrs.  Benney 
has  to  say  upon  the  subject."  The  ]\I other  of  the 
Community  of  the  Epiphany  found  that,  "in  all  her 
intercourse  with  the  Sisters,  she  was  so  perfectly 
natural."  When  her  clerical  friends  left  Cornwall  she 
still  kept  in  touch  with  them,  and  went  to  missions  at 
Croydon  and  Hackney,  conducted  by  Canon  Mason, 
saying,  "  It's  my  holiday,  and  going  to  church  is  a 
rest  for  both  soul  and  body  "  ;  •'  for,  as  Canon  Carter 
said,  she  was  "satisfied  with  the  pleasure  of  God's 
house."  She  visited  Archbishop  Benson  at  Addington 
and  Lambeth.  There  was  no  obsequiousness  of  any 
kind  in  her  ;  she  could,  as  she  said,  accept  the  Arch- 
bishop's courtesy  in  the  name  of  her  Master,  and  sit 
down  at  his  table  "without  embarrassment.  Her 
features  are  portrayed  in  the  window  erected  to  her 
memory  in  Truro  Cathedral,  where  Eunice  is  present 
at  the  consecration  of  Timothy  ;  and  the  legend  '  Fac 
opus  Evaiigclistcc'  ('Do  the  work  of  an  evangelist') 

1  Ibid.,  p.  87.  -  Ibid.,  p.  30. 

3  Ibid.,  p.  54. 


102  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

may  indeed  be  taken  to  represent  the  message  which, 
both  by  word  and  example,  she  urged  upon  clergy  and 
laity  alike."  ^ 

NOTE 

The  accomplished  authoress  of  the  two  Uttle  books  quoted  in  this 
chapter,  Mrs.  Perrin,  wife  of  the  Rector  of  St.  Mawgan-in-Pydar, 
who  met  with  a  fatal  accident  in  the  Engadine,  August,  1901, 
laboured  with  the  most  untiring  zeal  and  energy  in  her  husband's 
parish  for  twenty-seven  years.  Her  work  was  only  ended  by  her 
departure  from  Cornwall  after  his  decease. 

^  Ibid.^  Preface  by  Canon  Mason,  p.  xii. 


CHAPTKR    VI 
THE    CATHEDRAL 

DR.  in<:NS()i\'S  life  at  Lincoln,  as  well  as  his 
early  love  for  cathedral  institutions,  led  him, 
very  soon  after  his  appointment  to  Truro,  to  direct 
his  mind  to  the  formation  of  a  capitular  body.  At 
first,  there  were  no  endowed  stalls,  but  he  was  not 
deterred  by  this  lack  of  monetary  resources,  which, 
however  desirable,  were,  as  he  always  maintained,  by 
no  means  essential  to  the  existence  of  a  real  Cathedral 
Chapter.  He  had  already  given  to  the  world,  in  an 
article  in  the  Quarterly  Review  (vol.  cxxx.  No.  259), 
and  in  an  essay  in  a  volume  edited  by  Dean  Howson 
of  Chester,  his  views  on  the  place  that  the  cathedral 
ought  to  occupy  in  the  Church's  system.  In  1878  he 
developed  his  ideas  still  further  in  the  volume  called 
The  Cathedral :  its  necessary  place  in  the  life  ajid 
work  of  the  Church."^  He  made  the  best  of  the 
material    ready    to    his    hand,    and    having    appointed 

'  John  Murray,  1878.  The  Dedication  prefixed  to  this  book  is  quite 
charming  and  altogether  characteristic:  " Viris  venerabiHbus,  Fratribus 
suis,  Dominis  Canonicis  Honorariis  Cathedralis  B.\^  Mariic  Truronensis, 
una  cum  adpropinciuantium  Amabihbus  Umbris,  Canccllariorum, 
Pnccentorum,  C;eterorum,  qui,  niodo  foxit  Deus,  Rei  Christians 
fanuilabuntur,   I  stud  opusculuni  d.   Episcopus." 

103 


I04  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

certain  Honorary  Canons,  the  first  eight  of  whom  were 
installed  on  January  17th,  1878/  he  gave  to  several  of 
them  definite  offices  and  assigned  to  them  distinct 
duties.  Canon  Whitaker  was  appointed  Chancellor, 
with  charge  of  the  Divinity  School  ;  Canon  Mason, 
Diocesan  Missioner ;  Canon  Phillpotts  of  Porth- 
gwidden,  nephew  to  Bishop  Phillpotts  and  a  generous 
benefactor  of  the  see  and  Cathedral,  was  made 
President  of  the  Chapter  of  the  Honorary  Canons  ; 
Canon  Thynne,  who  had  resigned  his  prebend  at 
Exeter  to  take  his  place  in  the  new  chapter  at  Truro, 
was  appointed  Treasurer.  In  accordance  with  Bishop 
Benson's  ideas,  the  Canons  not  only  met,  from  time  to 
time,  in  chapter  and  formed  an  Episcopal  Council,  but 
gave  much  time  to  the  delivery  of  lectures  throughout 
the  diocese,  on  theological  and  ecclesiastical  subjects. 
But  the  Bishop  looked  far  ahead  to  the  foundation  of 
a  complete  capitular  body  in  the  future,  and  prepared, 
with  great  care  and  research,  a  body  of  statutes  for 
its  government  and  regulation.  In  his  Diary,  dated 
Saturday,  December  31st,  1881,  he  writes: — 

"  I  am  very  busy  all  my  spare  time,  which  is  very  little, 

^  Dr.  Benson  notes  in  his  Diary,  January  25th,  1878  :  ''On  the  17th 
I  installed  eight  Canons  as  the  beginning  of  a  chapter.  .  .  .  Above  the 
first  is  Canon  Thynne,  transferred  by  his  own  desire  from  Exeter.  I 
have  named  the  Rector  of  St.  Mary's  and  the  Vicar  of  Kenwyn,  because 
one  has  given  a  church,  the  other  a  house  to  the  see  ;  then  three  busy 
Chaplains ;  and  then  three  out  of  honour  to  age-principle,  and  the  remoter 
regions  of  the  county."  The  following  were  the  first  eight  Canons  : 
A.  C.  Thynne  (St.  Neot),  R.  Martin  (St.  Corentin),  T.  Phillpotts  (St. 
Aldhelm),  R.  Vautier  (St.  Germans),  S.  Rogers  (St.  Piran),  J.  R.  Cornish 
(St.  Buriena),  C.  F.  Harvey  (St.  Carantoc),  A.  J.  Mason  (St.  Cybi), 
G.  H.  Whitaker  (St.  la). 


TUB    CATHEDRAL  105 

with  framiiif^  the  statutes  for  the  Cathedral  which  the  Com- 
missioners have  committed  to  me,  with  the  hint  that  they  will 
be  the  basis  of  the  statutes  of  the  other  new  sees." 

He  took  as  his  model  a  cathedral  of  the  Old 
Foundation — Lincoln — whose  history  he  had  closely 
studied,  and  which  he  had  learned  generally  to  under- 
stand, and  thoroughly  to  value.  He  not  onl\-  made 
himself  well  acquainted  with  the  Laudtun  or  Award 
of  Bishop  Alnwick  and  his  Noviuu  Registriim^  a 
body  of  draft  statutes,  a.d.  1439,  and  also  with  the 
earlier  and,  as  is  now  clearly  discovered,  more  miportant 
chapter  register  of  customs  and  statutes,  the  celebrated 
Liber  Ahgc?-,  or  the  "  Black  Book,"  and  some  of  the 
other  interestino-  and  full  records,  which,  owini/  to  the 
labours  of  his  old  friend  Canon  Wickenden,  Canon 
Maddison  and  others,  have  since  been  published  under 
the  joint  editorship  of  the  late  Henry  Bradshaw,  and 
Canon  Christopher  Wordsworth  (Cambridge  Uni- 
versity Press,  1892-7)  ;  but,  during  the  years  that  he 
held  the  offices  of  Canon  Residentiary  and  Chancellor, 
he  did  all  that  lay  in  his  power  to  give  life  and  reality 
to  the  ancient  traditions,  and  existing  practice  of  the 
Cathedral  at  Lincoln.    In  recalling  those  investigations 

^  In  the  Life  of  Bishop  Christopher  Woriisworih,  p.  526,  Archl^ishop 
Benson  gives  an  illustration  of  that  prelate's  quaint  humour.  An  ancient 
copy  of  the  Cathedral  Statutes,  and  a  fairer  one  of  the  Laudum  and 
Novum  Rci^istriivi  were  placed  on  a  dish  at  the  dinner-table  at  Rise- 
holme.  "I  wish,"  said  the  Bishop  to  Dr.  Benson,  who  had,  shortly 
before,  been  talking  of  them,  "  you  would  car\e  some  ratlier  old  venison, 
which  has  been  sent  me.  Everyone  will  take  some.  Put  the  venison 
before  Dr.  Benson."  The  cover  was  lifted,  and  there  was  in  the  dish  a 
folio  manuscript  in  very  bad  condition. 


io6  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

in  a  letter,  written  a  few  months  before  his  death  in 
1896,  to  Canon  Christopher  Wordsworth,  the  Arch- 
bishop said,  "  What  a  piece  of  work  It  was !  It  was 
then  my  eyes  began  to  go  ! " 

The  statutes  that  Dr.  Benson  framed  for  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  Truro  are  very  full  and  complete, 
and  provide  for  every  possible  requirement  of  a 
cathedral  ;  both  as  regards  the  life  and  work  of  the 
chapter  and  the  officials,  greater  and  lesser,  connected 
with  such  a  body.  There  are  added,  besides,  all  the 
forms  of  service  for  the  enthronement  of  a  Bishop, 
installation  of  a  Dean  and  Canons,  even  down  to  the 
admission  of  a  chorister.  Throughout,  ancient  pre- 
cedent is  carefully,  though  not  servilely,  followed. 
Provision  was  made  for  the  special  needs  of  a  modern 
cathedral,  and  for  the  local  requirements  of  Cornwall. 
For  instance,  the  office  and  work  of  a  Canon  Missioner, 
for  the  first  time,  had  an  important  place  in  the  con- 
stitution and  statutes  of  an  English  cathedral. 

Dr.  Benson's  solicitude  for  the  Cathedral  and  its 
eovernment  did  not  end  with  his  resionation  of  the 
Cornish  see.  When  it  was  found  necessary  to  amend 
the  Bishopric  of  Truro  Act  (1876),  and  the  Truro 
Chapter  Act  ( 1878),  the  Archbishop's  advice  was  gladly 
given.  On  a  confidential  memorandum  as  to  the 
Truro  Bishopric  and  Chapter  Acts  Amendment  Act, 
passed  in  1887,  the  little  docket  pinned  on  to  the 
printed  papers  in  the  Primate's  own  handwriting,  tells 
its  own  tale.  "  These  should  now  be  bound  up  with 
the   mass  of  Truro  Cathedral   papers  at  Addington, 


THE    CATHEDRAL  107 

and  dc[)Ositcd  in  the  Cathedral  Library,"  If  the 
Cathedral  stands  so  long,  it  may  be,  that  on  this 
"  mass  of  Cathedral  papers,"  all  of  which  are  now- 
catalogued  and  indexed  as  the  founder  wished,  anti- 
quarians may  be  at  work,  five  centuries  hence,  with 
the  same  reverent  care  as  Archbishop  Benson,  Canon 
Wickenden,  and  Canon  Christopher  Wordsworth 
studied  Le  Black  Book  at  Lincoln,  or  the  famous 
Award  and  draft  statutes  of  Bishop  Alnwick. 

Residentiary  Canons  were  ordered  to  keep  a  real 
residence  of  eight  months  ;  and,  above  all,  to  have 
actual  duties  assigned  to  them  of  a  practical  nature, 
useful,  not  only  within  the  Cathedral  itself,  but  in  the 
diocese  at  large.  A  special  point  was  insisted  on,  that 
the  Bishop  should  have  a  distinct  position  both  in  the 
Cathedral  and  chapter,  and  should  preside,  when 
present,  both  in  the  residentiary  and  general  chapters. 
The  Honorary  Canons  were  to  have  a  real  status  in 
the  Cathedral,  not  only  the  right  to  preach  in  turn  in 
the  Cathedral  pulpit,  but  a  voice  in  the  business  of  the 
general  chapter  ;  they  take  part  in  the  election  of  the 
Capitular  Proctor,  and  (according  to  the  intention 
of  the  Draft  Statutes)  of  the  Bishop  also,  although 
under  legal  advice  they  decided,  on  the  first  occasion 
of  electing  a  Bishop,  in  1 891,  to  refrain  from  the  exer- 
cise of  their  right,  which  may,  however,  hereafter  be 
fully  asserted.  Later  legislation  has  secured  to  them  a 
share  in  the  exercise  of  the  patronage  of  the  chapter 
benefices.  The  statutes  were  written  in  quaint  and 
archaic  language,  but  their  meaning  was  perfectly  free 


loS  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

from  all  ambiouity.  The  Bishop  explained  in  very 
felicitous  diction,  in  his  "  Proem  "  to  the  statutes,  the 
reasons  for  careful  minute  attention  to  the  details 
of  the  capitular  constitution  : — 

"  And  if  to  any  man  it  shall  appear,  that  of  these  statutes 
some  things  be  left  out  which  might  have  been  well  defined, 
and  others  definitively  laid  down  w^iich  are  of  small  moment, 
let  him  remember  first,  that  in  some  matters,  of  even  grave 
concern,  laudable  custom  ought  to  grow  to  have  power  of 
law,  provided  it  be  not  contrariant  to  what  is  writ,  (and  the 
Canons  shall  do  well  from  time  to  time  to  record  and  keep  in 
a  customary  book  such  uses  as,  from  time  to  time,  shall  be 
found  convenient  for  their  guiding),  and  that,  diversely,  in 
certain  very  small  matters,  experience  hath  taught  that, 
if  such  like  be  not  early  defined,  discrepancy  doth  lead  to 
needless  discussion,  and  vexation,  to  hindrance  in  most 
weighty  concerns,  touching  even  the  safe  keeping  of  the  flock 
of  souls.  Wherefore  we  have  noticed  how  many  antient 
statutes  in  their  preamble  set  forth  the  moment  of  peace 
and  love,  in  such-like  corporations  and  religious  companies." 

At  the  end  of  the  section  concerning  "  Order  in 
Divine  Service  and  of  precedency,"  in  which  are  laid 
down  the  rules  for  reading  Lessons,  and  for  the  pro- 
cessions on  great  occasions,  it  is  stated,  with  charac- 
teristic common  sense  and  quaint  phraseology,  "all 
which  is  here  set  down  that  none  may  trouble  them- 
selves or  others  of  small  matters,  when  they  would  be 
about  oreat  thinors." 

The  Bishop  inserted  in  the  statutes  the  custom 
of  certain  cathedrals  of  the  Old  Foundation,  for  the 
recitation  of  the  Psalter  daily  by  the  Canons  ;  the 
Psalms   being  divided    for    this    purpose    among    the 


THE    CATHEDRAL  109 

Bishop,  the  Dignitaries,  and  the  IIonorarN'  Canons. 
Dr.  Benson  consulted  his  friend  Mr.  Henry  Bradshaw 
about  tlie  compilation  of  these  statutes,  and  the  most 
important  parts  of  them  have  been  printed  in  the 
volume  of  the  statutes  of  Lincoln  Cathedral,  above 
referred  to,  published  by  the  Cambridi^'e  University 
Press.  ^ 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Benson,  a  series 
of  documents  and  memoranda  connected  with  the 
Truro  Chapter  Act  (187S),  and  the  gradual  evolution 
of  the  Draft  Statutes,  and  their  final  adoption  by  the 
Cathedral  Establishments  Commission,  has  been  de- 
posited among  the  muniments  of  the  Truro  Chapter. 
They  extend  from  the  date  of  the  issue  of  the  Com- 
mission, July  4th,  1879,  to  the  adoption  of  "the 
Report  upon  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Truro,"  embody- 
ing "  the  Draft  of  Statutes,"  with  appendices  and  corre- 
spondence, on  February  26th,  1883.  Few  persons, 
probably,  except  those  immediately  associated  with 
the  Bishop,  could  have  formed  any  conception  of  the 
minute  care  involved  in  this  work  ;  while  the  mere 
task  of  studying  many  Acts  of  Parliament  and  Orders 
in  Council,  transcribing  and  retranscribing  drafts  of  the 
statutes,  resolutions  respecting  them,  and  proposals 
affecting  the  relation  of  the  Cathedral  to  the  parish 
church  of  Truro,  must  in  itself  have  been  most 
laborious.     In  the  work,  besides  Mr.  Henry  Bradshaw, 

^  Lincoht  CatJicdral  Siatuies^  Bradshaw  and  Wordsworth,  part  ii. 
pp.  748  seq. :  and  see  A  Mt')noir  of  He  my  Bradshaw,  by  G.  W.  Prothero 
(1888),  pp.  345  and  282. 


no  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Archbishop  Temple  (then  Bishop  of  Exeter),  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  (then  domestic  chaplain  to 
Archbishop  Tait),  Lord  Ashcombe  (then  Mr.  George 
Cubitt,  M.P.),  Mr.  Godfrey  Lushington,  Mr.  Arthur 
Burch,  Canons  Mason  and  Whitaker  of  Truro, 
Christopher  Wordsworth  and  Wickenden  of  Lincoln, 
the  Right  Hon.  A.  J.  Beresford  Hope,  M.P.,  and  Mr. 
A.  B.  Ellicott,  the  secretary  of  the  Commission,  gave,  in 
different  ways,  assistance  and  advice  to  the  founder  of 
our  Cathedral  ;  but  his  own  hand  is  everywhere  im- 
pressed on  its  code  of  government.  Nothing  escaped 
his  attention  and  supervision.  In  a  series  of  large 
note-books  three  successive  drafts  of  the  statutes  were 
made,  chiefly  in  the  Bishop's  own  hand.  When  in 
type,  they  again  underwent  successive  revisions  for 
the  Commission.  They  were,  at  last,  finally  confirmed 
on  St.  Andrew's  Day,  November  30th,  1882,  and  on 
February  20th,  1883,  Bishop  Benson,  then  Archbishop- 
elect  of  Canterbury,  signed  the  Commissioners' 
Report. 

Parts  of  the  Truro  statutes  have  been  embodied  in 
Acts  of  Parliament  affecting  the  chapter,  but  they 
have  not  as  yet  received,  as  a  whole,  any  legal 
sanction  or  authority,  nor  was  Bishop  Benson  at  any 
time  particularly  anxious  that  this  should  be  given  to 
them.  He  always  quoted  other  capitular  codes,  as 
havino-  nothino-  more  than  the  authority  of  custom  and 
use,  and  recommended  that  the  Truro  statutes  should 
be  tested  by  experience  and  practice,  and  by  custom 
o-row   into    law.      As    a   matter    of   fact,   allowing   for 


THE    CArilEDKAL  m 

certain  modifications  rendered  necessary  by  Parlia- 
mentary legislation,  the  statutes  have,  as  a  whole,  and 
in  most  particulars,  been  faithfully  observed,  and 
portions  of  them  are  read  aloud  annually  at  one  of  the 
three  principal  meetings  of  the  general  chapter.  It 
has  been  found  that  their  author,  not  only  devised  an 
exceedingly  interesting  body  of  regulations,  faithfully 
reproducing  the  spirit  of  the  best  times  of  ancient 
cathedral  life  and  work,  but  has  handed  down  a 
thoroughly  useful  and  practical  working  code.  Until 
the  residentiary  chapter  was  constituted  legally  in 
1887  by  Act  of  Parliament,  the  statutes  could  not  be 
fully  obeyed  ;  and,  up  to  that  date,  an  abridged  form 
of  them,  called  "  Regulations,"  was  printed  and  put  in 
use. 

The  building  of  a  cathedral  seemed  to  the  Bishop  to 
be,  not  merely  a  desirable  embodiment  of  a  true 
ecclesiastical  idea,  but  an  essential  instrument  for  the 
successful  carrying  out  of  a  vigorous  diocesan  life  and 
work.  The  present  writer,  some  years  before  he  had 
any  idea  that  he  would  be  called  to  work  in  Cornwall, 
heard  Dr.  Benson  preach  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in 
behalf  of  the  building  fund  that  had  recently  been 
started.  His  text  was  "One  Body  and  one  Spirit," 
and  the  needful  existence  of  the  outward  and  visible 
organisation  of  the  Church  to  enable  it  to  put  in 
action  its  spiritual  powers,  was  ably  laid  down.  He 
went  on  to  maintain  the  great  importance  ot  the 
visible  symbol  and  framewcjrk  of  a  church,  to  be  the 
perpetual  reminder  of  the  Spiritual   Society  in  every 


112  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

parish.  From  this  he  naturally  passed  on  to  show- 
that  the  true  ecclesiastical  unit,  the  diocese,  ought 
also  to  possess  its  outward  embodiment  and  symbol  in 
the  cathedral.  The  impression  made  by  his  sermon 
on  the  present  writer's  mind  is  still,  after  many  years, 
strong  and  vivid  ;  as  is  also  the  characteristic  story 
which  he  told  on  the  occasion,  and  which  he  used  as 
an  incentive  for  the  consfre^ation  at  St.  Paul's  to 
assist  in  the  building  of  the  far-off  cathedral  in  the 
West.  After  the  Great  Fire  of  London  in  1666, 
collections  were  made,  all  over  the  country,  towards 
the  rebuilding  of  St.  Paul's  ;  and  Dr.  Benson  quoted 
the  records  of  an  obscure  sea-coast  parish  in  Cornwall, 
which  showed  that  the  poor  fisher-folk  there  had 
contributed  a  few  shillings  towards  the  rebuilding  of 
the  cathedral  in  the  ■Metropolis.  "  To-day,"  he  said, 
"we  ask  for  the  return  of  this  kindness." 

The  whole  sermon  was  an  admirable  summary  of 
the  oft-repeated  teaching  of  Dr.  Benson,  to  be  found 
in  his  diocesan  addresses,  letters,  and  books. 

At  the  first  Diocesan  Conference  in  1877,  the 
subject  was  brought  forward  in  a  paper  read  by  the 
Rev,  Thomas  Phillpotts,  and  a  committee  appointed 
to  consider  the  subject.  A  few  weeks  after,  the 
Rector  and  churchwardens  of  St.  Mary's  Church 
pointed  out  to  the  Bishop,  that  the  condition  of  the 
buildino-  was  insecure,  the  roof  beino-  in  a  most 
dangerous  state.  A  considerable  amount  of  money 
had  been  collected  for  the  restoration  of  the  parish 
church,  but  all  action  was  suspended  on  the  part  of 


THE    CATHEDRAL  113 

13 


the  parochial  authorities  until  the  wishes  of  the  Bishop 
and  of  his  advisers  were  known.     In  January,  1878,  the 
Cathedral  Committee  met,  under  the  presidency  of  the 
Lord  Lieutenant,  the  Earl  of  Mount  Edgcumbe,  who, 
from  that  time  forward,  has  shown  himself,  not  only  a 
wise  and  considerate  chairman,  but  a  warm  and  generous 
advocate  of  the  Cathedral,  and  subscriber  to  its  funds. 
Certain  differences  of  opinion  were  expressed  as  to 
the  kind  of  buildinL!'  it  was  desirable  to  erect.      Some 
considered  that  an  enlaroed  church,  of  the  parochial 
type,   would  suffice   for  all   the   needs  of   so   small   a 
diocese  as   that   of  Cornwall,     But   the   Bishop,   and 
others  who  appreciated  his  views,  pleaded  earnesdy, 
and,  in  the  end,  successfully,  for  the  erection  of  a  true 
Cathedral,  with  all  the  dignity  of  height  and  length 
that  such  a  building  involves.      Some  were  of  opinion 
that  it  would  be  better  to  begin  with   the  nave,  and 
let   the   choir    and    transepts    follow   in   a   succeeding 
generation.      But,   here    again,   the    foresight    of    the 
Bishop  was  justified  in  pressing   for  the   completion 
of  a  noble  choir,  with  an  east  end  that  would  impress 
worshippers  ;  believing  that,  when  the  need  of  further 
space   was   felt,    the   nave,   and   other  portions   of  the 
buildine,   would   follow.     The   event   has   proved   the 
wisdom  of  this  view,  and  the  trial  of  having  to  face 
the  ugliness  of  a  blank  temporary  wall  has  not  been 
inflicted  on  the  congregeition,  but  on  the  clergy,  who, 
for  fifteen  years,  have  had  to  endure  it  when  turning 
towards    the    people.      Canon    C.    Fox    Harvey,    the 
Rector  of  the  parish,  had  generously,  in  the  previous 


114  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

summer,  made  over  to  the  Bishop  the  advowson  of 
the  rectory  of  which  he  was  patron  ;  and  thereby  had 
removed  some  possible  difficulties  of  a  serious  char- 
acter in  the  way  of  the  future  status  of  the  Cathedral. 
The  money  already  collected  for  the  restoration  of 
the  church  was  now,  by  the  consent  of  the  subscribers, 
handed  over  towards  the  new  building.  The  question 
of  the  site  had  of  course  occasioned  some  discussion. 
But  it  was  determined,  mainly,  by  the  fact  that  St. 
Mary's  Church  was  named  as  the  Cathedral  Church, 
in  the  Act  of  Parliament  constituting  the  see.  By 
some  an  entirely  new  building,  visible  far  and  near,  on 
some  lofty  spot  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  was 
suo-CTested.  Against  this,  amono"  other  difficulties, 
was  objected  the  creation  of  a  new  ecclesiastical 
centre,  in  addition  to  the  already  numerous  parish 
churches  of  Truro.  It  was,  indeed,  thought  inex- 
pedient by  many  to  plant  a  splendid  architectural 
pile  low  down  in  the  city,  with  little  space  about  it, 
with  houses  and  shops  clustering  around.  But,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  desirability  of  identifying  the 
Cathedral  with  the  old  ecclesiastical  centre  of  Truro, 
of  linking  it  with  the  many  associations  and  historic 
memories  of  a  most  ancient  municipality  and  parish, 
prevailed.  On  the  whole,  this  cannot  be  regretted. 
The  narrow  streets  and  lanes,  by  which  the  Cathedral 
is  approached,  remind  those  who  visit  it  of  many  an 
old  French  town,  with  its  ancient  minster,  hemmed  in 
by  humble  dwellings  in  the  heart  of  the  population, 
close  by  its  market,  town  hall,  and  other  daily  resorts 


THE    CATHEDRAL  115 

of  the  inhabitants.  What  was  wanted  was,  not  a 
show-place  for  visitors,  with  a  pleasant,  trim  environ- 
ment, but  a  mother-church  and  workinof  ecclesiastical 
centre.  The  agreeable  "  amenities "  (as  a  Scotch 
gardener  would  say)  of  a  cathedral  close,  with  the 
peaceful  retirement  of  a  deanery  and  its  garden,  quiet 
canonical  residences  and  the  like,  things  very  desir- 
able in  themselves,  are  necessarily  wanting  under 
existing  circumstances,  or  at  least  indefinitely  post- 
poned. But,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  real  advantage 
that  Truro  Cathedral  is  not  altogether  new.  It  has 
incorporated  into  itself  a  substantial  portion  of  the 
parish  church,  and  retains  much  of  the  old  associa- 
tions of  the  past ;  it  stands  in  the  old  "  High  Cross," 
and  is  reached  through  the  old  "Church  Lane." 
Underneath  its  crypt  and  nave  lie  the  buried  remains 
of  many  a  citizen  and  worthy  of  olden  times  :  their 
monuments  are  preserved,  and  their  history  not  alto- 
gether forgotten.  Those  who  worship  in  the  old 
parish  aisle,  and  even  in  the  new  Cathedral,  are 
kneeling  on  the  ground  consecrated  by  at  least  six 
centuries  of  prayer  and  praise. 

The  old  church  contained  some  interesting  monu- 
ments, among  them  a  fine  Jacobean  tomb  to  John 
Robartes  and  his  wife,  of  the  year  1614.  This  had 
been  fairly  well  preserved,  but  had  suffered  from  the 
figures  being  periodically  black-leaded  as  the  most 
effective  wav  of  cleanino^  them,  accordino-  to  the 
notions  of  the  officials  of  eighteenth  and  early  nine- 
teenth    centuries     epocli.       It     has     been     admirablv 


ii6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

restored  by  Lord  Robartes.  There  was  also  a  group 
of  memorials  of  the  Vivian  family,  including  the  first 
Lord,  better  known  in  history  as  Sir  Hussey  Vivian, 
cavalry  commander  at  Waterloo.  A  former  Rector, 
named  Phippen  or  Fitzpen,  who  suffered  for  his  prin- 
ciples in  the  days  of  the  Commonwealth,  is  commemo- 
rated in  a  brass  ;  and  his  brother  by  a  tombstone, 
relating  his  marvellous  escape  from  captivity  on  board 
a  Turkish  galley,  which  he  succeeded  in  capturing  by 
aid  of  his  fellow-prisoners,  and  bringing  into  a  Spanish 
port,  as  a  prize  worth  ^6,000.  Some  fragments  of 
stained  glass  coeval  with  the  building,  which  was 
erected  in  15 18  on  a  site  where  two  earlier  churches 
had  successively  stood  ;  a  fine  specimen  of  the  carved 
waggon  roof  so  usual  in  Cornwall,  long  hidden  by  a 
plaster  ceiling  ;  a  sweet-toned  organ  by  Byfield,  built 
for  the  Chapel  Royal,  Whitehall,  but  never  placed  in 
that  building;  a  quaint- inlaid  wooden  pulpit,  and  some 
later  stained  glass  of  unequal  merit;  all  these  make  up 
the  details  of  what  was  a  typical  Cornish  church.  These 
have  been,  so  far  as  possible,  carefully  retained  in  the 
portion  of  the  old  church  now  remaining;  the  principal 
monuments,  after  judicious  and  conservative  repair, 
being  placed  in  the  north  transept  of  the  Cathedral. 

In  the  autumn  of  1880  the  old  church  was  pulled 
down,  with  the  exception  of  the  south  aisle  ;  the  north 
side  of  the  building  and  the  western  tower  were  not 
of  either  sufficient  age,  beauty,  or  interest,  to  rescue 
them  from  demolition.  But  the  portion  that  has  been 
preserved,   with    its   external   carving   similar   to   that 


THE    CArilEDRAL  117 

which  maybe  seen  at  St.  Austell,  St.  Mary  Magdalene. 
Launceston,  and  elsewhere,  not  only  gives  an  element 
of  antiquity  to  the  youngest  of  English  cathedrals, 
but  has  proved,  under  the  skilful  treatment  of  the 
architect,  an  occasion  for  adding  special  constructional 
beauty  in  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  arcades 
of  the  aisles  and  ambulatory.  It  must,  however,  be 
recorded  that  Dr.  Benson  was  never  at  all  anxious  to 
preserve  this  portion  of  the  old  building.  He  would 
have  been  better  pleased  if  the  new  Cathedral  had 
been  unrestricted  in  its  design,  and  unhampered  by 
being  linked  to  an  old  fragment,  left,  as  he  said,  "  in 
our  mistaken  deference  to  the  ignorant  London  anti- 


"  1 


quaries. 

There  was  not  a  little  pathos  surrounding  the  final 
act  of  worship  in  the  old  parish  church,  where,  for  so 
many  centuries,  Truro  Churchmen  had  met  for  worship. 
At  an  early  celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
Canon  Fox  Harvey  being  the  officiant,  held  on 
Monday,  October  nth,  1880,  more  than  one  hundred 
communicants  received  the  Bread  of  Life,  for  the  last 
time,  in  the  time-honoured  sanctuary  endeared  by 
many  memories  of  joy  and  sorrow." 

The  choice  of  an  architect  lay  between  Messrs. 
Bodley  and   Garner,  I\Ir.   Piers   St.  Aubyn,  Mr.  G.  E. 

'  Diary,  July  i3lh,  1882. 

-  Seven  years  later,  when  the  time  came  to  leave  the  temporary 
wooden  building  that  served  for  a  church,  during  the  erection  of  the 
Cathedral,  a  touching  sermon,  entitled  "  New  and  Old,"  was  preached  by 
Canon  Phillpotts  on  October  30th,  1887,  "the  last  Sunday  in  the  wooden 
church." 


ii8  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Street,  r.a.,  Mr.  Pullan,  Mr.  Burgess,  Mr.  J.  O.  Scott, 
and  Mr.  J.  L.  Pearson,  a.r.a.^  The  last  was  eventually 
selected,  his  previous  work  in  churches  in  Red  Lion 
Square  (St.  John's),  Kilburn  (St.  Augustine's),  and 
elsewhere,  winning  much  approval. 

In  a  letter  accepting  the  appointment  as  architect 
of  the  new  Cathedral,  Mr.  Pearson  wrote  : — 

"  I  shall  have  very  great  pleasure  indeed  in  undertaking 
the  work  at  Truro.  At  the  same  time,  I  much  fear  that 
I  ma}'  not  be  able  to  realise  all  that  may  be  expected  of  me, 
and  all  that  I  myself  would  desire.  I  feel  it  a  great  privilege 
to  have  to  design  and  build  such  a  work,  and  I  had  scarcely 
dared  to  hope  that  the  chance  of  doing  so  would  ever  come 
to  my  lot.  But,  as  I  presume  that  there  is  every  chance 
of  the  General  Committee  approving  the  report  of  the 
Executive,  and  that  therefore  this  building  will  be  placed 
in  my  hands,  I  can  only  say  that  I  will  endeavour  to  do 
my  best,  with  the  means  you  may  anticipate  being  able  to  lay 
out  upon  it." 

The  events  connected  with  a  new  cathedral  founda- 
tion in  England  are  so  remarkable,  that  it  is  not 
to  be  wondered  that  every  effort  was  made  to  mark 
the  occasion. 

The  laying  of  the  foundation  stones  took  place 
on  May  20th,  1880,  and  was  surrounded  with  every 
possible  circumstance  of  dignified  ceremony  and  public 
rejoicing.  The  city  of  Truro  was  elaborately  deco- 
rated, and  to  it  flocked  all  the  leading  people  of  the 
Duchy  to  do  honour  to  their  Duke  and  Duchess, 
the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales,  who,  with  their  two 

1  Afterwards  R.A. 


THE    CATHEDRAL  119 

young  sons,  came  into  Cornwall  to  take  part  in  the 
<-rreat    ceremony.      Processions    of   Freemasons   were 
formed  at  the  Town   Hall,  and  of  clerc^y  in  the  old 
church  ;  and   a   great   inclosure,   erected   in  the   High 
Cross,  was  filled  with  a  dense  throng  of  people.     The 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  (Dr.  Tait)  was  too  ill  to  take 
his  appointed  place  on  an  occasion  truly  historic.     The 
Bishop  of  Truro  was  filled  with  joy  and  gladness,  at 
the  sight  of  so  hopeful  an  inauguration  of  his  great 
ideal,   and   took   part   in   the   proceedings  with   much 
enthusiasm.      He  thoroughly  appreciated  the  kindness 
of  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  in  taking  so  deep 
an  interest  in  the  Cathedral,  and  the  noble  hospitalities 
of  the  late  Lord  Falmouth  in  entertaining  them  and 
their  suite  at  Tregothnan.      He  was  pleased  with  the 
part  taken  by  the  PVeemasons,  under  their  Provincial 
Grand  Master,  Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe,  though  some 
Churchmen    were    not    particularly    keen    about    the 
introduction  of  that  ceremonial  element  into  the  pro- 
ceedings.     He  admired  the  dignified  manner  in  which 
the   Prince  performed  his  share  in  the  laying  of  the 
two   memorial  stones,   one  of  which   was   on   the  site 
of  the  nave,  and,  surmounted  by  a  portion  of  a  shaft, 
which  for  many  years  stood  there,  a  solitary  and  pro- 
phetic token  of  the  extended  building  that  was  to  be. 
Besides  the  royal  personages  and  the  great  Masonic 
Brotherhood,  there  were  present  the  Bishops  of  Exeter 
(Dr.   Temple)  and    Madagascar  (the   Right   Rev.    R. 
Kestell-Cornish.  son  of  a  former  \'icar  of  Kenwyn)  ; 
the  body  of  Honorary  Canons,  and  a  large  assembly 


I20  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese  :  while  a  choir,  gathered 
from  all  parts  of  Cornwall,  sang  the  appointed  Psalms 
and  hymns. 

Dr.  Benson  thus  spoke  of  that  "  really  happy 
day  "  : — 

''■  The  weather  was  gorgeous.  When  the  ceremony  was 
at  its  height,  the  sky  was  more  beautiful  than  I  ever  beheld 
it.  One  deepest  lustrous  blue  over  the  whole  heaven  above 
the  great  inclosure,  and  right  above  us,  and  in  view,  the 
tiniest,  most  delicate  white  clouds  flecked  it  all  over  in  the 
most  symmetrical  arrangement."  ^ 

How  highly  he  appreciated  the  enthusiastic  help  of 
his  laymen,  will  appear  from  the  following  letter 
written  to  the  honorary  treasurer  of  the  Building 
Committee,  who  had  organised  a  band  of  collectors  : — 

"Truro,  24///  May. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Nix, — Thank  you  very  much.  The 
amount  was,  I  think,  most  satisfactory.  Poor  people  and 
Dissenters  must  have  given  freely.  We  might  have  continued 
the  singing  more  immediately,  if  we  had  known  how  many 
would  be  giving. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  how  immensely  everyone  feels  indebted 
to  you  for  the  arrangements  made  both  times  for  collecting. 
They  were  very  difficult  to  make,  and  were  most  skilfully 
organised.  You  had  a  charming  and  obedient  troupe  of 
croupiers,  who  will  always  be  proud  of  having  served  under 
you  that  day.  "  Yours  sincerely, 

"E.  W.  Truron:" 

On  the  Sunday  after  the  stone-laying,  a  very  re- 
markable   service    was    held,    at    which    the     Bishop 

^  Life,  abridged  edition,  pp.  i8i,  182. 


THE    CATJIEDKAL  121 

preached  from  the  words  "  Not  by  mic^^ht  nor  by 
power,  but  by  My  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 
Many  walked  miles  to  come  to  it.  The  stands, 
erected  for  the  great  ceremony  of  the  20th,  were  still 
remaining,  and  about  four  thousand  people  were 
present,  mainly  of  the  working  classes.  The  singing 
of  the  hymns  led  by  two  cornets  was  most  impressive. 
A  spectator  has  thus  described  the  scene  and  the 
central  fiorure  : — 

"  The  Bishop  stood,  his  face  pale  with  emotion,  and  yet 
irradiated  with  the  tenderest  smile  of  hopefulness  ;  he  seemed 
like  a  man  who  had  won  a  victory  by  prayer :  his  place  was 
by  a  pillar  base ;  as  he  gave  out  hymn  after  hymn,  which 
were  taken  up  and  sung  with  the  most  moving  intensity  by 
the  crowd,  his  hair  waving  in  the  sharp  gusts  which  whirled 
the  dust  and  shavings  of  the  inclosure  about,  it  was  as 
though  we  were  translated  out  of  the  nineteenth  century  into 
some  strange  chapter  of  mediaeval  religious  life."  ^ 

P>om  that  day  forward  the  work  proceeded  steadily. 
A  large  sum  (^10,000)  had  to  be  expended  on  the 
purchase  of  the  site  and  the  adjacent  property,  and 
the  foundations  were  of  necessity  deeply  laid  and 
costly.  But  Cornish  men  and  women  were  generous 
and  energetic,  the  ^15,000  subscribed  in  the  room, 
at  the  first  meeting  held  in  1878  to  promote  the 
building  of  a  cathedral,  had  already  swelled  to  a  large 
amount,  and  contributions  llowed  in  unceasingly  from 
all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  as  well  as   from   Cornwall. 

^  Li/t\  abridged  edition,  pp.  1S3,  184. 


122  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

The    design    was    a    very    striking    one,  and    worthy 
of  the  architect's  reputation. 

In  addition  to  other  features,  the  baptistery  (by 
some  considered  the  gem  of  the  whole  building)  was 
built  as  a  memorial  to  Henry  Martyn,  a  son  of  Truro, 
the  distinguished  Senior  Wrangler,  devoted  missionary, 
and  learned  linguist,  who  died  at  Tokat  in  Pontus 
in  I  Si  2.  Canon  Phillpotts  of  Porthgwidden  gener- 
ously gave  the  beautiful  south  porch,  by  some  critics 
considered  too  ornate  for  the  severity  of  the  style 
of  architecture  adopted  for  the  Cathedral  ;  but  justi- 
fied as  serving  to  blend  the  more  florid  portion  of 
the  old  Perpendicular  south  aisle  with  the  new  Early 
English  building.  Advantage  was  taken  of  the  slope 
of  the  ground  to  build  a  crypt  under  the  lofty  choir. 
The  principal  features  of  the  building  are  its  height, 
its  fine  groined  roof,  and  the  absence  of  a  too  exact 
and  mechanical  symmetry  in  its  parts  and  details. 
The  architect  has  won  great  praise  for  the  very 
successful  way  in  which  he  has  solved  the  problem  of 
uniting  the  old  St.  Mary's  aisle  with  the  Cathedral 
by  an  ambulatory,  so  designed  as  to  become  the 
support  of  the  vault  over  the  choir  ;  the  steady  ascent 
from  St.  Mary's  aisle  to  the  centre  of  the  church  by 
successive  flights  of  steps  is  a  fine  achievement.  A 
great  variety  of  mouldings,  inequality  of  span  of 
arches,  and  other  designed  departures  from  uniformity, 
relieve  the  building  from  a  hard  and  dull  monotony. 
Cornish  materials  have  been  largely  used  in  the 
building.     The  walls  are,  externally,  of  the  hard  grey 


THE    CATHEDRAL  123 

St.  Mabe  granite  ;  internally,  of  St.  Stephen's  china 
clay  stone,  a  species  of  soft  granite.  ^  The  dressings 
are  of  Bath  stone,  but  the  detached  shafts  of  grey 
polyphant  from  I^ast  Cornwall.  The  Lizard  has 
supplied  serpentine,  of  \arious  shades  of  colour,  for  a 
considerable  part  of  the  steps  to  the  choir  and 
baptistery,  as  well  as  for  the  shafts  of  the  arcading  of 
the  latter-named  portion  of  the  building.  Cornish 
copper  has  been  employed  for  the  roofing  of  the  spire 
of  the  clock  tower  :  and,  had  not  the  cost  been  too 
great,  would  have  been  used  for  the  other  roofs  as 
well.  It  is  acknowledged,  on  all  sides,  that  the 
architect  has  succeeded  in  his  efforts  to  build  a  real 
cathedral  ;  that,  not  only  from  an  artistic  point  of 
view,  has  he  produced  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Gothic 
architecture  of  the  purest  style,  but  that  his  creation 
has  a  peculiar  power  to  impress  those  who  enter  it, 
with  a  sense  of  reverence  as  well  as  of  admiration. 

Bishop  Benson  looked  forward  to  the  time  when 
Cornish  Churchpeople  would  realise,  and  resort  to, 
the  Cathedral  as  their  mother-church.  Nor  has  his 
anticipation  been  altogether  disappointed. 

Annual  gatherings  of  choirs,  Sunday-school  teachers, 
temperance  societies,  G.  F.S.  members  and  associates, 
assemble  within  its  walls,  knd  prove  that  it  is  to 
them    something    more    than     a     mere     ecclesiastical 

1  Great  trouble  was  taken  about  the  choice  of  building  materials. 
Colonel  Cocks  of  Treverbyn  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  and  anxious 
labour  to  the  matter.  Seventy-two  varieties  of  stone  were  reported  on. 
The  oolite  was  shown  to  be  superior  to  all  others.  (Cf  Journal  of  the 
Royal  Insliliition  of  Cornwall^  vol.  ii.  pt.  ii.  p.  86,  April,  18S2.) 


124  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

or    architectural     show-place.      On    these    occasions, 
surprising    efforts    are    made    by    the    more    distant 
parishes    to    send    up    their    representatives    to    the 
cathedral    city.       If    choristers     or     Church  -  workers 
from    the    rugged    cliffs    by   Tintagel   and   the    north 
coast,    or    the    Land's    End,    or    from    the    moorland 
parishes     between     Bodmin    and    Launceston  ;     from 
the  porths  and  coves  of  the  Lizard  district  and  south 
coast,  or  from  the   borderland  of   the  Tamar  banks, 
desire  to  take  their  place,  along  with   the  miners  of 
Redruth  and   Camborne,   and  the   townsfolk   of  Fal- 
mouth and  Penzance,  in  some  great  Church  gather- 
ing,    it    often     involves    rising    with     the     sun    and 
returning  home  after  midnight,  tired  out  with  a  long 
day's  journey,  but  cheered  and  refreshed  by  a  great 
act  of  common  worship,  and  a  joyous  sense  of  fellow- 
ship.    The   Cathedral,   in    fact,   has    in    fifteen    years 
become  a  real   centre  and   rallying-point  for  Cornish 
Churchpeople.     They  have   learned   to  realise,   more 
than  ever,  their  unity  and  strength,  and  the  memories 
of   old    Cornish    Churchmen    have    helped    this.      As 
they   walk   about   its    aisles,    they   cannot   fail   to   see 
that  it  is  their  own  Cathedral.     They  remember  that 
the   second    Bishop    of   Truro   has   in   his   possession 
a   book   containing    twenty  -  three    thousand    of   their 
names,  as  contributors  to  the  building  and  its  fittings  ; 
and  that,  though  there  were   indeed  some  large  and 
splendid  gifts,   yet    the   Cathedral   was    built   by   the 
many,  not  the  few.      An  inscription  on  a  monument 
or  in  stained  glass  recalls  to  them,  that  this  deanery 


THE    CATHEDRAL  125 

or  that  parish  L;ave  a  screen  or  a  window,  a  marble 
pavement  or  a  Canon's  stall  ;  that  a  Robartes,  a  Pole- 
Carew%  a  Fortescue,  a  Willyams,  a  Bolitho,  is  here 
or  there  commemorated  ;  that  a  famous  Cornishman 
like  Jt)hn  Couch  Adams,  of  Laneast,  the  astronomer, 
or  Henry  Martyn  the  missionary,  or  Hussey  Vivian 
the  soldier,  have  their  renown  recorded  within  its 
walls.  Indeed,  the  Cathedral  already  promises  to 
become  a  kind  of  Westminster  Abbey  for  the  worthies 
of  Cornwall  of  all  times.  Those  who  first  planned  it 
had  some  thought  of  this  in  their  minds. 

It  was  a  statesmanlike  stroke  of  policy,  though  the 
matter  may  appear   trifling,  to  give  historic  or  local 
associations  to  the  Honorary  Canons  of  the  Cathedral, 
and    link    them    with    the    names    of    ancient    saints. 
Ecclesiastical  commissioners,   and  other  officials,   sel- 
dom rise  above  the  prosaic  level  of  entitling  cathedral 
stalls  as  "canonry  number  one,"  "number  two,"  etc. 
Bishop  Benson  added  a  touch  of  poetry  and  quaint- 
ness   to   his   Cathedral,   by   affixing  to  the  stalls  the 
names   of   St.    Piran,    St.    German,    St.    Germoc   and 
others.     This    example    has    since    been    followed    at 
Wakefield  and   Newcastle,   where  the  leaders  of  the 
ancient  northern  Church  are  now  commemorated  on 
the    Canons'    stalls.      Dr.    Benson    also    very    rightly 
pressed  for  certain  alterations  in  the  proposed  figures 
on  the  altar  screens  in  the  sanctuary,  by  which  are 
now  recorded  the  names  of  the  early  Cornish  Bishops 
and    missionaries,    as    Bishops    Kenstec    and    Conan, 
St.  Pctroc.  and  others.      Moreover  in  the  elaborately 


126  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

planned  scheme  of  subjects  for  the  stained -glass 
windows,  illustratincr  the  sacred  history  of  the  world 
under  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and  the  varied 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  all  the  ages  of  the  Christian 
dispensation,  notable  Cornish  saints  and  worthies  are 
o-iven  a  prominent  position.  Some  of  them,  like 
St.  Constantine,  St.  Winnow  and  others,  are  already 
to  be  seen  in  the  lancet  windows  of  the  baptistery.^ 

A  somewhat  humorous  story  may  be  told  in  con- 
nection with  these  Cornish  saints.  A  rather  timid 
friend  of  the  Church  in  the  north  of  England,  who 
was  interested  in  Truro  Cathedral,  was  attacked  by 
a  person,  keenly  alive  to  the  smallest  indications  of 
supposed  Popery,  on  the  ground  that  at  the  Cathedral 
there  were  images  of  extraordinary  saints,  quite 
unknown  to  the  Anolican  Calendar.  The  informa- 
tion  sent  by  a  Truro  Canon  that,  neither  were  they 
to  be  found  in  the  Roman  Calendar,  apparendy 
relieved  the  distressed  friend  and  silenced  the  critic. 

Bishop  Benson  followed  every  step  of  the  building 
operations  with  keen  interest  and  delight ;  and,  as  it 
prew,  its  graceful  form  seemed  to  present  a  "singular 
and  beautiful  picture,  in  the  tall  slender  columns  in 
advance  of  the  east  window  ;  and  all  the  pillars  of 
the  choir,  standing,  as  it  were,  balanced  on  the  mighty 
piers  of  the  crypt.""  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
workmen,  and  drew  up  a  form  of  prayer  to  be  used 
daily  at  the  close  of  the  day's  work.  When  the  nave 
was   in    course    of   erection,   prayer   was    said    at   the 

1  See  Appendix.  -  Diary. 


THE    CATHEDRAL  127 

be^c^innino-  of  each  week,  and  thanksgiving  offered 
at  the  close.  On  the  whole,  this  was  a  better  plan 
and  secured  a  far  larger  attendance.  There  were 
no  serious  accidents  during  the  progress  of  the  work, 
bill  all  connected  with  the  Cathedral  and  the  Huilding 
Committee  were  distressed  at  the  death  of  the  first 
clerk  of  the  works,  Mr.  Bubb.  Not  only  did  the 
architect  feel  greatly  the  loss  of  one  devoted  to  him- 
self and  his  work,  but  he  had  won  the  respect  of 
Cornishmcn,  who  are  slow  to  take  to  a  "stranger." 
He  was  of  the  greatest  value  in  carrying  out  the 
erection  of  the  crypt,  before  the  appointment  of  a 
contractor ;  and  to  his  skill  is  owing,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  successful  restoration  of  the  south  aisle. 
He  had  a  wide  experience  in  building  materials  ;  and, 
together  with  Colonel  Cocks,  visited  a  large  number 
of  quarries  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  suitable  stone. 
"  Certainly  a  remarkable  man  ;  and  not  one  friend 
did  he  lose  by  plain  rough  speech,  not  one  did  he 
make  by  withholding  a  fact."^  This  is  the  estimate 
of  one  who  was  his  friend  as  well  as  Bishop.  Dr. 
Benson  proceeds  to  describe  the  funeral,  on  the 
second  anniversary  of  the  foundation  (May  20th), 
carried  out  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Bubb's  own  wishes. 
A  procession  was  made  to  the  foundation  stone  :  the 
sino-incr  of  the  hvmns  ''  Ans'nlare  Fnndainentuni''  and 
"  Brief  life  is  here  our  portion  "  by  the  choir  and 
clergy  was  taken  up  by  the  workmen,  110  in  number, 
"  the  stonemasons  wearing   according  to  the  custom 

1  Diai-v. 


1 28  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

of  the  trade,  over  their  black  clothes  white  working 
aprons  tied  with  black  riband."  He  was  laid  in 
St.  Mary's  Burial  Ground  "in  the  earth  he  had 
himself  removed  from  old  St.  Mary's  Church.  The 
Rector  began  the  service,  the  Missioner  who  had 
prayed  day  and  night  beside  him,  and  the  Chancellor, 
took  part.  I  never  saw  so  still  and  large  a  funeral 
crowd.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  Nature  which 
makes  gentlemen  at  her  will." 

Mr.  Bubb  was  succeeded,  as  clerk  of  the  works,  by 
Mr.  Robert  Swain,  who  remained  in  charge  of  the 
building  operations  until  after  the  consecration  of  the 
choir  and  transepts  in  November,  1887.^ 

The  following  prayer  was  composed  by  Bishop 
Benson  and  authorised  for  use  during  the  building  of 
the  choir  : — 

Lord  God  of  our  Fathers,  Who  of  old  time  hast  accepted 
them  that  offered  willingly  and  gave  for  the  House  of  God  ; 
and  Who  hast  filled  men  with  Thy  Spirit  to  devise  skilful 
works  in  all  manner  of  workmanship  for  the  service  of  the 
Sanctuary  ;  We  beseech  Thee  to  prepare  the  heart  of  Thy 
people  unto  Thee,  of  Whom  all  things  come  and  are  all 
Thine  Own  ;  Remember  them  that  shew  kindness  for  Thy 
House,  and  for  the  Offices  thereof;  and  put  wisdom  into 
the  hearts  of  men  that  are  wise-hearted  to  make  all  after 
Thy  Will ;  that  in  a  holy  and  beautiful  house  our  children 
may  praise  Thee,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

^  Some  portions  of  the  description  of  the  Cathedral  given  here  are 
taken  from  an  article  contributed  by  the  author  to  the  first  number  of  the 
Cornish  Magazine^  and  reproduced  by  permission  of  the  publisher,  Mr.  J. 
Pollard,  Truro. 


CHAPTER    VII 

DIOCESAN    WORK 

DR.  BENSON  rapidly  became  acquainted  with 
the  country  and  the  people  of  Cornwall.  It 
was  not  lono-  before  he  had  made  a  fjeneral  tour 
of  the  diocese,  and  gained  a  wide  knowledge  of  it, 
which  became  deeper  and  deeper  as  the  years  went 
by.  The  distinction  between  the  more  English  side 
on  the  east  of  the  county  and  the  western  and  more 
Celtic  extremity;  the  difference  of  "tone  of  mind" 
and  "type  of  face"  were  quickly  observed;  and  the 
great  contrasts  of  life  and  calling  among  the  miners, 
fishermen,  and  agricultural  labourers,  duly  noted. 
Besides  all  this  keen  and  alert  observation,  he  took 
pains  to  study  the  records  of  the  places  he  visited. 
He  delio-hted  in  notino-  the  architectural  historv  of 
churches  like  St.  Michael  Penkivel,  St.  Carantoc  and 
its  College  of  Priests  ;  in  making  acquaintance  with 
old  inscriptions  and  carvings  at  St.  Just  or  Camborne, 
ancient  stone  dragons  at  INIorwenstow  or  Week  St. 
Mary  :  he  interested  and  astonished  the  parishioners 
of  Luxulyan  ( Lan  Julian),  by  telling  the  beautiful 
story  of  the  martyrdom  of  St.  Cyrus  and  St.  Julitta, 
to  whom   ilie  church  was  dedicated  ;  and  amused  the 

K  129 


I30  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

people  of  Scilly  with  the  account  from  OHver's 
Monasticon  of  monks  from  Tavistock,  of  which  great 
Abbey  there  was  a  cell  at  Tresco;  "who  obtained  leave 
from  the  Bishop  of  Exeter  to  depart  and  leave  two 
secular  Priests  in  their  place,  because  it  was  not  right 
that  such  valuable  persons  as  monks  should  be  sub- 
jected to  the  storms  and  piracy  and  vice  of  the  Isles." 
At  the  reopening  of  the  churches  of  Perran-ar-Worthal 
and  of  Perranzabuloe,  he  preached,  and  related  the 
story  of  St.  Piran,  his  life,  travels,  his  love  of  animals 
and  his  memorials.  He  alluded  to  the  ancient  "buried 
church"  in  the  sandhills,  "the  little  stone  tabernacle," 
of  which  "  the  mouldering  walls  yet  remain." 
"  There  is  no  older  sanctuary  in  the  land  except, 
perhaps,  St.  Martin's,  Canterbury."  The  "old  story 
about  St.  Piran  cominof  across  the  sea  on  a  millstone 
.  .  .  and  St.  Petroc  on  an  altar  stone,  showed  very 
strong  love,  which  led  lonely  people  in  such  days  to 
come  amono-  wild  tribes" — "to  teach  them  how  to 
ofrind  for  themselves  the  Bread  of  Life."  On  a 
similar  occasion,  at  St.  Pinnock,  he  reminded  the 
people  of  their  patron  saint  ;  who,  clad  in  sheepskins, 
visited  St.  Gregory  of  Tours,  on  his  way  to  Jerusalem 
as  a  pilgrim,  in  578,  and  was  ordained  a  Presbyter  by 
him,  as  Valde  religiosiis,  to  induce  him  to  stay  at 
home  and  work. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  the  railway  communication 
in  Cornwall  was  scanty,  and  the  service  of  trains  far 
less  frequent  and  rapid  than  at  present.  Bodmin  had 
not  its  branch,  nor  Helston  its  extension,  there  was  no 


DIOCESAN   WORK  131 

North  Cornwall  Railway  ;  and  a  great  part  of  the 
diocese  could  only  be  reached  by  road.  Bishop  Benson 
enjoyed  the  long-  drives  in  his  own  carriage  ;  some- 
times alone,  a  mode  of  travelling  he  found  "most 
refreshing,"  "often  in  sight  of  the  glorious  coast, 
bluest  water,  freshest  sea,  and  most  enchanting  sea- 
birds,"  "between  the  hard  work  of  the  Confirmations, 
each  of  which  generally  lasts  two  hours  or  more,  from 
first  to  last."^  He  took  the  greatest  interest  in  his 
Confirmation  work  ;  and  has  recorded  in  his  Diary 
many  of  his  experiences,  and  a  great  deal  of  his  own 
impressions.  Confirmation  had  been  regarded,  by  a 
large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cornwall,  as 
unnecessary,  unreal,  and  unscriptural.  Dr.  Benson 
took  great  pains  to  inform  their  ignorance  and  remove 
their  prejudices.  He  drew  up  a  "Form  of  Service" 
for  his  Confirmations.  The  "  Order  of  Confirmation  " 
was  largely  supplemented  by  instructions  and  devo- 
tions, and  preceded  by  the  public  reading  of  the 
chief  passages  from  Holy  Scripture,  bearing  directly 
on  the  apostolic  practice,  of  "  Laying  on  of  hands." 
Every  effort  was  made  to  instruct  the  people  as  to  the 
reality  of  the  gift  of  grace,  bestowed  in  the  rite,  and 
of  the  need  of  true  preparation  of  heart  in  each 
individual  recipient.  In  the  service,  he  introduced 
the  custom  of  putting  the  question  as  to  the  three- 
fold baptismal  promise,  not  only  to  the  whole  body 
of  candidates,  but  also  to  each  one  separately  ;  and 
the  readino-  out  of  the  Christian  nanies  and  the  several 

'  Diaiv. 


132  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

response  "  I  do,"  had  its  own  special  impressiveness, 
as  well  as  the  united  answer  of  the  whole  company. 
The  custom  has  its  advantages,  and  among  the  im- 
pressionable Cornish  may  be  specially  useful.  When 
there  are  a  few  candidates  the  service  is  not  thereby 
unduly  prolonged  ;  but,  at  a  large  Confirmation,  it  is 
scarcely  desirable,  and  the  quaintness  of  some  of  the 
Cornish  names  is  sometimes  apt  to  provoke  a  smile. 
Dr.  Benson's  successors  have  continued  the  practice, 
though  not  invariably  in  all  cases. 

In  the  midst  of  a  people  alienated  from  sacramental 
teaching,  and  suspicious  of  all  "  outward  and  visible 
signs  "  of  spiritual  grace,  it  has  been  difficult  to  recover 
lost  ground.  But  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro  felt  that, 
perhaps  more  than  any  part  of  the  Church's  teaching, 
it  was  important  to  reassert  the  forgotten  truths  about 
Confirmation.  To  him  it  was  nothing  less  than  the 
imparting  of  a  great  gift,  that  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
Himself  "The  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  limited  in 
the  New  Testament  to  Confirmation.  The  new  birth 
of  the  Spirit  is  the  imparting  of  the  Christian  Priest- 
hood." ^  Of  course  there  was,  and  still  is,  a  very 
determined  opposition  to  this  teaching.  Sometimes 
candidates  were  openly  hindered  from  coming  to  the 
service.  One  farmer  said  to  his  lad,  who  asked  for  an 
afternoon  off  that  he  might  go  to  be  confirmed,  "If 
you  wanted  to  go  to  the  circus,  I  would  have  given 
you  leave,  but  not  for  such  a  folly  as  that."  "^  But  yet 
there  were  many  instances  on  the  other  side.      "  In 

'  Diary.  -  Ibid. 


DIOCESAN   WORK  133 

the  West,"  he  records,  "  I  have  been  surprised  with 
the  numbers  of  elderly  people  coming  to  Confirmation. 

,   At  G a  weeping  farmer  of  the  congregation 

asked  nie,  '  Did  you  ever  before  have  such  old  men 
with  such  tender  little  things  beside  them  kneeling 
to  be  confirmed  together?'  It  was  indeed  most 
striking."^  Sometimes  there  would  be,  after  the 
Cornish  manner,  quite  an  open  and  ecstatic  expression 
of  feeling  among  the  candidates  ;  cries  of  "  Praise  the 
Lord  !  "  being  heard  in  the  church.  At  another  place 
it  was  said,  that  a  Methodist  revival  had  been  held  to 
counteract  the  teaching  on  Confirmation.  "They 
emptied  the  Bible  Christian  and  Primitive  chapels — 
drew  one  boy  from  the  Sunday  school — converted  the 
stationmaster  from  long-professed  infidelity.  When 
he  had  been  one  week  with  the  Methodists,  he  came 
to  the  clergyman — told  him  he  could  not  possibly 
remain  with  the  ^lethodists,  'because  they  had  no 
means  of  grace,'  and  requested  to  be  prepared  for  Con- 
firmation. I  confirmed  him."  -  Bishop  Wilkinson,  years 
after,  related  a  somewhat  similar  story  of  a  Church- 
man, aroused  from  a  dead  state  of  soul  by  Salvation 
Army  preachers,  after  some  months  returning  to  the 
Church  for  "  food  for  his  soul "'  ;  not  ignoring  the 
blessing  of  the  awakening  he  had  received,  but 
hungering  for  satisfying  "  means  of  grace  "  such  as  the 
Church  alone  could  give.  Of  some  of  his  later  Con- 
firmations Dr.  Benson  records,  "  I  ended  to-day  the 
main  body  of  Confirmation  for  this  year.      The  series 

'  Diarv.         .  -  Ibid. 


134  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

have  been  in  many  ways  different  from  former  years. 
There  had  been  steady  organised  opposition  to  Con- 
firmation, on  the  part  of  the  Methodists,  in  every  one 
of  my  thirty  or  forty  centres.  Revivals,  denunciations, 
and  indi\-idual  deaHng  with  our  candidates."^  In  one 
place  it  is  said  "  that  the  plain  effect  had  been  to  make 
many  people  search  their  New  Testaments  on  the 
subject,  and  that  many  had  convinced  themselves."  '" 
Elsewhere  "  they  succeeded  in  detaching  a  few;  and 
in  some  places  the  candidates  confided  to  the  clergy 
that  they  could  not  at  present  face  the  persecution  in 
the  farms  and  workshops."'^  Though  there  had  not 
been  any  considerable  increase  of  numbers  confirmed, 
in  proportion  to  the  population,  yet  the  Bishop  noted 
the  "vast  increase  in  the  numbers  of  the  people 
attending  the  Confirmations.  In  almost  all  places  the 
churches  have  been  full,  and  in  some  crowded  and 
overflowing.  I  have,  moreover,  this  year  been  struck 
by  the  devout,  reverent,  and  (so  to  speak)  '  interces- 
sory '  manner  of  the  people."  ^  This  is  all  the  more 
interesting  as  the  novelty,  so  likely  to  impress  the 
Cornish,  of  the  work  of  their  Bishop  among  them, 
and  the  fascination  of  his  own  striking  and  attractive 
personality,  were  no  longer  new  and  fresh.  Sometimes 
an  individual  case  was  specially  impressive. 

"  At  St.  Erth  confirmed  thirty-three  people,  nearly  all 
adults,  and  all  but  two  of  them  men  :  twenty-three  from 
St.  John's,  Penzance.     Among  the  St.  Erth  men  an  old  miner 

J   Diary.  ^  /^y^/ 

3  Ibid.  *  Ibid. 


n/OCESAN   WORK  135 

who  had  been  vigorousl}-  assailed,  since  he  determined  to  be 
confirmed.  The  other  day  five  or  six  men,  laughing  at  him 
about  Baptism,  said, '  Why,  what  good  can  water  do  you  ?  What 
does  the  water  matter  ? '  He  answered  '  if  you  be  so  stiff- 
necked  that  you  ^vo)lt  have  the  water,  do  you  think  the  Lord 
will  give  you  His  Spirit  ?  "  ^ 

"  The  Rector  pointed  out  a  stalwart  miner  whom  I  con- 
firmed two  or  three  years  ago.  '  This  happened  with  him,' 
he  said,  'the  other  day.  They  were  chaffing  him  similarly. 
He  had  been  a  great  drinker  and  a  great  swearer.  They 
said,  "  What  can  the  liishop's  hands  do  for  you  ?  What's  the 
good  of  his  hands?"  "Well,  I  can  tell  \-ou  one  thing,"  he 
said,  "  ever  since  I  felt  his  hands  on  my  head,  I  have  never 
felt  even  inclined  to  swear."'"- 


It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  him  to  \isit  H.M. 
training  ship  Ganges,  then  stationed  in  Falmouth 
Harbour,  and  confirm  the  lads.  He  found  this,  as 
did  his  successors,  "always  an  affecting"  Confirmation." 
To  see  the  hundred  and  twenty,  or  hundred  and 
fifty,  well  trained  and  disciplined  lads  kneeling, 
row  after  row,  before  him  to  receive  the  gift,  and  to 
know  what  had  been  their  trials  in  the  past  in  many 
cases,  and  to  look  forward  to  their  doing  well  in  the 
future,  was  particularly  touching,  to  a  man  with  a 
true  paternal  heart.  In  later  years  on  several 
occasions  the  Ganges  boys  came  to  the  Cathedral  to 
be  confirmed,  greatly  to  their  own  delight  and  much 
to  the  good  of  the  people  who  were  edified  by  their 
orderly  and  reverent  demeanour.  ]\Iany  people, 
beside    the    h^almouth  residents,    missed  the  ship  and 

1   Diarv.  -'  Ibid. 


136  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

its  officers  and  its  boys,  when  it  was  removed  else- 
where in   1899. 

The  widow  of  a  clergyman,  lately  passed  away,  has 
recorded  her  impressions  of  the  Bishop's  visits,  which 

"  were  marked  by  more  than  kindly  interest — inspiration, 
encouragement,  a  share  felt  in  the  work  going  on.  Before 
one  Confirmation  he  said  to  my  husband  at  lunch, '  What  line 
would  you  like  me  to  take  in  my  address?  I  should  like  to 
say  that,  which  will  help  you  most  in  the  circumstances  of 
your  parish.'  What  those  village  Confirmations  were  to 
the  people,  as  well  as  to  the  clerg}'men,  I  feel  tempted  to 
illustrate  by  an  incident.  Calling  on  a  good  woman,  who, 
though  a  Bible  Christian  by  profession,  was  a  regular 
attendant  at  weekday  Church  Cottage  services,  held  in  the 
hamlet  where  she  lived,  and  whose  daughter  had  been 
specially  reverent  and  attentive  at  the  religious  teaching 
given  in  the  day  school,  Mrs.  C.  suddenly  remarked,  '  There's 
going  to  be  a  Confirmation  down  to  church,  isn't  there? 
You've  said  nothing  to  K.  about  it  ? '  '  Well  no,  Mrs.  C,  we 
thought,  not  being  Church  people,  you  would  not  think  about 
it.'  '  But,'  she  answered,  '  I  wish  K.  to  be  confirmed.  I  was 
down  to  Truro  last  Sunday,  and  I  heard  the  Bishop  preach, 
and  he  took  for  his  text,  "  The  slothful  man  roasteth  not  that 
which  he  took  in  hunting,"  and  I  wish  K.  to  be  confirmed.' 
I  gathered  from  Mrs.  Benson  that  this  incident  exactly 
carries  out  what,  from  her  recollection  of  the  sermon,  it  was 
meant  to  teach,  that  often  great  spiritual  good  may  have 
been  attained,  and  yet  that  the  realisation  of  it  may  be  lost 
by  the  rejection  of  further  means  of  grace.  Mrs.  C.  added, 
'  I  wish  K.  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  prayers  of  such  a  good 
man.'  Surely  her  wish  was  realised,  for  in  a  letter  received, 
after  the  Bishop  had  become  Primate,  he  wrote,  '  Tell  my 
confirmees  that  they  are  all  remembered  every  day  before 
Him  who  sealed  them.'  "  ^ 

^  A    Mother  in   Israel,   pp.    27  seq.,   by  the  author   of  l^old  for  a 
Memorial. 


DIOCESAN    WORK  137 

What  the  Bishop's  own  view  of  Conhrmatioii  was 
is  illustrated  by  the  followini,^  extracts  from  letters  to 
one  of  his  sons,  who  was  about  to  be  confirmed  : — 

"  May  God  in  Christ  come  near  you.  Xo  figure  of  speech 
tJiat — but  the  one  reality  which  we  are  sure  of  in  this  world. 
All  things  change  their  forms  and  pass  away  except  the 
word  of  Christ.  It  is  your  own,  if  you  will  have  it— and 
I  am  sure  in  Him  that  you  will  make  that  eternal  thing 
your  own,  by  offering  yourself  to  God  to  be  His.  He,  who 
made  and  loves  you,  will  do  nothing  with  >-ou  that  you  will 
not  inorc  than  like  ;  if  you  do  just  give  yourself  to  Him.  Do 
not  be  afraid. 

"  It  is  the  completing  of  Baptism,  it  is  the  receiving  of  the 
strengthaiing  Spirit ;  as  an  infant  you  received  the  life-giving 
Spirit — now  it  is  the  Spirit  of  strength^ 

And  again,  of  the  kind  of  preparation  required  he 
wrote  : — 

"  About  your  Confirmation.  1  hope  you  will  have  careful 
and  wise  preparation  for  it.  .  .  .  But  of  course  as  well,  and 
better  than  I  can  tell  you — your  own  heart  tells  you  that  the 
true  preparation  is  within.  That  knowledge  and  motive  may 
come  from  without,  but  can  only  be  fruitful  and  effective 
by  your  own  earnest  use  of  all  the  means  bf  approaching 
God  which  you  possess.  You  will  be  richer  in  these  means 
after  you  are  confirmed.  But  God  gives  grace  only  in  very 
large  measure,  when  the  smaller  measure  has  been  well 
used. 

"Try  to  think  of  Confirmation  in  tliis  way.  In  Hol\- 
Baptism  the  seed  of  new  life  was  given  )-ou  ;  like  all  life 
of  plants,  animals,  human  beings,  it  was  nnconscions  for  a 
time.  Then  came  a  time,  when  (marked  b\-  God  alone)  the 
life  became  conscious  of  itself.  Ever  since  that  you  have 
been  responsible  for  this  life  you  live.    But  many  ideas,  many 


1 38  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

temptations,  grow  with  growing  age — and  now  is  the  time 
when  you  want  the  Holy  Ghost  to  give  you  His  second  gift 
— strength.  Life  may  be  %vcak.  It  is  necessary  that  it  should 
be  made  strong.  The  strength  it  may  attain  is  luiliinitcd. 
You  must  pray  with  new  energy,  however  simply,  that  God 
will,  in  Confirmation,  give  you  strength.  The  seven  different 
kinds  of  strength  are  enumerated  in  the  splendid  collect  in 
the  Confirmation  Service. 

"  But  if  you  feel  also  that,  in  the  interval  between  Baptism 
and  now,  there  has  not  been  (as  there  should  have  been) 
a  steady  development  of  the  Inner  Life,  and  you  alone  (by 
God's  help)  can  know  this — then  you  must  also  pray  for  the 
complete  convcrsio)i  {eTri(jTpa<l>'i']vai)  of  your  will  to  God  ;  to 
turn  quite  away  from  anything  that  you  cannot  do  and 
think  and  feel  in  Him,  and  to  be  turned  by  Him  fully  and 
directly  towards  Him,  '  I  have  gone  astray  like  a  sheep  that 
is  lost :  Oh !  seek  Thy  servant,  for  I  do  not  forget  Thy 
commandments.'  " 

His  visits  to  different  parishes  were  not,  however, 
always  for  Confirmations.  Sometimes  it  was  to  a  place 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  diocese,  where  he  records 
"  having-  slept  one  night  at  Poughill  Rectory,  the  wild 
beautiful  coast  from  Trevalga  to  Bude,  affording  no 
harbourage,  I  went  on  to  Kilkhampton.  There  we 
had  a  Holy  Communion  early  and  I  preached.  It 
was  Jioly.  There  were  thirty  people  on  a  weekday 
morning  ;  many  of  whom  had  walked  two  or  three 
miles  to  be  there  at  eight  o'clock — and  whose  devo- 
tion and  quietness  made  me  feel  more  happy,  in  the 
sense  of  real  Church  work  going  on,  than  I  have  been 
before." 

Sometimes,  in  the  early  days  of  his  episcopate,  he 


DIOCESAN  WORK  139 

went  to  stay  at  some  large  centre  ;  in  order  to  gauge 
the  spiritual  condition  of  the  place,  and  to  devise  the 
best  way  of  remedying  deficiencies.  Redruth,  Cam- 
borne, and  other  mining  centres  ;  Callington  and 
similar  important  parishes  in  the  east,  were  visited 
by  him.  iM-om  such  men  as  ^Ir.  Chappel,  Rector 
of  Camborne,  whom  he  described  as  "a  fine,  white- 
haired,  rosy,  powerful  man,"  who  had  done  much 
for  Church  schools  and  penitentiary  work  ;  and  ^Ir. 
Thornton,  \^icar  of  Southhill  and  Callington,  both 
.afterwards  Honorary  Canons  of  Truro,  he  learned  niuch 
of  the  history  of  the  church  in  the  past  and  its 
requirements  in  the  present.  Sometimes,  when  there 
had  been  some  serious  trouble  in  a  parish,  his  presence 
was  asked  for  and  thankfully  welcomed.  For  instance 
in  November  1880,  at  St.  Newlyn,  where  the  Rev. 
H.  H.  Du  Boulay  was  Vicar,^  there  had  been  a 
terrible  outbreak  of  typhoid  fever;  125  people,  one 
in  six  of  the  population,  had  it  severely.  The 
Bishop  came  to  bring  consolation  and  help  to  pastor 
and  people.  A  month  later,  on  the  last  night  of 
the  year,  he  notes  in  his  Diary  : — 

''December  31J/. — On  last  night  of  old  year  I  preached  in 
the   church   there  ;    to   a   crowded   congregation,    who    wept. 

'  Afterwards  Honorary  Canon  of  Truro,  Proctor  for  the  Chapter  in 
Convocation,  Archdeacon  of  Bodmin  and  Rector  of  Lawhitton.  Bishop 
Benson  records  his  excellent  work  in  his  young  days  when  chaplain  to 
his  grandfather  15ishop  Phillpotts  of  Exeter.  "  Young  as  he  was  he  was 
the  real  and  very  wise  \'izier  "  {Diary).  Among  his  many  labours  for  the 
Diocese  of  Truro  will  always  be  remembered  the  editorship  of  the 
Diocesan  Kaletuiai\  which  he  carried  on  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  with 
untiring  energy  and  perseverance. 


I40  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

They  have  suffered  sadly.  !\Iany  more  cases  since  I  was 
there,  but  now  only  two  lingering.  I  tried  to  be  plain  and 
loving  too." 

And  then  follows  his  quaint  comment,  like  a  saying 
of  Charles  Kingsley  v^hom  he  loved  so  well  : — 

'"They  thought  it  was  the  will  of  the  Lord,  but  Miss 
Annie  said  it  were  drains.'  No  contrast.  The  will  of  the 
Lord  will  work  through  drains,  if  we  don't  regard  His  laws 
of  clean  body  and  soul,  clean  living  and  clean  thinking."  ^ 

A  card  in  memory  of  the  service,  and  bearing  the 
Bishop's  text,  "If  Thou,  Lord,  shouldest  mark  iniquity, 
who  shall  stand  .^  But  there  is  forgiveness  with  Thee, 
that  Thou  mayest  be  feared  "  (Ps.  cxxx.  3,  4),  was 
presented  to  every  one  on  leaving  the  church.  When 
the  sad  time  was  over,  and  the  plague  stayed,  a 
thanksorivino-  service  was  held  ;  a  beautiful  cross  was 
placed  in  the  churchyard,  as  a  token  of  God's  mercies 
and  deliverances,  and  a  noble  chancel  screen  was 
erected  later  in  memory  of  their  beloved  Bishop. 

It  is  interestincr  to  record  here  a  siniilar  circum- 
stance  that  happened  many  years  later.  In  August 
1900  an  outbreak  of  enteric  fever  occurred  in 
the  village  of  Ladock,  which  lasted  till  Christmas; 
thouo-h  the  cases  were  of  a  serious  character, 
they  were,  with  one  exception,  brought  through 
by  the  care  and  skill  of  the  nurses,  of  whom  there 
were,  at  one  time,  three  working  together.  The 
period  of  three  or  four  months  was  a  time  of  much 

1  Diary. 


DIOCESAN    WORK  141 

anxiety  and  prayer  in  the  little  community.  The 
single  death  removed  one,  who  had  for  years  identified 
herself,  in  the  fullest  sense,  with  the  Church  life  of  the 
place,  and  had  been  foremost  in  helping  every  good 
work.  Such  a  death  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  parish. 
Happily,  by  the  beginning  of  1901,  the  disease  had 
died  out  ;  and  the  Parish  Feast,  which  coincided  that 
year  with  the  Festival  of  the  Epiphany,  was  kept  in 
the  village  as  a  day  of  special  thanksgiving  for  relief 
from  the  epidemic.  The  Bishop  (Dr.  Gott),  at  some 
inconvenience,  was  present  at  the  morning  service, 
celebrated  the  Holy  Communion,  and  preached  from 
the  text,  "  So  the  Lord  sent  pestilence  upon  Israel  .  .  . 
and  the  Lord  commanded  the  angel;  and  he  put  up 
his  sword  again  into  the  sheath  thereof."     (i  Chron. 

x.Ki.  14-27)- 

Bishop  Benson  took  careful  note  of  the  person- 
ality and  work  of  his  clergy.  Of  one  deanery  he 
records : — 

"The  clergy  whom  I  have  seen  are  apparently  very 
earnest  in  their  work,  and  some  of  them  devoted  men  ; 
others  have  taken  holidays,  and  only  a  small  number  have 
prepared  candidates  for  Confirmation."  ^ 

Of  another: — 

"  There  is  a  large  cluster  of  clergy  who  seem  to  be  excellent 
friends.  They  arc  all  High  Churchmen,  and  have  beautifully 
restored  and  decorated  churches.  ...  At  all  their  churches 
were  fair  numbers  to  be  confirmed.  And  there  were  as  many 
men  as  women." - 

'  Diarv.  -  Ibid. 


142  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Another  scene  in  a  different  place  is  worth  re- 
cording" : — 

"  Nowhere  had  I  such  a  sight.  We  could  scarcely  move 
through  the  road  or  get  out  of  church.  The  candidates 
were  many.  They  sang  most  sweetly,  as  we  walked  up  hill 
to  church.  They  sang  with  all  their  power,  a  crowded  church 
full.  They  sang  back  again.  While  we  were  taking  tea,  they 
sang  hymns  under  the  trees  ;  and,  after  half  an  hour's  revisit 
to  the  church  to  see  its  great  curiosities,  they  were  singing 
hymns  still  when  we  returned  ;  and  we  drove  off  while  they 
sang."^ 

In  a  letter  he  gives  a  similar  account  of  one  of  his 
Confirmation  tours  : — 

"  Kenwvn,  JA?;r//,  1878. 

"  I  have  been  through  Penwith  confirming  in  the  day 
and  preaching  at  night— such  congregations  !  and  such  fine 
services !  I  preached  last  night  to  two  thousand  people, 
standing,  as  well  as  sitting,  all  through  !— in  Penzance.  I 
wonder  whether  the  Church  will  make  way  before  they  are 
better  educated." 

How  greatly  he  yearned  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
his  Cornish  flock  is  expressed  in  the  words  of  his 
Diary  for  May  31st,  1879:  "Give  me  this  people, 
O   Lord." 

But  full  churches  did  not  by  any  means  imply  that 
there  were  great  numbers  of  Churchmen,  as  the 
clergy  often  told  him.  Yet  "  those  who  were  attached 
to  the  Church  arc  usually  very  strong  Church  people 
and   very  full    of   good   works."     The   clergy  trained 

1  Diary. 


DIOCESAN    WORK  143 

under  Bishop  Phillputts,  from  "  ihc  pressure  they  live 
under  amoni;-  the  Dissenters,  are  of  a  decidedly  high 
type  of  doctrine.  The  exceptions  are  most  rare.  I 
am  particularly  anxious  to  have  one  Evangelical 
chaplain.  I  cannot  hear  of  an  Evangelical  clergyman, 
who  commands  enough  respect,  to  be  so  nominated." ^ 
Of  the  work  done  by  Evangelical  clergymen  in  the 
past,  he  says  that,  "  in  the  memories  of  the  older 
inhabitants  ...  no  serious  impressions  now  exist  that 
are  referred  to  it;  no  institutions  seem  to  survive." 
Of  the  High  Churchmen,  who  laboured  in  the  early 
days  of  Bishop  Phillpotts'  episcopate,  he  says  : — 

"  They  were  earnest  men  .  .  .  had  daily  prayers  at  8  a.m.  or 
10  a.m.  and  observed  saints'  days  .  .  .  catechised  and  baptised 
after  the  second  Lesson  on  Sunday  afternoons,  and  they 
preached  in  surplices  .  .  .  they  made  and  read  good  sermons 
to  those  who  came  to  listen.     But  these  were  few." 

The  upper  farmers  and  gentry  appreciated  this  type 
of  parson,  though  the  mass  of  the  people  did  not  ;  at 
least  from  a  religious  point  of  view. 

"They  have  made  people  once  more  proud  of  their 
restored  churches ;  and  kept  them  friendly,  as  ever,  per- 
sonally. And  now,  four  winds  are  blowing.  The  Evangelical 
blows  very  faintly.  .  .  .  The  Ikoad  Churchman  is  nothing  to 
Cornwall,  and  Cornwall  nothing  to  him.  The  old-f^ishioned 
High  Churchman's  work  is  done.  And  a  more  fresh  and 
living  tone  of  Evangelical-Catholic  aims  is  running  through 
the  veins  here  and  there;  and  this  is  the  hope  of  Cornwall  .  . . 
the>'  are  cxtevipore  preachers,  many  of  them  lively  and  good  ; 
and   they   arc   ready   to   preach    in   any  schoolrooms,  to  get 

'  Diary. 


144  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

licensed  readers,  and  to  preach  out  of  doors,  if  need  be. 
Their  doctrine  is  naturally  inclined  to  an  over-sacramentalism, 
but  this  is  balanced  by  firm  beliefs  in  either  the  true  latency 
of  the  Spirit  Life,  or  by  a  firm  adherence  to  the  practice  of 
conversion."^ 

He  thouoht  some  of  the  old-fashioned  Hisfh  Church- 
men  hard,  and  some  of  the  "  RituaHsts "  extreme ; 
but  he  could  admire  the  "  manliness  "  of  some  of  those 
who  tauMit  systematic  confession  like  Mr.  Mills,  the 
self-denying  Yicar  of  St.  Erth,  as  well  as  the  "living 
piety "  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  of  St.  Issey,  "  true 
gentleman  and  lady  as  ever  stepped."  Certainly,  by 
his  genial  sympathy,  and  true  wide  fatherly  methods, 
he  made  himself  most  acceptable  to  the  clergy  of 
Cornwall  of  all  shades  of  opinion.  They  recognised 
in  him  one  who  was  truly  Evangelical  and  intelligently 
Catholic  ;  one  who  took  the  pains  to  understand  their 
special  troubles,  and  was  able  to  help  them  towards  a 
solution  of  their  serious  difficulties. 

Besides  those  already  named  as  earnest  labourers  in 
the  vineyard,  must  not  be  omitted  the  Rev.  R.  H.  K. 
Buck,  Rector  of  St.  Dominick  and  afterwards  Honor- 
ary Canon  of  Truro  ;  the  Rev.  Canon  Shuttle  worth. 
Vicar  of  Egloshayle,  father  of  the  late  Professor  H.  C. 
Shuttleworth  ;  the  Rev.  T.  Hullah  of  Calstock,  also 
Canon;  and  the  Ven.  W.  J.  Phillpotts,  son  of  "  Henry 
of  Exeter,"  Vicar  of  St.  Gluvias,  and  Archdeacon  of 
Cornwall.  He  was  a  very  shrewd  and  able  ecclesiastical 
lawyer,   though    his    action    in    opposing    the    Exeter 

1  Diarv. 


DIOCESAN   WORK  145 

reredos,  failed  in  its  purpose.  Foremost  among  the 
older  clergy  was  the  Rev.  Reginald  Hobhouse,  Vicar 
of  St.  Ive,  an  earnest  pioneer  in  the  work  of  the 
foundation  of  the  bishopric,  whom  Dr.  Benson  ap- 
pointed as  the  first  Archdeacon  of  Bodmin,  when  the 
newly  formed  diocese  was  subdivided  into  two  arch- 
deaconries in   1878. 

Mr.  Hobhouse  was  for  fifty  years  Rector  of  St.  Ive, 
and  died  in  January,  1895.  His  character  and  work 
are  very  well  delineated  in  a  sermon  preached  on 
Februar)-  3rd  following  by  Canon  F.  E.  Carter.  The 
"stedfast  immovableness,"  free  from  "stagnation,"  of 
his  character  was  brightened  by  "gladness  and  free- 
dom," and  a  keen  "sense  of  humour."  "His  last 
absence  from  his  parish  was  his  visit  to  St.  Germans 
...  on  the  occasion  of  the  reopening  of  the  church, 
when  his  delight  was  unbounded  at  meeting  again  his 
old  Diocesan  and  friend,  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury" (Dr.  Benson).  ^ 

The  following  letter  indicates  the  great  value  that 
Bishop    Benson    put    on    the    character  and   work  of 

Archdeacon   Hobhouse  : — 

"  Palace,  Exeter, 

'"^th  January,  1883. 

"Mv  DEAR  Mr.  Archdeacon, — You  will  not  have 
thought  my  silence  strange.  The  last  eight  or  nine  days 
have  brought  me  a  thousand  letters.  And  I  would  let  no 
one  else  write  for  me  to  you. 

"  I  am  most  grateful  for  your  kindness — constant,  strcngth- 

'  Sermon  preached  at  St.  Ive  by  F.  E.  Carter,  M.A.,  Canon  Missioner 
of  Truro  Cathedral. 


146  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

ening,  and  devout.     I  am  sure  you  will  maintain  your  prayers 
for  me.     I  value  and  need  them  more  and  more. 

"  It  was  a  very  awful  decision  (if  I  may  say  so) — at  least 
I  thought  it  so.  But  though  the  thought  of  it  deepens, 
I  have  the,  to  me  rare,  but  peaceful  conviction  that  it  was 
right  to  decide  so — ^just  enough  conviction  to  live  upon. 

"  I  had  planned  with  Mr.  Burch,  but  had  not  settled  the 
details,  and  could  not  immediately  write — to  visit  one  arch- 
deaconry in  one  year,  and  the  other  in  the  next ;  and,  for  the 
sake  of  your  health  and  your  church  restoration,  to  take  your 
archdeaconry  this  year — but  now,  I  suppose,  nothing  will 
be  known  just  yet.  I  shall  advise  my  successor  to  adopt  this 
plan. 

"  I  am  most  thankful  to  hear  from  Canon  Martin  that  you 
are,  and  that  you  feel,  better.  I  pray  for  your  perfect  restora- 
tion. The  very  fact  that  you  were  Archdeacon  has  been 
a  joy  and  comfort  to  me.  You  have  done  far  more  for  me 
than  you  think,  and  I  felt  always  that  I  had  where  to  turn, 
if  I  should  want  aid  and  thoughtful  advice.  This  is  no  light 
matter  when  responsibilities  are  heavy. 
"  Dear  Mr.  Archdeacon, 

"  With  kind  regards  to  your  daughters, 
"  Believe  me, 

"  Sincerely  yours, 

"  EdW:  TruroN:" 

The  Rev.  Prebendary  Hedgeland,  who  for  many 
years  was  Vicar  of  St.  Mary's,  Penzance,  the  town 
where  the  climate,  as  the  Bishop  of  Truro  said  (quoting 
Norton  the  old  historian),  was  "gentle  and  generous, 
cherishing  God's  earth  with  a  continued  sweet  dew," 
and  who,  besides  other  various  labours,  had  done 
much  for  Church  extension  and  the  erection  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist's  Church,  was  greatly  appreciated 


DIOCESAN   WORK  147 

by  Dr.  Benson.  His  "refined  intellectual  qualities, 
and  his  kindness  and  Christian  love,  known  and  valued 
by  all,"  were  openly  recoL^nised  by  his  Bishop. 

Another  clergyman's  name  deserves  special  notice, 
and  even   much   larger  and   more   extended   mention 
than   is    possible    in    these    pages.     The    Rev.    J.    R. 
Cornish,  formerly   Fellow  of  Sidney  Sussex  College, 
Cambridge,    after    a    distinguished    university    career 
became  Vicar  of   St.   John's,    Truro,  and   afterwards 
of  Veryan.     When  Canon  Vautier  resigned  Kenwyn, 
he    was    appointed     to     that    parish     and     made    an 
Honorary  Canon  of  Truro.      Under  three  successive 
Bishops,    he    has    fulfilled    the    duties    of   Examining 
Chaplain  ;  he   is   Principal  of  the   Diocesan  Training 
Colleoe,    one    of    the    secretaries    of    the     Diocesan 
Conference  and  of  the  Cathedral  Building  Committee  ; 
and    since    1888   has   been   Archdeacon  of  Cornwall. 
He  is  a  very  able  advocate  of  religious  education,  and 
an  acceptable   speaker  at    the   C.E.T.S.    and   White 
Cross  meetings  :    no  part  of  the  organisation  of  the 
diocese    but    has    felt    the    vigour    of   his    touch,    the 
encouragement    of   his    voice,    and    the    perseverance 
of  his  example.       Every  Bishop  of  Truro  has  found 
him    to    be    an    indispensable    agent,    in   the    starting 
of  new  enterprises,   in  the  successful  management  of 
committees    and    conferences,    and    in    the    working 
of  every  department  of  ecclesiastical  machinery  and 
diocesan  organisation. 

In    1890   Archbishop    Benson   invited   him   to  join 
him    as    Archdeacon    of    Canterbury    and    Suftragan 


148  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

Bishop  of  Dover ;  but  he  preferred  to  remain  in 
Cornwall,  where  he  had  laboured  for  so  many  years, 
and  among  a  people  with  whom  he  had  many  ties. 
It  was  a  time  also  when  the  health  of  the  second 
Bishop  of  Truro  was  such  as  to  make  any  serious 
changes,  among  those  upon  whom  he  relied  most 
for  aid  in  the  administration  of  the  diocese,  very 
undesirable.  Cornwall  was  'grateful  for  the  choice  the 
Archdeacon  made. 


m 


'wa/i  S/^j3Crw  Gri^mfiq  L 


(  u/r/  //      //vv////  (  V/4/y////A 


CHAPTER   VIII 
THE  BISHOP  AND   THE  LAITY 

IT  would  be  a  serious  mistake  to  suppose  that 
Dr.  Benson  was  only  the  Bishop  of  the  Clergy. 
He  was  very  soon  recognised,  admired,  and  beloved, 
as  the  Bishop  of  the  Laity.  He  had  learned  by  study 
of  Church  History,  and  was  realising  in  Cornwall 
daily,  that  lesson  which  he  afterwards  put  into  clear 
language  at  Canterbury.  The  "  English  laity,"  he 
said,  "have  on  some  questions  a  vox  decisiva,  and 
on  almost  all  a  vox  deliberativay  ^  There  is  not,  and 
ought  not  to  be,  any  cleavage  between  clergy  and 
laity,  for,  as  he  said  on  the  Epistle  of  St.  Peter, 
"  Save  for  nine  lines  of  his  letter,  there  is  nothing 
limited  to  Pastors  or  Elders.  The  pathetic,  stirring, 
sacred  utterances  are  to  the  laity  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Not  one  duty  of  this  social  sort,  either  of 
work,  or  self-denial,  or  of  any  Christian  principle 
is  laid  on  the  clergy  which  is  not  bound  equally 
on  every  layman.  There  is  no  difference  made  or 
marked."-'  Aoain,  "The  lavman  has,  in  virtue  of  his 
position  as  a  member  of  Christ,  the  child  of  God, 
and  an  heir  of  the  kingdom,  a  high  order  of  privilege 

^  Seven  Gifts,  pp.  69,  70.  -  Christ  ami  His  Times,  p.  35. 

149 


I50  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

and  responsibilities,"  which  he  proceeded  to  show 
might  be  exercised  in  four  ways  :  (i)  over  the  young, 
(2)  for  the  people,  (3)  through  the  "Great  Societies,"^ 
(4)  through  the  diocesan  societies."  And  again,  he 
invited  the  clergy  to  invoke  fearlessly  the  aid  of  their 
lay  people.  "The  laity  must  speak  for  the  Church 
if  they  are  the  Church.  .  .  .  The  laity  of  the  Church 
are  to  be  trusted.  They  will  be  true  to  their  traditions 
and  to  themselves."^  When  so  trusted  and  so  used, 
their  "personal  work"  is  splendid.  "  No  tongue  can 
tell,  no  mind  can  follow  the  endless  charities  of  life, 
in  kindness,  in  faith,  in  humbleness,  which  flow  from 
the  man  and  woman,  to  whose  mind  and  heart  the 
teachings  of  the  Church  come  home  as  realities."^ 
At  the  first  Diocesan  Conference  of  the  new 
bishopric,  he  brought  this  question  well  to  the  front, 
and  expressed  his  intentions  in  no  obscure  language. 
"  I  am  aware,"  he  said,  "that,  in  many  dioceses,  there 
are  solid  objections  to  the  officiating  of  laymen,  their 
reading  prayers,  or  preaching  in  licensed  chapels. 
For  instance,  in  London,  an  immense  proportion  of 
the  churches  in  the  most  frequented  and  wealthily 
tenanted  quarter,  are  such  licensed  and  proprietary 
chapels  as  require  the  services  of  a  body  of  clergy, 
as  much  as  any  parish  churches  ;  but,  in  our  wide- 
spread tracts  of  moor  and  mining  districts,  of  clay 
workers,  quarriers,  or  country  labourers,  where  there 
is  literally  no  numbering  the  perpetual  groups  of  five 

'  Christ  cmd  His  Times,  p.  i6o.         '"  Ibid.,  p.  171. 

3  Ji)ici^  ■»  Seven  Gifts,  p.  1 24. 


THE  BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  151 

or  six,  or  ten  cotta;j^es,  how  different  is  the  picture  ! 
Each  such  ;^roup^ — each  Tre,  or  Pol,  or  Wheal, — 
needs  its  holy  means  of  grace,  its  well-led  prayers, 
its  perfectly  simple  but  sensible,  scriptural,  reasonable 
instruction,  as  much  as  Squares  and  Crescents  ask  for 
refined  studies  of  thought  or  ritual.  Why  should  the 
Church  have  so  shrunk  from  committing  such  manly 
offices  to  her  own  laymen,  (who  reverence  the  laymen's 
standpoint  too  much  to  depart  from  it)  that  such 
functions  have  passed  in  hamlet  and  roadside  far  and 
wide  into  the  hands  of  other  laymen,  to  whom  a 
theological  distinction  is  a  deceit,  unendurable  because 
to  them  unintelligible,  and  a  mystery  is  only  a  chal- 
lenge to  a  familiar  handling.  I  see  no  other  way, 
and  I  think  this  a  very  good  way,  and  am  prepared 
to  walk  in  it.  ...  It  is  a  common  newspaper  reproach 
that  the  clergy  ignore  the  laity  as  counsellors.  I  am 
afraid  it  is  not  very  long  since  the  clergy  ceased 
'  to  ignore '  themselves  in  that  capacity.  But  ruri- 
decanal  chapters  now  frequently  ask  the  co-operation 
of  lay  members,  and  I  hope  will  still  more  generally 
do  so.  It  is  easy  to  reserve  (if  it  be  required)  an 
hour,  first  or  last,  for  any  exclusively  clerical,  or 
doctrinal  questions.  The  deliberations  of  our  church 
deaneries,  like  those  of  this  Diocesan  Conference, 
have  arisen  as  practical  associations  for  general  uses, 
and  have  not  even  a  traditional  mark  of  appropriate 
limitation  to  one  order." 

With    regard    to    the   history   and   organisation    of 
ruri-decanal    chapters    it    is    interesting    to    remember 


152  THE  BISHOPEIC   OF  TRURO 

that  the  ancient  office  of  Rural  Dean,  which  some 
think  has  existed  from  the  fourth  century,  but  which, 
with  far  more  probabiHty,  was  developed  fully  in 
Normandy  and  Norman  England  in  the  tenth  and 
eleventh  centuries,  and  was  existing-  in  England 
certainlv  in  the  reio-n  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  was 
expressly  intended  to  be  preserved  in  the  English 
Church  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  as  appears 
from  the  canons  of  1571.^  In  the  old  Diocese  of 
Exeter  alone  was  the  office  kept  up  without  a  break  ; 
the  clergy,  by  ancient  custom,  (still  retained,  and 
followed  in  recent  times  in  other  dioceses,)  have 
always  elected  their  own  Rural  Dean,  subject  to  the 
Bishop's  approval.  During  the  nineteenth  century 
one  diocese  after  another  revived  the  ofiice.  Ruri- 
decanal  conferences  of  laity  with  the  clergy,  assembled 
in  synod,  more  or  less  informal,  had  come  into  being 
in  the  old  Diocese  of  Exeter  during  the  time  of 
Bishop  Temple:  but  even  good  Church  workers  would 
not  attend  merely  by  invitation.  "  I  will  attend  at 
once,"  said  a  good  layman,  "when  I  have  a  right  to 
attend,  but  not  before  I  have  it."  And  so,  by  degrees, 
it  came  about,  under  Bishop  Benson's  fostering  care, 
that  in  the  Diocese  of  Truro,  conferences  of  clergy 
and  laity  as  distinct  from  synods  and  chapters  of  the 
clergy,  were  held  in  every  deanery ;  lay  representatives 
from  the  parishes  being  elected  at  parochial  meetings. 
These    conferences    have    continued    to    retain    the 

^  Except  where  altered  in  quite  recent  times  the  boundaries  of  the 
rural  deaneries  mark  the  oldest  divisions  of  England. 


THE   BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  153 

interest  of  the  laity  ;  and  the  presence  of  the  Bishop 
of  the  diocese,  and  the  discussion  of  a  special  subject 
laid  before  the  meeting  by  himself,  have  prevented 
them  from  degenerating  into  mere  routine  gatherings, 
where  dull  and  jejune  reports  are  presented  and 
read.^ 

Dr.  Benson  took  a  great  interest  in  these  conferences. 

"  My  Ruri-decanal  Conferences  also  are  nearly  over,  and 
the  attendances  of  the  laity  have  been  very  large.  They 
have  not  spoken  much,  nor  spoken  very  freely.  But  every- 
where they  express  themselves  as  feeling,  and  as  ready  for, 
the  necessity  of  Lay  Help  ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  get  the 
individual  layman  to  move  himself  in  that  direction."  - 

At  another  he  says  : — 

"  There  were  but  a  dozen  able  to  attend  at  so  inconvenient 
a  season.  But  they  were  of  every  rank — from  a  banker  to 
a  farmer's  son  and  a  seaman." 

A  very  affecting  circumstance  occurred  in  connection 
with  this  conference  as  related  by  the  Bishop. 

"  Dear  Dr.  Martin,  Vicar  of  St.  Breward,  was  there,  having 
asked  leave  to  come  to  listen,  and  he  was  greatly  impressed. 
This  meeting  was  held  on  loth  January.  Dr.  Martin  had  begged 

to  be  allowed  to  come  to  T that  day  to  finish  some  work 

for  the  Church,  which  had  been  fixed  for  the  27th.     '  /  shall 

not  be  able  to  come  to  T on  tJic  2ph,'  he  said  ;  on  the 

nth  he  breakfasted  with  us,  and  was  full  of  the  Readers' 
experiences  and    energies.     After  this  he  liad   a  {cw  days' 

'  I  :im  indebted  for  the  above  information  to  an  interesting  paper 
read  at  the  Diocesan  Conference  1S79  ^y  Canon  J.  R.  Cornish  (now 
Archdeacon  of  Cornwall). 

-  Diary. 


154  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

illness.  On  the  24th  he  was  delirious  and  asked,  '  Have  you 
seen  the  Bishop  and  how  is  he?  '  and  then  recited  the  whole 
of  one  of  those  speeches.  On  the  25th  (Conversion  of  St.  Paul) 
he  died.     A  more  devoted  son  of  the  Church  never  lived."  ^ 

His  impressions  of  the  Diocesan  Conferences  are 
also  particularly  interesting. 

"  These  meetings  are  extremely  important,  but  for  reasons 
quite  other  than  those  for  which  the  debaters  think  them  so. 
The  discussions  were  full  of  interest  and  never  flagged,  the 
attendance  was  large,  and  the  audience  also  larger  than  ever. 
For  purposes  of  settling  questions,  if  that  were  the  object,  the 
subjects  are  too  many  and  the  time  too  short.  Next  year 
in  choosing  subjects  we  must  act  on  this  hypothesis.     The 

best  papers  were  one  of  Mr.  U on  Parochial  Councils  ; 

Canon  M ,  on  the  Salvation  Army,  and  an  anonymous 

one,  by  Mrs.  M ,  on  Workhouse  Children.     Such  papers 

ought  to  give  a  stimulus  to  anyone  who  has  the  progress 
of  the  laity  and  of  the  poor  at  heart."  - 

A  person  who  knew  Cornwall  well,  but  had  had 
also  wide  experience  of  Church  life  elsewhere,  once 
wrote  as  follow^s  : — 

"The  Truro  Conference  has  a  certain  tone  and  origin- 
ality of  its  own.  The  speaking  is  generally  above  the 
average,  and  that  of  the  lay  members  exceptionally  good. 
There  is  plenty  of  brightness,  life,  and  '  go ' ;  and,  as  a  local 
paper  truly  observes,  there  seems  less  tendency  here  than 
elsewhere  to  make  the  Conference  a  mere  occasion  for  the 
adoption  of  reports  and  resolutions,  in  which  little  real  interest 
is  felt,  and  for  the  making  of  speeches  upon  well-worn  and 
'safe'  subjects.  The  fact  is,  that  this  small  and  remote 
diocese  contains  not  a  few  remarkably  able  men." 

Bishop   Benson  was   always   more   than  willing  to 

1  Diai-y.  -  Ibid. 


THE  BISHOP  AND    THE  LAITY  155 

meet  laymen  of  cill  ranks  and  occupations,  and  give 
them  what  intellectual,  moral,  and  spiritual  help  he 
could.  The  following-  extract  from  his  Diary  for 
December  1881,  gives  a  specimen  of  this  branch 
of  his  intercourse  with  laymen  : — 

"  One  of  the  most  interestiiiL,^  things  which  has  happened 
to  mc  this  year  was  m)'  lecture  at  Hayle  to  the  artisans  and 
others.  A  larLje  bod)'  of  able  men  who  never  go  to  church, 
and  few  of  them  anywhere.  A.  Mills  (the  Vicar  of  St.  Erth) 
has  had  afternoon  lectures  for  them  on  Sunday  afternoons,  on 
any  sort  of  subject  with  a  religious  turn  any  way  capable 
of  being  introduced.  They  have  been  popular,  and  a  few 
of  the  men  have  actually  begun  to  come  to  church.  The 
Town  Hall  was  full  and  crowded.  We  began  at  once  without 
prayer  or  any  apparent  introduction.  I  took  for  my  subject 
'  Visible  Beginnings,'  showing  them  how  life,  '  biologically 
considered,'  was  external  to  the  body,  which  had  powers 
beyond  anything  that  could  be  considered  mechanical,  and 
which  recorded  its  own  results,  for  what  ?  Then  to  their  own 
work,  which,  in  ever}'  feature,  from  its  intricacy  in  arithmetic, 
or  in  any  manner  of  skill,  led  on  to  perfectibility.  And  how 
trifles  turning  up  in  nature  were  endlessly  the  seeds  of  science, 
and  how  it  was  the  very  character  of  science  to  look  on 
endlessh-,  and  all  to  what  ?  Everything,  the  motive  power, 
the  instrument,  and  the  things  achieved,  all  were  plainly 
'beginnings'  for  an  Individual  quite  as  much  as  for  Society, 
and  where  was  the  end  and  what  ? 

"  As  I  came  away  they  formed  into  a  lane,  quiet,  motion- 
less, and  without  an}-  further  demonstration,  but  just  that  they 
for  vied!' 

It  was  natural  that,  not  only  men  like  the  artisans 
of  Hayle  should  appreciate  the  manly  words  of  a  man 
of  intellect,   who  appealed  to  their  higher  reasoning 


156  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

powers,  and  called  out  their  noblest  aspirations,  but 
that  the  men  of  the  most  advanced  culture  in  the  county- 
should  enlist  his  aid  in  behalf  of  their  undertakings. 
He  was  elected  in  1880,  President  of  the  Royal 
Institution  of  Cornwall,  a  society  that  has  for  its 
scope.  Science  in  many  of  its  branches.  Archaeology, 
Architecture,  and  other  kindred  studies/  Bishop 
Benson,  without  any  claims  to  be  called  a  man  of 
science,  was  well  able  to  appreciate  the  lives  and 
achievements  of  Cornish  men  like  John  J  ope  Rogers, 
Edward  Hearle  Rodd,  Sir  John  Maclean,  and  Dr. 
Barham,  who  united  (as  he  said)  "minute  mastery 
of  detail,"  "sweetness  of  disposition,"  and  "manly 
influence,"  in  their  pursuit  of  knowledge.  "  Peace," 
he  said  in  his  presidential  address,  "be  with  the  holy, 
manly,  memories  of  men  like  these.  Religion  and 
science,  all  social  honour,  all  domestic  affection,  keep 
their  graves  open,  and  may  we  be  worthy  of  having 
known  them."-  And,  on  the  other  hand,  with  his 
accurate  knowledge  and  keen  observation,  he  was 
able  to  contribute  not  a  little  information  on  such 
a  subject  as  the  proper  mode  of  "naming  places"  in 
Cornwall.  He  deprecated  the  indiscriminate  use  of  the 
prefix  "Saint"  to  all  Cornish  parishes  named  after 
some    hermit,    preacher,    or    missionary.      He    invited 

^  Of  Bishop  Benson's  term  of  office  the  Late  Ur.  Barham  testified 
(November  i6th,  1881):  "His  lordship  has  been  a  most  valuable  and 
indefatigable  president,  and  has  introduced  us  to  a  sphere  of  useful- 
ness which  we  could  not  have  followed  half  as  well  under  any  other 
chief." — Journal  of  Royal  Institiitio7i  of  Cormuall^  vol.  vii.  p.  82. 

-  No  xxiii.  oi Journal  of  Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall. 


THE   BISIIOr  AND    THE  LAITY  157 

co-operation  in  the  conipilation  of  a  complete  chronicle 
of  the  details  of  "the  whole  of  our  Cornish  churches 
from  St.  Levan  to  Morwenstovv,"  on  the  plan  so 
admirably  carried  out  b\-  Sir  John  Maclean  in  the 
case  of  Trigg-  Minor  Deanery.  He  was  a  vigorous 
opponent  of  that  kind  of  church  restoration  in  which 
"we  and  our  architects"  are  "spoiling"  "interesting 
features  as  fast  as  we  can,  and  trying  to  make  them 
like  the  Devonshire  churches  or  Lincolnshire  churches 
our  architects  have  got  books  about,  and  which  we 
have  admired  without  reflection,  and  imitate  without 
intelligence."  ^  The  closing  words  of  this  address 
are   worthy  of  being  preserved. 

"  I  would  appeal  to  higher  enthusiasm,  in  whose  train  lower 
results  for  good  never  fail  to  grow  even  unsought,  unbidden. 
Be  free,  be  liberal,  be  generous,  and  men  '  will  give  good 
measure,  pressed  and  trodden,  and  running  over,'  in  return, 
without  your  calculating  on  it. 

"  Let  us  make 

'  This  our  city  a  little  Academe, 
Still,  and  contemplative  in  living  art'; 

and  very  soon  you  will  find  the  bus}-  and  the  practical 
develop  themselves  alike,  a  material  body  round  the  essence 
spiritual.  And  the  architecture  of  your  Cathedral,  if  you 
fling  your  hearts  into  it,  and  the  science  and  the  literature 
whicii  you  pursue,  if  you  pursue  it  as  nobly  enamoured  of 
'  that  angel  knowledge  '  (as  Shakspere  calls  her)  ;  all,  all  if  it 
is  indeed  '  living  art,'  will  live  itself  into  solid  greatness.  What 
is  true  of  righteousness  is  true  of  all  that  God  has  given  for 
the  consolation  and  the  elevation  of  man  out  of  his  depression 
and  his  low-thoughtedness.     '  Seek  ye  first  the  Kingdom  of 

1  Ibid. 


158  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

God,'  '  seek  the  regions  in  which  hes  the  law  by  which  He 
reigns,'  and  all  these  things,  all  that  man  really  needs,  '  shall 
be  added  unto  you.'  "  ^ 

Among"  the  many  laymen  who,  in  the  days  of  the 
first  Bishop  of  Truro  and  since,  have  nobly  given  of 
their  time,  their  substance  and  personal  service  to 
build  up  the  Church  of  God  in  Cornwall,  must  be 
named,  first  and  foremost,  the  Earl  of  Mount 
Edgcumbe,  who  in  every  branch  of  Church  work, 
philanthropy,  and  social  effort,  has  won  himself  a 
name  for  Christian  courtesy,  untiring  industry,  and 
unstinted  generosity.  To  mention  only  a  few  of  the 
spheres  of  his  labours  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that,  in  the 
building  and  maintenance  of  the  Cathedral,  and  the 
improvement  of  the  financial  position  of  the  clergy,  he 
has  taken  such  a  lead  as  none  else  could  have  done. 

The  names  of  Lord  Robartes  (whose  title  has  been 
merged  in  that  of  Viscount  Clifden),  Colonel  Tre- 
mayne,  Mr.  Edmund  Carlyon,  Mr.  A.  R.  Boucher, 
Mr.  A.  C.  Willyams,  Mr.  A.  P.  Nix,  Mr.  J.  C.  Daubuz, 
Messrs.  R.  and  L.  C.  Foster,  and  Mr.  T.  R.  Bolitho 
stand  out  prominently  among  a  large  company  of 
faithful  and  earnest  laymen,  who  welcomed  and 
rallied  round  the  episcopal  leader  whom  God  sent  to 
them,  after  so  many  prayers  and  laborious  sacrifices. 
It  is  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  encouraging  tokens 
of  Church  revival  and  progress  in  Cornwall,  to  reckon 
up  the  numbers  of  Christian  men,  gentle  and  simple, 
who  from  the  ranks  of  the  laity  serve  on  the  com- 

'  Ibid. 


THE   BISIIOr  AND    THE   LAITY  lyj 

mittees  and  attend  the  conferences  of  the  Cornish 
diocese  with  so  much  wilHng  perseverance  and  con- 
stant devotion,  or  as  Readers  minister  in  tlie  many 
mission  chapels  that  have  of  late  years  been  so  greatly 
multiplied. 

Sometimes  Bishop  Benson  had  a  public  opportunity 
of  expressing  his  thanks  for  the  valuable  services 
rendered  by  the  laymen  of  Cornwall.  Such  an  one 
was  offered  to  him  when  a  portrait  of  himself  was 
presented  to  Sir  Philip  Protheroe  Smith,  of  Tre- 
morvah,  Truro.  The  Bishop  has  recorded  in  his 
Diary,  May  22nd,  1877,  his  interview  with  ]\Ir.  Smith 
(as  he  then  was)  and  Lord  Kimberley,  whose  agent 
he  was,  on  the  subject  of  the  "  Rector's  rate "  at 
Falmouth.  (He  again  referred  to  this  matter  in  his 
Diary,  February  loth,  1878.)!  "Mr.  Smith's  appear- 
ance," as  Dr.  Benson  said  in  his  speech,  "  gready 
took  his  fancy,"  and  the  reputation  he  bore,  as  well  as 
that  of  his  wife  for  many  years  so  well  known  and  so 
deservedly  beloved  and  respected  for  her  devoted 
Christian  life  and  work  as  Lady  Protheroe  Smith, 
was  that  of  one  "  upon  whom  in  every  good  work 
every  one  could  depend."  He  was  Mayor  of  Truro, 
at  the  time  of  the  laying  of  the  foundation  stones  of 
the  Cathedral  by  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  received 
the  honour  of  knighthood  in  connection  with  that 
event.  Bishop  Benson  ended  his  panegyric  with  a 
Latin  couplet,  sent  to  him  by  Canon   Phillpotts,  who 

'  This  very  thorny  question  has  been  happily  set  to  rest  in  the  days 
of  the  third  Bishop  of  Truro. 


i6o  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

was  unable  to  be  present,  inscribed  under  a  portrait  of 
"  another  very  different  Philip  ■. — 

'  Viventis  potuit  Durerius  ora  Philippi, 

Mentem  non  potuit  pingere  docta  manus.' 

which  put  into  plain  English  means — 

'  Here  Durer  Philip's  living  face  designed, 
But  all  his  cunning  could  not  paint  his  mind.'" 

On  another  occasion,  Dr.  Benson  bore  witness  to 
the  sterling  good  qualities  of  English  working  men,  in 
an  address  given  at  the  opening  of  a  club  in  Truro, 
and  eave  sound  counsel  on  readino-  and  on  home  life. 
The  working  man  ought  to  say,  "  I  will  not  go  to  the 
club  to-night  simply  for  my  own  enjoyment,  but  I 
must  find  out  something  to  carry  home  to  my  wife  in 
which  she  will  be  interested,  and  make  the  wife,  more 
than  was  the  custom  in  England,  a  participator  in  his 
intellectual  pleasures."  Speaking  of  working  men  he 
said,  "  I  was  taught  as  a  boy  a  great  many  things 
which  I  ought  not  to  have  been  taught,  but  never  by 
a  working  man.  My  father  trusted  me  to  go  out  and 
in  among  them,  and  never  once  can  I  recollect  a 
single  instance  of  a  working  man  using  in  my  presence 
words,  or  talking  about  things,  which  I  ought  not  to 
have  heard."  ^ 

During  his  episcopate  there  came  a  time  of  serious 
distress  through  the  decay  of  the  mining  interest. 
Dr.    Benson    was    very    active    in    co-operating    with 

1  "The  Bishop .  .  .  told  us  how  his  father  had  made  him  learn,  among 
working  men,  when  he  was  a  boy,  carpentering  and  Ijricklaying  and 
stone-cutting."— Canon  Mason's  Diary,  July  27th,  i88i. 


THE   BISIlOr  AND    THE   LAITY  16 1 

those  who  were  devising  means  of  relief.  He  had  a 
hicrh  regard  for  the  patience  and  endurance  of  the 
working  people.  "Under  distress,"  he  wrote,  "the 
Cornish  miner  is  noble."  The  following  letter  indicates 
how  his  interest  and  sympathy  were  aroused  : — 

"Kenwvn,  i-jth  March,  1879. 

"  To-day  we  have  a  meeting  of  the  County  Central  Com- 
mittee on  the  Cornish  distress.  It  is  very  severe.  The  sad 
thing  is  that  so  many  of  the  very  best  men  are  in  utter 
distress  —  people  who  never  were  near  to  distress  before. 
Now  they  have  lost  shoes,  food,  clothes,  and  savings,  and 
have  to  receive  charit}^ 

"  A  pretty  little  coincidence  quite  raised  the  spirits  of  the 
people  at  Mousehole — just  the  very  day  that  the  first  i^ioo 
was  voted  to  them,  a  new  boat  came  in  from  its  first  voyage 
bringing  two  thousand  mackerel — the  first-fruits  of  the  year's 
fishery.     xAnd  things  do  look  a  little  brighter."  ^ 

One,  who  was  in  his  service,  has  told  the  present 
writer  much  of  his  bright  and  kindly  ways  with  poor 
people  and  working  men.  He  would  stop,  again  and 
again,  on  his  way  up  or  down  Pydar  Street,  between 
Kenwyn  and  Truro,  to  speak  a  pleasant  word.  At 
a  railway  station  his  quick  eye  would  at  once  fasten 
on  a  fisherman  or  miner  among  the  crowd,  whom  he 
had  seen  at  a  Confirmation  or  other  occasion,  and  he 
would  shake  hands,  and  leave  a  sense  of  friendliness 
that  won  many  a  heart.  When  he  visited  fishing 
villaees  like  St.  Ives,  he  deliohtcd  to  go  in  and  out 
among  the  cottages,  and  make  acquaintance  with  the 

>  Letter  to  his  son. 
M 


1 62  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

seafaring  folk  and  their  families.  And  all  this  was 
done  without  any  sort  of  affectation  of  patronage  or 
condescension. 

The  brightness  of  Bishop  Benson's  manner,  his 
wide  reading,  his  genial  disposition  made  him  a  very 
acceptable  person  in  general  society.  He  was  recog- 
nised by  all  classes  as  a  favourite  and  as  a  leader 
of  men.  But  he  never  allowed  himself  to  descend  to 
the  level  of  a  seeker  after  popularity  ;  nor,  though 
of  broad  sympathies,  would  he  ever  sacrifice  principle 
to  gain  any  man's  favour.  He  could,  if  occasion 
required,  speak  out  in  very  plain  and  trenchant 
language  on  the  shortcomings  and  failures  of  duty 
on  the  part  of  laymen,  as  well  as  of  clergymen. 
When  preaching,  on  one  occasion,  in  behalf  of  religious 
education,  he  dwelt  on  the  great  duty  resting  on 
landed  proprietors  in  this  matter.  "Very  heavy," 
he  said,  "  is  the  responsibility  of  those  who  suffer 
schools  to  pass  out  of  religious  management  ;  for 
very  great  is  the  blessing  upon  those  who  rear 
children  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  By  every  prin- 
ciple of  the  Church,  by  civil  principles  which  lie  at 
the  root  of  English  polity,  this  maintenance  of  the 
best  education  devolves,  in  towns,  upon  the  Christian 
liberality  of  the  inhabitants;  and,  in  the  country,  on 
the  occupancy  of  the  soil.  Time  was  when  the  tenure 
of  land  was  distinct.  The  Count  or  Earl  for  the 
county,  the  Duke  for  his  dukedom,  the  Marquis  for 
the  marches,  was  responsible  for  justice  to  be  done, 
forces  to  be  raised,   defences   to  be  maintained.     As 


THE  BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  163 

time  went  on,  some  public  duties  merged  in  other 
duties,  requirements  grew  less  rigid,  but  they  became 
more  moral ;  demands,  and  the  response  to  them,  grew 
less  constrained,  but  more  generous.  But  still  the 
tenure  of  so  special  a  kind  of  property  ever  retains 
obligations  of  a  special  character  to  those  poor,  who 
dwelling  on  it  and  cultivating  it,  or  by  many  indus- 
tries and  trades  enriching  it,  give  land  a  value  quite 
its  own,  in  which  they  do  not  participate.  But  now, 
sometimes,  we  hear  it  said  that  land  is  like  any  other 
possession,  saleable  and  purchaseable  without  any 
such  obligation,  and  that  the  children  of  the  soil 
are  like  any  other  merchandise  or  cattle,  valuable 
for  their  work,  and  creating  for  their  employers  no 
other  responsibilities.  If  ever  that  doctrine  were 
established  everything  else  would  be  cast  into  the 
melting-pot." 

Then,  as  in  after  years,  he  was  deeply  interested  in 
all  social  problems,  especially  those  that  affected 
"suffering  populations."  While  disapproving  of 
violent  revolutionary  measures,  he  could  not  regard 
"  non-interference "  as  Christian.  These  difficulties 
are  "phenomena  of  the  very  world  in  which  Christ 
is  now  living."  ''His  'kingdom  of  God'  was  not 
the  reign  of  private  interests."  "Christianity 
must  then  have  a  distinct  relation  to  poverty,  and 
an  encouraging  one."  "The  principles  .  .  .  mapped 
out  by  Christ,  make  essential  reference  to  social 
problems  now  before  us.  The  Christian  Fathers 
never  doubted  that  they  did,  and  indeed  give  some- 


1 64  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

what  alarming  point  to  those  which  bear  on  rights 
of  acquisition,  tenure  and  expenditure."  "  But 
one  spinal  cord  there  is  which  animates  all  the 
humanitarian  words  of  Christ.  One  principle  de- 
ducible  from  'all  these  sayings.'  Every  one  of  them 
is  directed  not  to  a  mere  amelioration  of  conditions, 
but  to  the  elevation  of  the  man — the  improvement 
of  the  receiver,  and  coincidently  of  the  giver. 

"It  is  impossible  to  make  the  man  happier,  (no,  nor 
even  permanently  richer)  by  any  act  or  scheme,  unless 
you  make  him  better.  .  .  .  The  most  coveted  social 
changes  work  nothing  but  confusion,  unless  they  are 
the  accompaniments  of  enlightenment,  of  habits 
governed  by  judgment,  and  of  religious  temper,  .  .  . 
There  is  no  amelioratincr  of  condition,  which  is  not 
worked  through  the  building  up  of  character."^ 

With  all  his  sympathy  for  the  democracy  he  could 
take  a  very  real  pleasure  in  cultured  society,  and  in 
the  pleasant  environments  of  old  houses,  with  their 
historic  associations  and  artistic  treasures.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  illustrates  his  tastes  in  this  direction  : — 

"  CoTEHELE  House, 

"  Calstock,  Tavistock, 

"  \a,th  October,  1878. 

"  My  dearest  Arthur, — I  must  write  from  here  to  you. 
How  I  wish  you  were  here  with  us !  You  would  enjoy  this 
wonderful  old  house.  It  is  where  Lady  Mount  Edgcumbe 
Hves — the  old  Dowager  Countess.  I  am  writing  in  my  bed- 
room all  hung  with  tapestry.     On  one  side  a  noble  group  of 

^  Christ  a7id  His  Times,  \)^.  (^^-"j I. 


THE   BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  165 

old  hounds,  large  as  life,  standing  under  Renaissance  arches 
and  fruit  festoons,  with  blue-green  forests  behind,  waiting  for 
orders.  There  '  ROMELUS  CUiM  viciNOS  AD  Tragedias 
VIDENDAS  INVITASSET  INBET  AUFERRIE  VIRGINES,'  a 
Splendid  scene  of  confused  drapery  and  trumpets  while 
'  Romelus '  and  his  queen  are  settling  their  wedding  in  a 
staid  and  princely  manner.  Over  the  fireplace  with  its  logs 
and  dogs,  a  melancholy  Roman  is  sacrificing  '  ignoto  Deo,'  as 
the  altar  says,  and  the  jewels  on  his  shoulders  are  as  bright  as 
ever — and  so  it  goes  on.  My  windows  look  into  a  square 
court,  which  would  make  you  dance  ;  fifteenth  century  and 
some  much  older ;  a  gateway  opposite  with  the  bloodstains 
visible  in  wet  weather  ;  where  some  old  Sir  Richard  killed  the 
porter,  and  in  the  corner  of  my  room  a  retired  closet,  which 
has  a  window  opening  into  the  chapel,  for  the  ancient  dame 
to  pra)'  in.  The  chapel  below,  loveI>'  with  old  glass  and  old 
screens — and  green  encaustic  tiles.  It  is  like  living  in  a 
story,  and  the  old  lady  is  worthy  the  old  house." 

Amono-  the  various  movements  for  social  and 
spiritual  reform.  Temperance  has  always  held  a 
prominent  place  in  Cornwall.  Less  than  thirty  years 
ago  a  Bill  for  "Sunday  Closing"  in  the  county 
very  nearly  passed  into  law.  Dr.  Benson,  without 
adopting  an  extreme  attitude,  warmly  supported  this 
measure,  and  other  useful  schemes,  for  checking  an 
evil  recognised  by  all,  but  strangely  failing  to  secure 
strong  and  vigorous  support  among  leading  politicians 
of  the  first  rank.  Cornish  people  have  for  many 
years  been  remarkable  for  their  persevering  efforts 
in  this  direction.  Dr.  Benson  clearly  recognised  this, 
and  gave  all  the  weight  of  his  office  and  his  personal 
sympathy   in   aid   of   the   movement.      The   following 


1 66  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  F.  E.  Gardiner,  Vicar 
of  St.  Paul's  Truro,  (now  Sub-Dean  and  Rector  of 
Truro)  on  the  occasion  of  an  important  C.E.T.S. 
meetino-  in  favour  of  Sunday  closing,  expresses  his 
mind  on  the  question  : — 

"  Lis  Escop, 

''July  yd,  1882. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — If  you  would  read  this  letter  for  me  to 
the  meeting  of  the  Church  of  England  Temperance  Society, 
I  should  be  very  much  obliged  to  you.  I  want,  not  only  to 
apologise,  but  to  express  my  strong  feeling  of  disappointment 
on  the  present  occasion.  I  am  more  sorry  than  I  can  say 
to  be  compelled  to  be  absent  from  the  festival,  in  which  I  had 
hoped  to  share,  and  which  had  been  fixed  as  well  as  could 
be,  with  a  view  to  my  being  present,  and  taking  part  in  it — 
though,  at  this  time  of  year,  hindrances  are  unavoidable.  I 
have  received  a  summons  to  business  in  London,  have  tried 
in  vain  to  obtain  an  alteration,  and  am  compelled  to  be 
absent. 

"As  to  the  great  part  which  Cornwall  is  taking  in  promot- 
ing public  measures  on  the  subject,  I  trust  nothing  will  defeat 
the  Bill. 

"It  is  said  that  legislation  will  never  make  men  sober.  I 
daresay  that  is  true  enough.  I  am  equally  sure  it  is  true 
that,  without  legislation,  men  will  not  find  it  possible  to  be 
sober.  With  so  little  of  self-restrained  habit  prevailing,  with 
such  temptations  on  every  side  abounding,  the  average  work- 
ing man,  in  average  circumstances,  has  not  a  fair  chance. 
Let  legislation,  imposing  a  little  restriction  on  the  diffusion 
of  liquor,  give  people,  so  situated,  the  same  liberty  of  choice 
which  social  restrictions  upon  temptations  impose  on  other 
classes,  and  the  habits  will  change  below,  as  they  have  changed 
above.  Few  of  the  middle  and  upper  classes  are  exposed 
to   the  ceaseless   temptation,  '  Drink  !    drink  !      Drink   here  ! 


THE   BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  167 

Drink  there!     Drink  of  my  drink  !     Give  me  drink '  ;  which 
custom  thrusts  on  a  far  larger  body  of  men. 

"  Legislation  will,  at  any  rate,  check  the  customs  which 
are  worst  on  the  best  day.  Let  men  be  bold  against  evil 
customs  everywhere,  whether  they  choose  to  abstain,  or 
choose  to  be  temperate  onh'  (which  some  find  harder),  all 
can  contribute  to  break  the  neck  of  evil  custom.     Let  them. 

"  A  good  tone  is  more  potent  than  legislation.  One  of 
the  most  important  aims  we  can  have,  is  the  providing,  and 
helping  to  provide,  occupation  and  recreation  good,  innocent 
and  thorough. 

"At  the  same  time  I  trust  that  the  religious  basis  of  all 
true  life  will  not  (among  all  our  little  pleasant  devices)  be 
lost  sight  of.  Many  are  the  stories  of  people  becoming 
Christian  because  the}'  had  become  temperate,  I  wish  there 
was  more  thought  of  the  number  who  become  so,  and  are 
temperate,  because  they  become  and  are  Christians.  It  is 
not  in  the  nature  of  religious  hearts  to  assert  themselves. 
But  it  would  help  the  causes  both  of  temperance  and  of  the 
Church  (which  are  one),  if  we  were  more  ready  to  observe 
how  temperance,  as  a  principle  of  life  and  not  merely  a  bye- 
law  about  one  article,  is  set  down  by  St.  Paul  as  '  a  fruit 
of  the  Spirit.'  "  Your  faithful  servant, 

"E.  W.  Truron:" 

But,  with  all  this  ready  sympathy  with  the  temper- 
ance movement,  he  was  quite  alive  to  the  mistakes 
and  exaggerations  of  many  of  its  advocates.  On 
one  occasion  he  attended  a  meeting,  where  he  was 
astounded  at  the  statements  of  "  a  fanatic,  who  told 
us,  that  the  Nazarites  of  the  Old  Testament  were 
the  true  patterns  of  the  New  Testament  Christian, 
and  that,  while  they  were  pledged  to  drink  no  strong 
drink,  others  were  allowed  to  do  so,  provided  it  was 


i6S  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

unintoxicating.  And,  that  of  John  the  Baptist  it  was 
predicted,  '  that  he  should  be  a  mighty  man  before  the 
Lord,  fo7'  he  shall  drink  no  wine  nor  strong  drink.' 
This  brought  thunders  of  applause,  for  what  he  called 
'the  direct  teaching  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'"  It  is 
scarcely  to  be  wondered,  that  the  Bishop  adds,  "I  see 
many  indications  that  the  Cornish  are  very  ignorant 
indeed  of  their  Bibles."^ 

He  strongly  desired  to  oppose  to  the  public-house 
a  counter  attraction.  Speaking  at  the  opening  of  a 
working  man's  institution,  he  said:  "There  is  no 
cause  more  fraught  with  good  for  the  future  than 
the  cause  of  temperance.  But,  much  as  my  own 
feelino-s  are  enoao-ed  on  that  side,  earnest  as  I  am 
that  every  possible  motive  should  be  brought  to  bear 
upon  this  great  question,  yet  I  feel,  wherever  I  go, 
that,  when  one  has  to  speak  about  temperance,  or 
listen  to  others,  I  always  want  to  show  what  there 
is  to  be  said  on  the  other  side.  Solomon  said,  '  The 
legs  of  the  lame  are  not  equal,"  and  there  is  a  world 
of  good  sense  in  that  quaint  proverb.  It  is  what 
I  think  must  rise  in  the  heart  of  many  a  poor  fellow, 
who  goes  to  hear  temperance  speeches.  He  knows 
it  will  be  good  for  him  if  he  does  what  he  is  told,  and 
keeps  out  of  the  public-house  ;  but  he  asks  '  Where 
am  I  to  go  ? '  .  .  .  The  answer  ought  to  be  given 
by  the  erection  everywhere  of  institutions  like  this." 
But  there  were  occasions  also,  when  direct  and 
important  results  from  temperance  meetings  came  to 

'  Diary. 


TIJE   BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  169 

his  notice,  as  he  has  himself  recorded.  "On  Monday 
night  a  crowded  meeting  for  the  Church  of  iMigland 
Temperance  Society,  at  which  they  had  to  desist  from 
enrolhng  members,  simply  because  it  grew  so  late  at 
night,  and  they  could  not  write  down  the  names  fast 
enough."  ^ 

There  is  another  and  far  more  prev^alent  evil  in 
Cornwall  than  drunkenness,  which  appalled  Dr. 
Benson.  He  mentions  it  in  his  Diary,  as  "a  very 
widespread  immorality  of  a  very  dark  character.  .  .  . 
This  is  summarising  what  they  tell  me  of  them- 
selves. They  attribute  it  to  the  Celtic  character, 
with  a  smile.  But  we  know  the  beautiful  chastity 
of  the  women  in  Ireland."-  He  was  shocked  at  the 
prevalence  of  illegitimacy,  and  anticipation  of  marriage 
intercourse.  Among  the  causes  that  contributed  to 
these  unhappy  results,  he  was  constrained  to  believe 
that  not  the  least  important  were  "the  inflammation 
of  sexual  passion,  induced  upon  the  awful  sensuous 
agitation"  of  certain  hysterical  "Revivals";  the 
defective  teaching  on  the  Incarnation,  and  an  "  un- 
sacramental  view  of  all  things.  The  marriage  tie, 
the  human  temple,  the  birth  of  a  child  into  the  world, 
having  nothing  mystic  or  mysterious  in  them.  They 
resent  the  very  word  '  mystery '  in  a  sermon  ;  and 
until  the  idea  can  be  borne  in  upon  them  again,  and 
the  Society  of  Christian  men  be  recognised  as  a  Unity 
not  to  be  sinned  ao-ainst,  this  frio-htful  evil  will  not  be 
diminished."^ 

^  Diary.  "-  Ibid.  ^  Ibid. 


lyo  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

In  after  years  the  Church  of  England  Purity 
Society  was  founded,  and  was  warmly  supported  by 
him.  The  painful  subject  of  incontinence  was  care- 
fully dealt  with  by  him,  in  his  Visitation  Charge  at 
Canterbury,  published  under  the  title  Christ  and  His 
Times.  He  considered  in  detail  the  supposed  causes 
of  impurity,  which  was  "the  despair  of  science"; 
overcrowding,  bad  literature,  evil  example  of  the 
upper  classes,  the  public  school  system,  imperfect 
legislation.  For  him  the  hope  lay  "  in  Christianity 
alone."  There  is  none  in  mere  "  publicity,"  such  as 
had  been  attempted  in  the  notorious  pages  of  a 
magazine  by  a  certain  writer.  "It  has  been  said,"  he 
proceeded,  "'sewers  must  be  cleansed.'  But  sewers 
are  not  shot  into  market-places.  It  has  been  said  'a 
cannonade  can  spare  neither  women  nor  children.' 
But  Christ's  words  on  Purity  are  very  unlike  can- 
nonading. Publicity  leads  to  shamelessness."  ^  He 
had  no  great  confidence  in  the  "confessional,"  as  a 
potent  or  permanent  remedy.  That,  he  believed,  lay 
in  "  the  inner  life."  As  to  how  the  White  Cross 
League  should  work,  he  proceeded  to  show  : — 

"  Meetings  rare.  Language  measured  and  delicate.  No 
sensationalism.  The  individual  taught,  not  to  fix  his  thought 
on  his  own  evils,  but  to  divert  it:  helped  to  the  reality  of  the 
'  inner  Hfe '  ;  to  what  his  faith  can  do  for  him  ;  to  the  feeling 
that,  in  a  purer  air,  his  own  strength  becomes  the  strength  of 
ten,  and  that  companionship  for  good  is  the  knighthood  of 
our  time.  Let  no  one  fancy  that  our  trust  is  in  organisations. 
They  are  but  ways  of  coming  face  to  face,  of  bringing  face  to 

^  Christ  and  His  Times,  p.  93. 


THE   BISHOP  AND    THE   LAITY  171 

face.     Some  such  ways  there  must  be,  when   men  are  real, 
when  men  have  real  purposes."  ^ 

In  Cornwall,  as  elsewhere,  excellent  work  of  the 
kind  above  indicated,  has  been  done  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Everitt,  late  Secretary  of  the  White  Cross 
League  (Church  of  England  Purity  Society),  and  his 
successor  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bourne.  The  Diocese 
of  Truro  owes  a  grreat  debt  to  the  Rev.  C.  F.  P^^raser 
Frizell,  formerly  Vicar  of  Chacewater,  to  Dr.  Hammond 
of  Liskeard  and  to  Mr.  W.  G.  N.  Earthy  of  Truro, 
("a  succourer  of  many,"  in  all  branches  of  Church 
work),  for  their  patience  and  zeal,  in  maintaining  the 
work  in  Cornwall,  under  difficult  and  almost  dis- 
heartenino-  circumstances.  And  not  a  few  Cornishmen 
have  learned  to  pray,  with  all  their  hearts,  the  prayer 
composed  for  the  Church  of  England  Purity  Society 
by  Edward  White  Benson  : — 

"  O  Lord  Jesu  Christ,  sinless  Son  of  Man,  Who  art  ever- 
more ready  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted  ;  Grant  unto  us, 
Thy  servants  in  this  league,  both  valour  and  constanc}-,  that 
we  may  keep  undefiled  our  own  purity,  fight  manfully  against 
the  corruption  that  is  in  the  world,  and  shield  and  rescue 
those  that  are  in  peril  and  sore  beset.  Restore  the  fallen,  O 
Lord,  to  themselves  and  Thee  ;  and,  in  garments  white 
through  Thy  Blood,  bring  us  all  unto  the  home  where  the 
pure  in  heart  see  God. 

"  These  things  we  ask,  of  the  Love  of  the  Father  and  the 
Power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  Thy  Name,  Who,  with  Them, 
livest  and  reignest,  one  God  world  without  end.    Aiiioiy 

^  Ibid.,  pp.  115,  116. 


CHAPTER    IX 

CHANGES 

THE  years  passed  swiftly  by.  The  home  at 
Kenwyn  was  "idyllic."  "No  sweeter  place 
could  well  be  imagined  than  Lis  Escop."  ^  The 
spiritual  work  done  in  the  parish,  in  which  Mrs. 
Benson  took  a  deep  interest,  and  indeed  an  active 
and  earnest  part,  was  watched  over  and  greatly  in- 
spired by  the  Bishop,  whose  "dear  and  valued  friend  " 
the  Rev.  J.  A.  Reeve,  Curate  of  Kenwyn,  laboured 
with  loving  enthusiasm  among  a  receptive  people. 
But  a  great  sorrow  had  broken  in  upon  that  happy 
life,  early  in  the  days  of  his  episcopate.  His  eldest 
son,  Martin  White  Benson,  scholar  of  Winchester, 
"a  boy  of  the  most  singular  gifts  of  thought  and 
expression,"  died  at  school  in  February  1878.  The 
Bishop's  grief  "was  perfectly  tragic."  The  wound 
was  an  open  one  throughout  his  life — "an  inexpli- 
cable grief."  His  diaries  reveal,  again  and  again,  the 
secret  anguish  of  his  soul.  "  Nearly  every  year  on 
the  anniversary  of  his  death "  the  Bishop  with  his 
wife  and  daughter  "  visited  Winchester  ...   to  pray 

'  Lifc^  abridged  edition,  p.  162. 
172 


CHANGES  173 

beside   the   grave."  ^     Among   his   private   devotions, 
are  found  the  following  :■ — - 

Na),  Ki'^/6,  Kai  ui'cnruucroi'  toi'  MnpTiiov  fxov  cu  tuttw  (J)0)Teii'a\ 
OTTOv  eTTKTKOirel  TO  0(0?  Tov  TrpocrwTrov  crov,  evua  aireSpa  XuTrt] 
Kcu  (TTei'ay jULOi;. 

[Yea,  Lord,  and  give  rest  to  my  Martin  in  a  place  of  light  where 
he  may  behold  the  light  of  Thy  countenance,  where  sorrow  and 
sighing  is  fled  away.]  - 

and  these  lines  : — 

IN   PACE    MARTINUS. 

O  Amor,  o  Pastor,  qui,  quem  tibi  legeris  agnum, 

Vitali  tingis  morte,  sinuque  foves, 
Nos,  qui  tarn  dulces  per  te  reminiscimur  annos, 

Due  ubi  non  caeco  dctur  amore  frui. 

[MARTIN    IN    PEACE. 

O  Love,  O  Shepherd,  who  dost  touch  with  life-giving 
death  the  lamb  whom  Thou  hast  chosen  for  Thyself, 
and  dost  cherish  him  in  Thy  bosom, 

Lead  us,  who  by  Thy  mercy  look  back  upon  such 
happy  years,  to  that  place  where  it  may  be  granted  us  to 
enjoy  a  love  without  blindness.]  ^ 

His  son,  Mr.  A.  C.  Benson,  says,  "The  home-life 
was  here,  as  always,  the  bright  background  of  his 
work  ;  and  my  brother's  death,  though  he  could  not 
speak  of  it  to  us  for  a  long  time,  seemed  to  draw  out 
his  tenderness  for  his  children  more  than  ever,  and 
to  increase  his  constant  desire  for  their  society,"'* 

^  Li/e,  abridged  edition,  p.  274. 

'  Prayers  Public  and  Private^  edited  by  the  Re\-.  Hugh  Benson, 
p.  169.  3  Ibid.,  pp.  240,  241. 

*  Life,  abridged  edition,  pp.  196,  197. 


174  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

One  very  interesting  and  touching  token  of  the 
Bishop's  constant  thought  of  his  eldest  son,  remains  in 
three  school  note-books,  unused  by  the  boy,  in  which 
his  father  sketched  the  drafts  of  various  offices  for  the 
Admission  of  a  Missioner  [Missionarioriim  Capitis),  of 
Members  and  Associates  of  the  G.F.S.,  of  the  Rules 
for  the  Church  Society,  "to  be  submitted  to  Com- 
mittees ";  of  the  Order  for  laying  the  Foundation  Stone 
of  the  Cathedral,  and  of  the  Dedication  of  the  Oratory 
at  Lis  Escop.  '' Cum  pia  memoria  Martini  mei^  in 
beatis  citjus  fnit  hie  libellus,  M.  W.  B.,  Winton. 
Jan.  1878." 

Beyond  the  circle  of  his  home,  he  had  many  friends, 
and  his  correspondence  with  his  clergy  reveals  the 
affectionate  relations  that  existed  between  them  and 
their  Father  in  God.  The  following  letter,  addressed 
to  a  clergyman  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached, 
shows  how  lovingly  he  could  administer  rebuke.  It 
was  an  answer  to  a  letter,  in  which  the  Catechism 
had  been  described  as  difficult  and  unintelligible,  and 
in  some  respects  unsuited  for  young  children.  There 
were  other  questions  dealt  with,  which  are  omitted, 
as  not  being  of  sufficient  present  interest  to  record. 

"■November  ^th,  1879. 

"  Dearest  Son, — Of  course  I  put  that  to  show  this  is  to 
be  a  very  unpleasant  letter.  X.  is  not  to  be  blamed  :  he 
wanted  me  to  write,  or  enter  into,  or  prescribe  to  him  to 

^  "Ltbellus  Martini^^  so  are  the  books  inscribed.  The  offices,  written 
and  revised,  are  all  compiled  with  equal  care,  the  most  private  ones  as 
well  as  the  most  public. 


CHANGES  lis 

write,  loni,^  disquisitions  on  each  point.  But  I  said,  theologians 
composing  a  catechism  of  divinity,  need  to  have  attention 
directed  by  only  one  word  t(j  an)thing  requiring  one.  And 
I  must  hold  to  that  now.  /  am  not  composing  a  catechism, 
and  1  do  not  think  it  necessary.  What  is  wanted  is,  the  living 
intelligent  bright  explanation,  in  word,  of  clerg>-,  who  really 
themselves  understand  the  Church  Catechism  ;  those  who  do 
not  understand,  because  they  have  never  worked  hard  at 
it,  are  many.  I  mean,  who  have  never  themselves  mastered 
its  theology,  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  it  home  in  talking. 
Its  merit,  as  a  theological  work,  is  far  beyond  that  of  any 
other  catechism  of  any  other  Church.  (Trent  not  excepted, 
which  seen  in  the  peculiar  figments  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
is  a  very  wonderful  statement.)  But  what  you  say  of  the 
children  having  begun  almost  to  forget  it,  to  call  it  '  Prayers,' 
and,  as  they  grow  up,  to  have  been  let  slip  into  ignorance 
of  its  meaning,  is  the  worst  thing  I  have  heard  of  the  Church 
in  Cornwall.  It  reveals  a  new  danger,  and  explains  the 
Methodism  of  the  people  more  than  anjthing.  I  am  certain 
that,  if  the  Catechism  were  steadily  explained  on  a  Sunday 
afternoon  to  children,  in  presence  of  parents,  it  would  do 
more  for  the  Church  than  an>-thing  we  have  thought  of.  The 
clergyman  wants  help  in  drawing  out  his  own  thoughts  into 
clearness,  and  illustrating  them  copiously  from  the  Bible  ; 
and,  for  ///;;/,  Bishop  Overall's  or  Bishop  Nicholson's 
(especially)  Exposition  of  the  Church  Catechism  are  ad- 
mirable. Anyone  who  knew  it  would  be  a  shepherd 
indeed,  and  would  find  no  difficulty  in  making  children  know 
and  believe  it.  Whose  fault  is  it,  if  it  'might  have  been 
as  well  written  in  Latin '  ?  I  know  plenty  of  villages  where 
it  is  known  and  understood  and  loved,  ...  I  am  very  hard 
driven,  and  )-ou  must  pardon  brevity.  When  you  complain 
that  theologians  don't  write  simple  catechisms,  it  is  because 
no  human  task  could  possibl}-  require  so  much  theolog}',  and 
such  power  of  expression.  But  it  is  within  anyone's  power 
to  get  up  one  catechism,  and  teach  it  viva  voce,  which  is  what 


176  THE  BISHOPRIC    OF  TRURO 

the  Church  orders  to  be  done.  Of  course  we  know  better 
than  to  obey  and  have  not  faith  enough  to  trust.  Why  do 
}-ou  not  trust  me,  my  affectionate  son  ? 

"  Your  ever  loving 

"  Edw:  TruroN:" 

In  another  letter  it  is  possible  to  gather  something 
of  the  careful,  but  wide-minded,  viev;^  he  took  of 
difficult  questions  referring  to  Dissent,  and  the  best 
way  to  uphold  Catholic  doctrine  and  practice,  without 
hard  and  repellent  treatment  of  individuals. 

"  Truro,  November  ^th,  1881. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Moorp:, — Mr.  Body  preferred  speaking  to 
writing,  and  only  yesterday  had  a  talk  with  me.  He  advises 
the  postponement  of  the  mission,  and  I  have  quite  agreed, 
feeling  the  full  force  of  what  I  know  you  felt,  but  I  think  we 
might  look  forward  to  January  1883  as  a  good  time  for  a 
mission.  This  would  give  us  Advent  1882  for  the  more 
immediate  preparation  ;  and,  before  that,  full  time  for  getting 
all  our  cords  into  order,  and  moulding  the  Church  workers. 

"  As  to  the  baptism  of  cJiildren,  who  are  at  Dissenting 
schools  and  attend  Dissenting  meetings  with  their  parents  : 
(i)  the  nature  of  the  baptismal  grace ;  (2)  the  'opening  of 
the  door '  through  the  interest  and  affections  of  both  parents 
and  children,  would  seem  to  make  it  right  to  give,  or  not 
withhold,  what  is  (3)  'generally  necessary^  to  their  salvation. 
Confirmation,  not  being  thus  '  necessary,'  is  a  different  thing. 
I  would  not  give  that  to  young  persons,  who  meant  to  go  on 
in  Dissenting  habits,  under  most  circumstances. 

"  Great  hostility  to  the  Church  on  the  part  of  the  parents 
(though  wishing  to  receive  the  Sacrament  for  their  children), 
would  seem  to  be  a  reason  for  postponing  even  Baptism,  and 
endeavouring  meantime  to  soften  hearts. 

"  The  Church's  commission  to  baptise  seems  so  general, 


CHANGES  i-n 

that  to  require  more  than  the  prescribed  conditions,  or  even 
to  put  the  closest  construction  on  '  Uost  thou  believe  in  the 
Holy  Catholic  Church?'  seems  not  right.  But  here,  as  in  so 
many  things,  the  characters  and  circumstances  seem  necessary 
to  be  reviewed,  by  the  prayerful  judgment  of  the  priest  on 
individual  cases,  with  only  very  general  principles  such  as  I 
have  touched  on.  I  should  like  however  to  talk  with  you,  on 
your  own  views  of  the  case  and  learn  them. 

"  Yours  sincerely, 

"Edw:  TruRON:" 

The  Bishop  was  very  particular  about  details  of 
business,  especially  those  that  concerned  the  Cathedral, 
its  services,  and  their  attendant  expenses.  Scarcely  a 
week  passed  without  his  spending  some  time  in  going 
through  the  accounts,  in  suggesting  economies,  or 
better  distribution  of  funds. 

Mr.  T.  H.  Hodge,  formerly  of  the  Cornish  Bank, 
was  invited  by  him  to  act  as  Honorary  Sub-Treasurer 
of  the  Cathedral.  He  spent  many  laborious,  but 
agreeable,  hours  with  Bishop  Benson  in  the  transaction 
of  such  business;  and,  from  that  time  up  to  the  present 
day,  he  has  been  the  faithful  adviser  of  those  who 
have  had  charge  of  idie  funds  available  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  fabric  and  services. 

There  was  much  kindly,  and  even  loving,  intercourse 
between  the  Bishop  and  his  family  on  the  one  side, 
and  not  a  few  of  the  residents  of  Truro  and  the 
neighbourhood,  and  of  all  parts  of  Cornwall  also,  on 
the  other.  The  following  is  only  a  specimen  of  letters 
that    passed    between    him    and    his    Cornish    corre- 

N 


178  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

spondents,  years  after  he  left  Truro,  and  which  show 
that  the  friendships  then  formed  were  deep  and 
lasting. 

"Addington  Pai^,  Croydon, 

"  1st  January,  1891. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  A., — My  New  Year's  note  in  answer  to 
your  Xmas  card  bears  back, — if  it  were  oxAy  possible, — with 
interest  of  affection,  }'our  most  affectionate  wishes  and 
assurances  that  we  are  all  bound  up  in  your  great  love  for 
my  dear  wife.  You  know  all  we  feel ;  but  we  know  also  that 
God  alone  knows  what  Happiness  is  for  any  of  us.  We  wish 
you  the  brightest  He  has  to  give,  and  your  P.  and  all,  and 

Mr.  A.  especially «  yours  affectionately, 

"EdW:   CaNTUAR:" 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  ceaseless  activities,  busy 
schemes  and  plans  for  his  diocese  ;  while  he  was 
leading  a  very  busy  but  pleasant  life,  always  returning 
to  a  happy  home — came  the  call  to  the  great  and 
responsible  office  of  Primate  of  all  England.  That 
he  was  likely  to  succeed  to  this  high  place  some  at 
least  of  those,  who  knew  the  mind  of  those  with 
whom  the  appointment  rested,  were  well  aware.  The 
dying  Archbishop,  Dr.  Tait,  himself  said,  "  The 
Bishop  of  Truro  will  come  forward  and  do  a  great 
work.  For  me  twenty-six  years  is  long  enough."  ^ 
Dr.  Benson  was  summoned  to  his  death-bed,  a  month 
before  he  passed  away,  and  the  visit  was  to  him 
"like  a  patriarchal  benediction."^  Dean  Church  also 
indicated  him  as  a  suitable  successor,  when  he  himself 

^  Life  of  Archbishop  A.  C.  Tait,  vol.  ii.  p.  592. 
2  Life,  abridged  edition,  p.  228. 


CHANGES  179 

tacitly  declined  the  appointment,  and  when  it  became 
known  that  Dr.  Harold  Browne,  on  account  of  his 
advanced  years,  would  not  be  called  to  bear  so  heavy  a 
burden.  Members  of  his  own  family  were  prepared 
for  the  news,  especially  Mr.  A.  C.  Benson,  who  "had 
been  told  at  Cambridge  that  many  people  believed  it 
would  be  offered  to  him."^  But,  that  he  himself  had 
any  definite  expectation  on  the  subject  does  not 
appear.  Less  than  ten  days  before  Mr.  Gladstone's 
offer  was  sent.  Dr.  Benson  in  a  letter,  dated  Truro, 
December  7th,  1882,  wrote  to  a  friend:  "The  noble 
sweet  Archbishop  rests  well.  .  .  .  There  is  no  one  to 
come  after  him. — Your  loving  Edw.  Tr." 

And  then  there  came  the  actual  definite  call,  con- 
tained in  the  letter,  given  later  on,  from  the  Prime 
Minister,  and  the  still  more  striking  and  remarkable 
letters  from  the  Queen  ;  the  original  autographs  of 
which  have,  by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Benson, 
been  deposited  in  the  Chapter  Room  of  Truro  Cathe- 
dral, together  with  seals,  rings,  pectoral  cross  and 
other  personal  belongings  of  Dr.  Benson. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  give  any  adequate  record 
of  the  feelings  of  Cornish  Church  people,  when  they 
heard  that  their  Bishop  was  to  be  removed.  They 
were  proud  that  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro  should  be 
called  to  the  highest  office  in  the  Church  of  England, 
and  indeed  of  the  whole  great  Anglican  Communion. 
But  it  was  a  sore  trial  to  them  to  part  with  him,  after 
scarcely  six  short  years  of  his  presence  among  them, 

^  Life^  abridged  edition,  p.  216. 


I  So  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

during-  which  time  they  learned,  not  only  to  appreciate 
his  remarkable  gifts  as  a  ruler  of  men  and  an  organ- 
iser of  Church  institutions,  a  teacher  and  a  guide,  but 
to  love  him  for  himself,  for  his  gracious  manners, 
kindly  sympathy,  and  benevolent  character. 

That  he  himself  felt  the  wrench  of  the  separation 
greatly  is  w^ell  known.  "  My  heart  is  with  you,  and 
it  always  will  be  "  ;  he  said  at  a  public  meeting  held 
at  Truro  on  January  22nd,  1883.  "Dear  Cornwall 
shall  ever  be  in  my  daily  morning  and  evening 
prayers."  And  his  farewell  address  to  the  Diocese  ~ 
expressed  this  still  more  plainly. 

MR.    GLADSTONE    TO    THE  BISHOP  OF  TRURO. 

"  10,  Downing  Street,  Whitehall, 

''December  i6th,  1882. 

"My  dear  Bishop  of  Truro, — I  have  to  propose  to  your 
lordship,  with  the  sanction  of  Her  Majesty,  that  you  should 
accept  the  succession  to  the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury,  now 
vacant  through  the  lamented  death  of  Archbishop  Tait. 

"  This  proposal  is  a  grave  one,  but  it  is  I  can  assure  you 
made  with  a  sense  of  its  gravity,  and  in  some  degree  pro- 
portioned to  it ;  and  it  comes  to  you,  not  as  an  offer  of 
personal  advancement,  but  as  a  request  that,  whereas  you 
have  heretofore  been  employing  five  talents  in  the  service  of 
the  Church  and  realm,  you  will  hereafter  employ  ten,  with  the 
same  devotion  in  the  same  good  and  great  cause. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  dear  Lord  Bishop,  with 
cordial  respect,  «  Sincerely  yours, 

"  W.  E.  Gladstone. 

"  Were  not  this  letter  sufficiently  charged  already,  I  would 
ask  what  information  can  your  lordship  give  me  concerning 
Mr.  Wilkinson  (of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square)." 


CHANGES  i8i 

the  bishop  of  truro  to  mr.  gladstone. 

"  Tkuro, 

''December  i8///,  1882. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  am  sure  that  you  will  be  ready  to 
believe  that  I  cannot,  and  ought  not  to,  do  more  to-day  than 
simply  acknowledge  a  letter  which  —  with  Her  Majesty's 
gracious  sanction — seems  to  be  a  call  so  momentous.  May 
I  beg  for  a  few  da}\s'  interval,  in  which  I  may  see  one  or  two 
friends,  who  both  know  my  affairs  and  will  counsel  me  as 
Christian  men,  with  no  eye  to  anything  but  the  service  to  be 
done  and  the  burden  to  be  borne  for  the  Church  and  her 
^'^^^^  "  I  remain,  etc.,  etc., 

"E.  W.  Truron:" 

from  her  majesty  the  queen. 

"  Osborne, 

^'December  22nd,  1882. 

"  The  Queen  wishes  to  express  to  the  Bishop  of  Truro  her 
earnest  hope  that  he  will  accept  this  offer  which  she  has 
made  to  him  through  Mr.  Gladstone,  of  the  ver}'  important 
and  high  position  of  Primate — as  she  feels  that  he  will 
thereby  conduce  greatly  to  the  well-being  and  strength  of  the 
Church — and  be  a  great  support  to  herself 

"  The  Queen,  and  her  dear  husband  in  byegone  days, 
always  had  a  high  opinion  of,  and  sincere  regard  for,  the 
Bishop  of  Truro." 

to  her  majesty  the  queen. 
"  Truro, 

"December  2 ^rd,  18S2. 

"  Madam, — Your  Majesty's  writing  was  a  most  gracious 
act  for  which  I  am  deeply  thankful.  With  extreme  dread  of 
failing  in  so  high  a  trust,  I  was  nevertheless  drawn  to  the 
conclusion,  under  the  advice  of  the  few  whom  I  could  trust 


1 82  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

to  ivarn  me,  that  I  ought  to  obey  the  call  of  Your  Majesty, 
made  to  me  through  Mr.  Gladstone.  The  immediate  arrival 
of  Your  Majesty's  letter  has  dispelled  the  last  doubt,  and 
especially  the  most  deeply  kind  assurance  of  personal  con- 
fidence gives  me  a  fresh  and  real  hope. 

"  I  ask  of  God,  and  hope,  that  worthier  prayers  than  mine 
may  obtain  for  me,  the  grace  to  fulfil  for  the  Church  and 
country  what  Your  Majesty  expects  from  me,  and  to  be  the 
most  faithful  servant  of  your  throne. 
"  Your  Majesty's 

"  Most  devoted  servant  and  subject, 

"E.  W.  Truron:" 

the  bishop  of  truro  to  mr.  gladstone. 

"  Truro, 

'' December  22trd,  i?>?>2. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  hope  that  I  have  not  exceeded  the 
time  that  I  might  properly  be  allowed. 

"  I  have  now  received  the  judgment  of  those  from  whom 
I  most  wished  to  hear — whom  I  most  trusted  to  speak  out  to 
me  with  perfect  sense  of  their  responsibility — and  specially 
from  some  of  the  Bishops. 

"  Advised  by  them  all  in  one  way — and  nevertheless  with 
all  awe  which  would,  if  it  were  suffered,  degenerate  into 
fears — I  accept  the  Primacy — or  in  words  of  your  own  which 
are  far  more  serious  and  inspiring,  'the  succession  to  the 
Archbishopric  of  Canterbury.' 

"  God  give  grace.  God  give  all  that  I  only  can  know  to 
be  so  fearfully  wanting.  I  will  give  all  that  He  gives  to  the 
service  of  the  Queen,  and  people,  and  Church. 

"  That  Her  Majesty  herself  approves  it,  knowing  almost 
better  than  anyone  some  earlier  work,  is  a  thought  full  of 
strength. 

"  May  I  say — God  forgive  me  if  I  ought  not — how  much  I 
feel  its  coming  through  you,  with  your  heart-deep  love  of  the 
English  Church,  and  your  devotion  to  her  work  and  her  life." 


CHANGES  183 

from  her  majesty  the  queen. 

"Osborne, 

''December  28///,  1882. 

"The  Queen  has  received  with  much  gratification  and 
pleasure  the  Bishop  of  Truro's  kind  letter  accepting  the  high 
and  responsible  office  of  Primate. 

"  From  all  sides  she  hears  such  expressions  of  thankfulness 
at  this  decision,  and  such  confidence  expressed  in  the  Bishop. 
Her  best  and  most  earnest  good  wishes  will  attend  him  in  his 
arduous  and  high  calling  ! 

"The  Queen  has  heard  with  great  satisfaction  that  Mr. 
Davidson  is  (for  the  present  at  any  rate)  to  give  him  his 
valuable  assistance,  in  the  same  position  which  he  held  with 
his  beloved  father-in-law. 

"  The  Queen  has  just  had  a  letter  from  the  Dean  of  West- 
minster, in  which  he  speaks  of  the  Bishop  and  Mr.  Davidson 
in  the  warmest  terms. 

"When  it  is  possible  for  the  Bishop  to  get  away  for  a 
night,  the  Queen  would  be  most  anxious  to  see  him." 

TO    THE    CHURCH  IN  CORNWALL. 

"My  dear  Brethren  and  Friends, — It  is  with  heavi- 
ness of  heart,  and  still  with  that  trust  which  must  at  last 
overcome  heaviness,  that  I  speak  of  parting. 

"  But  I  must  speak — and  speak  at  once,  or  I  shall  cause 
you  inconvenience. 

"The  circle  of  Confirmations,  which  through  the  grace 
of  God  I  have  found  ever  fresh  and  reanimating,  the  Con- 
ferences brimming  with  strength  and  hope,  which  have  bound 
me  to  all  the  clerg)-  and  to  such  numbers  of  the  laity  in  more 
than  friendship,  and  all  the  other  appointments  made  and 
looked  forward  to  with  zest,  must,  this  year  and  henceforth,  be 
held  by  another  ;  I  had  planned  to  begin  them  so  early  that 
many  ma}-  have  to  be  postponed. 

"  Of  m}sclf  few  words.     I  believe  >-ou  think  it  was  right 


1 84  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

to  accept  this  call  to  the  Primacy,  I  could  never  have 
thought  so,  but  for  the  constant  prayers  offered  far  and  wide 
ere  it  came,  and  for  strange  concurrences  of  circumstance 
which  preceded  and  attended  it. 

"  I  consulted  the  chief  layman  of  the  county.  His  judg- 
ment was,  that,  whilst  it  would  have  been  wrong  to  exchange 
this  for  any  other  see,  however  distinguished,  I  had  no  right 
to  decline  a  leadership,  full  of  labour  and  anxiety,  and  not 
wholly  detaching  me  from  the  hope  of  working  with  and  for 
you  still.  This  judgment  concurred  with  what  I  seemed  to 
see  right. 

"  Dear  Brethren  in  God's  Ministry,  you  have  worked  with 
me  untiringly,  and  admitted  me  to  your  intimacy  ungrudgingly, 
and  I  have  learnt  to  love  every  Home  and  Church  and  School 
of  yours. 

"  Your  Rural  Deans  have  been  my  wise  and  constant  coun- 
sellors ;  and  Canons  have  been  like  brothers,  as  if  the  old 
Cathedral  idea  were  once  more  to  spring  into  bright  activity. 

"  To  the  Laity  I  would  speak  in  terms  of  deepest  respect 
and  gratitude.  Some,  from  elevating  perceptions  of  what 
the  Church  is  in  Her  Divine  Master's  view ;  some,  from 
experience  gained  in  bodies  which  honestly  endeavoured 
to  make  up  what  was  left  undone  in  the  past ;  some,  from 
practical  insight  into  the  grievous  needs  of  the  actual  present ; 
have  recognised  the  fact  that  they  are  the  Church  of  God  in 
its  power  and  in  its  obligation. 

"  As  holding  its  ancient  offices  of  Churchwardens  and 
Sidesmen,  as  members  of  conference,  ruri  -  decanal  or 
diocesan,  as  Readers,  as  Churchworkers,  as  Managers  and 
Teachers  in  every  rank  of  life,  as  helpers  with  worldly  means 
of  good,  or  as  responsible  before  God  for  the  godly  education 
of  His  little  ones  in  the  knowledge  of  His  will,  the  Laity 
of  our  day  have  opened  a  fresh  era  in  the  Church. 

"  All  this  is  not  the  fruit  of  a  few  years.  It  has  been 
preparing  for  a  long  time  past,  and  the  far  greater  works 
which  remain,  God  will  also  bring  to  perfection. 


CHANGES  185 

"  Little  justice  should  I  do  to  my  creed  or  my  feelings 
if  I  did  not  yet  once  again,  as  often  in  the  past,  acknowledge 
with  love  and  gratitude  that  activity  for  Christ's  sake,  that 
openhandedness,  that  kindness  towards  all  good  works,  that 
favour  at  beholding  growing  activities  in  the  Church,  which 
have  been  shown  by  the  Wesleyans  and  b>'  man\-  others,  who 
nevertheless  have,  and  use  energetically,  organisations  of  their 
own. 

"  Where  I  go  I  have  a  noble  holy  example  before  my  eyes 
— my  great  predecessor  in  the  Archiepiscopal  See.  But  how 
hard  to  follow!  The  greatness  was  God's  gift  of  nature. 
But  the  holiness  and  the  sweetness  of  his  charity — for  that 
I  am  bound  to  strive  as  I  may.  You  (I  know  it)  will  pray 
for  me  often  (for  I  shall  belong  to  you  still)  and  specially 
in  that  Holiest  Communion,  where  we  are  together  unsevered 
by  time  or  by  space,  that  I  may  not  strive  in  vain.  I  bless 
God  for  some  little  knowledge  of  the  strong  dignity  of  his 
work,  and  yet  more  for  the  sight  of  his  fervent  love  to  all 
men,  and  of  his  dying  yearning  for  peace  among  Christians, 
which  by  God's  special  goodness  was  allowed  to  me,  from 
time  to  time,  in  his  weeks  of  ebbing  life, 

"  For  my  successor  here  I  pray  with  you,  while  it  is  known 
to  God  only  who  he  shall  be.  I  scarce  think  you  can  have 
one  who  will  love  Cornwall  better  than  I — her  primeval 
Church  and  warmhearted  children,  and  her  vestiges  of  old 
story,  her  shores  and  shrines,  and  the  fair  House  of  God 
which  is  rising  in  the  midst ;  but  I  will  beseech  you  to  pray 
for  one,  who  will  work  in  the  Spirit  of  Christ  more  faithfull}', 
more  zealously,  more  intelligently. 

"  For  her  prosperity,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,   I   and 
mine  shall  never  cease  to  pray  ;  for  her  enrichment  in  every 
grace,  in  hope  and  love  and  generosity,  in  purit)-  of  faith  and 
purity  of  life,  in  perfect  truth  and  perfect  peace. 
"  I  subscribe  myself  for  life, 

"  Your  devoted  servant, 

"  Christmas,  1SS2."  "  E.  W.  TRURON: 


1 86  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

No  sooner  had  Dr.  Benson  been  desiofnated  for  the 
Primacy,  than  a  small  committee  was  formed  at  Truro 
to  devise  means  whereby  he  might  be  presented  with 
an  archiepiscopal  cross.  Canon  Thynne  acted  as 
secretary,  and  the  committee  was  enlarged  by  members 
of  Convocation,  for  each  diocese  of  the  southern 
province.  The  gift  was  a  very  beautiful  and  costly 
cross  of  silver  gilt,  glittering  with  pearls,  sapphires, 
and  clusters  of  diamonds  and  rubies,  for  which  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Finch  raised  a  special  fund ;  and  other 
offerings  were  made.  It  was  designed  by  Messrs. 
Bodley  and  Garner  and  executed  by  Messrs.  Hard- 
man,  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Canon  F.  H. 
Sutton.  The  niches  include  the  fiorures  of  the  four 
Evangelists  together  with  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul ;  and 
those  of  St.  Augustine  of  Canterbury,  his  conse- 
crator.  St.  Vigilius  of  Aries  ;  Archbishop  Theodore 
of  Tarsus,  St.  Hugh  of  Lincoln  ;  and  St.  Piran  and 
St.  Petroc  for  Cornwall.  The  cross  was  presented 
to  the  Archbishop  at  the  Library,  Lambeth  Palace, 
on  April  29th,  1885. 

At  the  enthronement  in  Canterbury  Cathedral  of 
their  first  Bishop  on  March  29th,  1883,  the  Cornish 
clergy  were  well  represented  by  the  two  Proctors  in 
Convocation,  Canons  Thynne  and  Hockin,  Chancellor 
Whitaker,  Canons  Bush,  Coulson,  Mason,  Du  Boulay 
and  Rogers,  and  Prebendary  F.  E.  Carter.  In  spite 
of  his  overwhelminor  work,  there  was  a  constant  inter- 
course  between  himself  and  his  old  diocese.  At 
Lambeth    garden  -  parties    a    visitor    from    Cornwall 


CHANGES  ■  187 

would  be  sure  to  meet  many  old  friends,  lay  and 
clerical,  men  and  women,  from  the  Western  Duchy. 

"Ah  !  IMason,"  said  the  Archbishop  one  day,  half 
in  earnest,  half  playfully,  to  Canon  Mason,  as  they 
were  talkinij;-  over  old  days  and  old  work,  "  depend 
upon  it,  it  was  a  great  mistake  when  you  and  I  left 
Cornwall."  But,  though  his  heart  was  with  Cornwall 
and  its  Church,  his  opportunities  of  revisiting  the 
scene  of  his  great  work  there  were  very  rare.  There 
was  the  great  and  glorious  day,  the  fulfilment  of  his 
dream,  when  the  Cathedral  was  consecrated,  and  he 
preached  the  first  sermon  within  its  walls.  There 
was  a  later  visit  in  1894,  when  he  stayed  at  Port 
Eliot,  and  was  present  at  the  reopening  of  the  noble 
church  of  St.  Germans  by  Bishop  Gott ;  and  when, 
after  seeing  several  other  old  friends,  he  spent  a  quiet 
Sunday  at  Truro,  taking  a  simple  part  in  the  services 
of  the  Cathedral,  reading  the  Lessons,  while  his  im- 
mediate successor.  Bishop  Wilkinson  of  St.  Andrews, 
preached  the  sermon. 

And  then,  two  years  afterwards,  came  the  great 
shock  of  his  departure.  The  news  of  the  Arch- 
bishop's death  was  known  in  Truro  just  before  Even- 
sonof.  on  that  memorable  Sundav  in  October.  The 
Canon  in  course,  out  of  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  not  a  few,  who  would  have  been  quite  over- 
whelmed if  the  announcement  had  been  made 
without  some  kind  of  preparation,  quietly,  at  the 
close  of  the  service,  said  tlie  [)rayer  for  All  Saints' 
Day  ;    and.     after    the    congregation    had    dispersed 


iSS  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

during-   a   solemn   voluntary,    the    startling   news   had 
quickly  spread. 

At  the  funeral  at  Canterbury,  Chancellor  Worlledge 
was  among  the  pallbearers,  and  there  were  also 
present  from  Cornwall,  the  Archdeacon  of  Bodmin 
(the  Ven.  H.  H.  Du  Boulay),  Canons  Bush,  Chappel, 
Flint  and  Whitaker,  and  the  Worshipful  R.  M.  Paul, 
Chancellor  of  the  Diocese,  and  several  Cornish  ladies. 

It  is  interesting  to  note,  that  the  Rev.  F.  E.  Carter 
(Tait  Missioner  and  afterwards  Hon.  Canon  of  Canter- 
bury Cathedral),  Dr.  Benson's  fellow-worker  and  friend 
at  Truro,  was  the  one  wdio  arranged  the  company  of 
watchers  round  his  coffin,  and  acted  as  ccvenioniarius 
at  his  funeral. 

At  Truro  Cathedral  a  great  Memorial  Service  was 
held,  attended  by  a  vast  congregation,  including  the 
Mayor  and  Corporation,  many  laymen  from  all  parts 
of  Cornwall  and  a  large  number  of  the  clergy. 

In  an  article  on  "The  Funeral  of  the  Archbishop" 
the  Guardian  said  : — - 

"The  great  influence  on  the  life  of  the  Church  which  is 
exercised  by  the  Primacy,  in  the  hands  of  a  strong  man,  was 
fitly  represented  by  the  vast  numbers  of  clergy  that  attended 
the  funeral  .  .  .  Laud,  Tillotson,  Tait  have,  each  in  their  way, 
left  their  mark  on  the  history  of  the  Church.  Archbishop 
Benson  will  be  reckoned  in  the  same  rank.  The  famous 
judgment,  which  has  spread  peace  over  the  land,  will  stand 
as  a  lasting  memorial  to  his  rule."  ^ 

But,  to  Cornish  Church  people,  and  perhaps  even 

1  Guardian,  October  21st,  1896. 


CHANGES  189 

to  Others  who  knew  him  before  he  was  called  to 
Canterbury,  his  work  at  Truro  will  always  remain  the 
most  valued,  the  most  interestini^-,  and  certainly  the 
most  picturesque.  To  have  had  the  unique  and  great 
opportunity,  of  guiding  a  new  diocese  into  ordered 
ways  and  wise  disciplined  action,  is  not  often  given 
to  any  man.  But  he,  by  his  own  initiative,  grasped 
and  used  with  enthusiasm,  tact  and  judgment,  another 
opportunity  ;  that  of  founding  and  building  a  new 
cathedral,  which,  in  its  fabric,  organisation,  and  work, 
should  realise,  in  these  later  days,  the  great  ideals  that 
he  had  himself  learned  to  appreciate,  in  the  ancient 
and  venerable  ecclesiastical  foundations  of  the  past. 

His  greatest  and  most  conspicuous  monument  will, 
as  the  years  pass  by,  be  recognised  to  be,  not  chiefly 
the  beautiful  canopied  effigy  that  covers  the  actual  place 
of  his  burial  in  the  great  Metropolitical  Cathedral 
at  Canterbury,  nor  even  that  which  marked  in  so 
significant  a  way  a  new  era  in  the  administration  of 
the  Primacy,  the  written  memorial  of  his  lucid,  wise 
and  tolerant  "  Lambeth  judgment "  ;  but  in  that  well- 
ordered  diocese  of  the  western  peninsula  of  Cornwall, 
and  the  noble  cathedral  that  is  the  centre  of  its 
Church  life. 

The  following  is  a  very  true  estimate  of  his  work 
at  Truro  : — 

"...  When  all  has  been  said,  it  remains  that  the  spiritual 
value  and  significance  of  the  Cornish  period  were  unique. 
Never  again,  in  the  after-years,  weighted  by  measureless 
responsibilities,  was  he  able  to  give  full  fling  to  the  joyous 


I  go  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

outbreak  of  all  the  strength  and  beauty  that  he  had  it  in  him 
to  give  to  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Down  there,  on  that  hidden 
headland,  he  could  allow  his  exuberant  energy  of  work  free 
play,  unhindered  by  the  anxieties  which  encumber  a  great 
position  under  incessant  criticism.  His  buoyant  idealism 
was  kindled  by  the  poetic  contrast  between  the  thing  that  he 
found  to  hand,  and  the  thing  that  he  meant  to  do.  All  his 
creative  faculty  of  organisation  was  evoked,  with  its  equal 
delight  in  the  depth  of  the  foundations  to  be  laid,  and  in  the 
perfection  of  the  smallest  detail  to  be  foreseen.  His  warmth 
of  feeling  responded  to  the  imaginative  emotion  of  the 
Cornish.  Strange  memories,  archaic  visions,  hovered  mistily 
over  uplands  and  hollows :  the  past,  in  its  fascinating 
shadowiness,  in  its  weird  oddities,  met  him  at  every  turn  of 
the  road,  in  the  quaint  form  of  suggestive  aloofness  which 
most  appealed  to  his  swift  curiosity.  Everything  that  he 
undertook  went  through  with  enthusiasm.  He  had  all  the 
joy  of  multitudinous  beginnings  :  and  he  left,  before  the  drag 
had  begun  of  seeing  to  the  continuance  of  what  had  been 
begun,  among  a  people  who  are  quicker  to  welcome  than 
they  are  stable  to  sustain."^ 

It  is  true  that  the  whole  Cathedral  at  Truro  is  his 
monument,  but  there  are  not  wanting  special  memorials 
of  him,  within  and  without  its  walls,  in  stained  glass, 
statue,  carved  inscription.  Chief  among  them  are  the 
words  cut  in  stone  of  the  south  transept,  now  called 
by  his  name  : — 

"  To  the  glory  of  God  this  transept  was  erected  to  com- 
memorate the  restoration  to  Cornwall  of  its  ancient  bishopric 
and  the  episcopate  of  Edward  White  Benson,  D.D.,  first  Bishop 
of  Truro.  A.S.  MDCCCLXXVH  —  MDCCCLXXXIII, 
afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury." 

1  Canon  H.  Scott  Holland,  Journal  of  Theological  Studies,  vol.  ii. 
No.  5,  October,  1900,  p.  34. 


CHANGES  19' 

Another  is  the  figure,  engraved  in  brass,  near  the 
baptistery,  given  by  clergymen  ordained  by  him  at 
Truro  and  Canterbury ;  with  the  following  inscription : — 

"»^  Reverendissimum  in  Chri.sto  patrem  Edwardum  White 
Benson  Cantuar:  Archiepum,  apud  Cantuar:  sepultum,  funda- 
torem  hujus  Ecclic-e  et  epum  primum  summa  pietate  Clerus 
ab  ipso  ordinatus  commemorat.     MDCCCXCVI." 

together  with  the  words  selected   by  himself  for   his 
epitaph  : —  ^ 

"  Miserere  mei  Deus.  Per  crucem  et  passionem  tuam  libera 
me  Christe." 

On  July  8th,  1899,  the  noble  monument,  designed 
on  lines  similar  to  that  erected  to  the  memory  of 
Archbishop  Peckham,  standing  under  the  north-west 
tower  of  Canterbury  Cathedral  close  to  the  Arch- 
bishop's grave,  was  unveiled  by  H.R.  H.  the  Duchess 
of  Albany.  The  Dean  of  Canterbury  and  the  Lord 
Chancellor  (Lord  Halsbury)  paid  fitting  tribute  to  the 
greatness  of  his  life  and  work ;  but  Cornwall  was 
once  more  in  evidence  near  his  tomb,  when  Canon 
Gardiner,  Sub- Dean  of  Truro  Cathedral,  represented 
the  Chapter  of  his  old  Cathedral,  and  the  Earl  of  Mount 
Edgcumbe,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Cornwall, 
bore  witness  to  the  deep  affection  ever  felt  towards  him 
by  the  laymen  of  the  West,  and  commended  to  the 
Church  people  of  England  the  completion  of  Truro 
Cathedral,  as  his  most  appropriate  memorial. 

^  In  a  private  memorandum  found  among  his  papers  he  wrote  :  "  I 
would  have  these  words  put  abo\e  my  grave  and  no  others." 


192  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Whenever  hereafter  men  shall  recall  the  memory 
of  the  first  beginnings  of  the  Diocese  and  Cathedral 
of  Truro  ;  when  they  shall  inquire,  When  was  this 
o-ood  tradition  in  organisation  or  work  or  worship 
beo-un?  Who  was  it  that  first  inspired  this  noble 
idea,  that  has  grown  into  form  and  beauty  in- 
creasingly, as  the  years  have  passed  ?  Who  first 
gave  us  this  or  that  form  of  prayer  or  stately 
ceremony,  this  or  that  wise  rule  for  conference  or 
chapter?  Most  often,  if  Cornish  Churchmen  are 
faithful  to  his  great  example  and  leadership,  the 
answer  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  episcopate 
of  Edward  White  Benson,  first  Bishop  of  Truro 
and  founder  of  its  Cathedral. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Chapter,  held  on  the 
festival  of  SS.  Simon  and  Jude,  28th  October,  1896, 
in  the  Chapter  Room  of  the  Cathedral,  the  following 
resolution  with  reference  to  the  death  of  the  Most 
Reverend  Edward  White  Benson,  Lord  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  was  unanimously  passed  : — 

"  That  we,  the  Bishop  and  Canons  of  Truro,  in  General 
Chapter  assembled,  desire  to  express  our  deep  sorrow  at  the 
removal  from  the  Church  on  earth  of  our  late  Archbishop,  so 
honoured,  trusted,  and  beloved,  some  time  the  first  Bishop  of 
this  reconstituted  diocese. 

"  While  recalHng,  with  gratitude  to  Almighty  God,  all  the 
Archbishop's  unwearied  service  to  the  Church  and  the  nation, 
and  the  varied  gifts  so  reverently  offered  in  that  service,  we 
feel  that  it  is  our  especial  privilege  to  record  our  sense  of  the 
wisdom  which  planned  the  foundation  of  this  Cathedral,  the 
skill  with  which  its  statutes  were  drafted,  and  the  hopeful 


CHANGES 


193 


enerj^y  which  communicated  to  many  hearts  a  determination 
to  continue  what  had  been  so  happily  begun. 

"  That  we  desire  further  to  express  to  Mrs.  Benson  and 
her  famil)'  our  deep  s>'mpathy  with  them  in  a  sorrow  in 
which  man}-  have  most  truly  shared,  and  an  assurance  of 
our  continued  pra}-ers  that,  together  with  him  who  has  now 
entered  into  his  eternal  rest,  they  may  evermore  be  guarded 
b}'  the  peace  of  Christ." 

The  resolution  was  signed  by  the  Bishop,  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Chapter,  and  by  Chancellor  Worlledge,  as 
secretary,  and  was  forwarded  to  Mrs.  Benson. 

To  the  above  resolution,  the  following  reply  was 
received  : — 

"  Eton  College,  Windsor, 

''November  \6th,  1896. 

'•Dear  Mr.  Chancellor, — My  mother  had  hoped  to 
be  able  to  acknowledge  the  kind  resolution  of  condolence, 
forwarded  to  her  by  the  Bishop  and  Chapter  of  Truro,  but 
she  has  not  been  able  to  do  so  yet.  She  therefore  asks  me 
to  express  her  sincere  gratitude  for  the  affectionate  sympathy 
expressed,  and  for  the  touching  allusions  to  my  dear  father's 
work  in  Cornwall. 

"  May  I  add  one  word  ?  Of  all  the  various  positions  that 
my  father  held,  though  he  threw  himself  with  equal  zeal  and 
interest  into  the  work  of  each,  yet  I  am  sure,  from  many 
things  he  has  said  to  me,  that  his  work  at  Truro  was  nearest 
to  his  heart :  he  felt  the  stimulus  of  Wellington,  he  loved  the 
antiquity  of  Lincoln  ;  and  the  historical  traditions  of  Canter- 
bury, combined  with  the  sense  of  the  hourly  growing  energies 
of  the  Church,  ga\e  him  a  deep  sense  of  solemn  responsi- 
bility :  but  the  Truro  time  was  what  touched  his  affections 
most.  To  hear  him  speak  of  Truro,  and  Truro  people  and 
Cornish  folk  was  alwa}-s  a  delight  ;  he  thought  that  they 
o 


194  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

loved  him,  and  his  own  love  for  them  was  peculiarly  tender 

and   eloquent.     Even   in   times    of   sadness    and    anxiety,   it 

always  brightened  him  to  think  and  speak  of  Cornwall. 

"  Will  you  kindly  convey  to  the  members  of  the  Chapter 

our  sincere  thanks  for  the  resolution,  and  believe  me,  dear 

Mr.  Chancellor, 

"  Most  sincerely  }^ours, 

"Arthur  C.  Benson." 


CHAPTER    X 

THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO 

GEORGE  HOWARD  WILKINSON  was  born 
in  the  county  of  Uurh;im,  and  educated  at 
Durham  under  Dr.  Henry  Holden.  He  was  elected  to 
a  scholarship  at  Oriel  College,  Oxford,  and  graduated 
in  Honours  (Literal  Humaniores,  Class  II.)  in  1855. 
He  was  ordained  to  a  curacy  at  St.  Mary  Abbot's, 
Kensington,  under  Archdeacon  Sinclair  the  elder, 
and  held  the  livings  of  Seaham  Harbour  and  Bishop 
Auckland  in  the  Diocese  of  Durham  from  1859  to 
1867.  His  experience  as  an  active  Parish  Priest, 
among  the  mining  population  of  the  North,  was  en- 
larged by  his  transference  to  London  in  1867,  when 
he  was  appointed  Vicar  of  St.  Peter's,  Great  Wind- 
mill Street.  Here  he  laboured,  for  three  or  four  years, 
among  a  poor  and  sadly  depressed  population,  which 
afforded  only  too  sufficient  material  for  rescue  and 
penitentiary  work.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  to  the 
large  and  important  parish  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton 
Square,  the  inhabitants  of  which  include  some  of  the 
wealthiest  residents  in  London,  and  some  of  the  most 
cultured  of  "Society"  families.  The  history  of  his 
thirteen    years'    ministry    in    that    parish    cannot    be 

195 


196  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

told  here,  in  any  sort  of  adequate  manner.  All  that 
can  be  said  is,  that  nothing  less  than  a  constant  spirit 
of  missionary  effort  was  kept  alive,  that  instructions 
in  the  "Way  of  Salvation,"  and  the  "Devotional 
Life "  ;  teaching  about  the  need  of  true  conversion 
and  real  vital  religion,  created  the  deepest  impression 
on  multitudes  whose  antecedents  and  environment 
made  it  far  from  easy  to  escape  the  deadening  in- 
fluence, and  exhausting  excitement,  of  fashionable 
Society  and  of  the  London  Season.  The  fervour, 
that  might  easily  have  taken  the  form  of  mere 
Methodist  Revivalism,  was  held  in  check,  not  only 
by  a  cultured  refinement,  but  by  a  reverent  regard 
for  "the  proportion"  of  the  Faith:  and  the  stirring 
of  the  emotions  was  balanced,  both  by  appeals  to 
the  understanding,  and  by  a  careful  regard  for  the 
authority  of  the  Church.  And  so,  the  results  achieved 
were,  in  no  little  degree,  a  successful  combination  of 
Evangelical  piety  and  Catholic  devotion.  The  sub- 
jectivity of  the  prayer-meeting  did  not  prevent  those 
who  came  to  it  from  estimating  the  Sacraments  at 
their  true  value,  nor  from  duly  using  them.  Interest 
was  awakened  in  all  kinds  of  Church  work ;  vast 
sums  were  freely  given  by  those  who  had  "first  given 
themselves  to  the  Lord  "  ;  the  great  ugly  church  was 
transformed  and  glorified  ;  the  services  were  well 
ordered  and  the  music  beautifully  rendered  :  a  centre 
of  spiritual  life  and  light,  in  the  very  heart  of  London, 
spread  its  influence  far  and  wide.  Mr.  Wilkinson's 
powers   as    a   mission    preacher  were    exercised,    not 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  197 

only  in  his  own  parish,  but  in  very  many  parts  of 
England.  Perhaps  his  most  remarkable  effort  in  this 
direction  was  at  the  great  mission  held  at    Leeds   in 

1875- 

He  w^as  associated  with   Bishop  Benson,  as  one  of 

his  Examining  Chaplains,  very  early  in  his  episcopate, 

and  was  appointed   Honorary  Canon  of  St.  Petroc  in 

Truro   Cathedral   in   June    1878.      He  not   only  gave 

most   moving  addresses   at   many   of   the    Ordination 

Retreats,    but   greatly    impressed    the    clergy    of    the 

diocese  at   the    Devotional   Conference.      Of   one   of 

these  occasions  L)r.  J3enson  has  recorded  : — 

"Wilkinson  told  me,  that  he  himself  was  quite  carried 
away  with  the  possibilities  that  opened  out  before  him  of  the 
Church  in  Cornwall ;  and,  that  at  his  first  Communion  in  our 
homely  little  Cathedral,  the  text,  '  The  glory  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  revealed,'  was  borne  in  upon  him,  with  such  a  divine 
force,  that  he  changed  all  the  outline  of  what  he  meant  to 
say  into  this  theme,  and  gave  up  the  plan  of  what  he  had 
prepared."  ^ 

Dr.  Wilkinson  was  thus  in  close  touch  with  many 
of  the  Cornish  clergy  over  whom  he  was  called  to 
preside.  He  had,  from  the  first,  enthusiastically 
entered  into  Dr.  Benson's  ideas  about  the  building 
of  the  Cathedral ;  he  was  present  at  the  great  event 
of  the  laying  of  its  foundation  stones  on  May  20th, 
iSSo;  and  it  was  noticed  how  carefully  he  looked 
after  the  Bishop  whom  he  loved  so  much,  leaving  his 
own  head  bare  that  he  might  screen  his  master's  neck 

•   Diary. 


198  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

from  the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun.  He  had  bright  and 
sanguine  hopes  of  progressive  and  united  Church 
work  in  Cornwall  ;  and,  in  a  sermon  preached  in 
London  after  one  of  his  visits  to  Truro,  "in  pro- 
phesying good  for  the  English  Church,  he  said, 
'  There  is  one  diocese  where  parties  seemed  to  have 
died  under  the  sense  of  common  duties.'  "^ 

It  was  not  surprising  that  such  a  man  should  be 
marked  out  for  promotion  to  the  episcopate  ;  and, 
when,  in  a  postscript  to  the  letter  that  offered  the 
Primacy  to  Dr.  Benson,  Mr,  Gladstone  asked,  "What 
information  can  your  lordship  give  concerning  Mr. 
Wilkinson  ? "  he  was  answered  with  words  that  en- 
larged upon  the  "deep  inner  devotion  and  marvellous 
tact"  of  his  friend,  and  with  the  assurance  that  "the 
religious  heart  of  Cornwall,  where  the  social  and 
religious  separations  are  so  great,  would  be  (as  I  have 
seen  it  so)  remarkably  susceptible  of  his  influence." 

The  announcement  of  the  selection  of  their  Vicar 
for  the  vacant  Bishopric  of  Truro,  called  forth  mingled 
feelings  among  the  parishioners  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton 
Square.  Both  they  and  he  felt  the  summons  to  be 
"a  call  from  God,"  but  "  this  did  not  lessen  the  pain  " 
of  the  coming  separation  ;  of  which  however  he  could 
say,  "  God  helping  us,  nothing  will  ever  really  break 
the  link  which  binds  us  to  each  other.""  This 
certainly  proved  to  be  true,  in  the  constant  help  given 
by  his  friends  in  London  to  the  new  Bishop  of  Truro; 

^   Bishop  Benson's  Diary. 

-  Letter  to  his  parishioners,  January  26th,  1883. 


THE   SECOND  BISHOP   OF  TRURO  199 

in  personal  work,  liberal  offerings  for  the  building  and 
adornment  of  his  Cathedral,  and  the  generous  support 
of  many  Church  works  and  enterprises.  At  once 
a  remarkable  movement  took  place,  to  raise  a 
"Wilkinson  Testimonial  Fund,"  of  which  Lord  Col- 
ville,  Sir  James  McGarel  Hogg  (M.P.  for  Truro,  and 
afterwards  Lord  Magheramorne)  were  the  leaders.  A 
sum  of  about  ^4,000  was  collected,  which  was  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  a  handsome  book  signed  by  all  the 
subscribers,  a  carriage,  and  other  personal  gifts  ;  a 
ring,  a  pastoral  staff,  and  a  pectoral  cross  were  pre- 
sented by  the  ladies  of  the  congregation  and  the 
assistant  clergy  of  the  parish.  At  the  presentation 
of  these  gifts  the  donors  spoke  thus  : — 

"  For  all  that  you  have  done  for  us  we  desire,  first  of  all,  to 
bless  God's  Holy  Name,  and  then,  to  offer  our  grateful  thanks 
to  you." 

The  Vicar  was  able  to  say  in  his  reply  : — 

"  Every  man,  woman,  and  child,  could  feel  that  they  are 
part  of  a  great  family,  and  bound  to  do  what  they  can  to 
help  on  the  work  of  the  Church.  It  has  not  been  by  ones 
or  twos,  or  by  tens  and  twenties,  but  by  fifties  and  hundreds, 
that  the  Church-workers,  thank  God,  can  be  counted."  ^ 

Dr.  Wilkinson  was  consecrated  on  St.  Mark's  Dav, 
April  25th.  1883  (the  sixth  anniversary  of  his  pre- 
decessor's consecration),  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
together  with  the  Bishops-elect  of  Llandaff  and  Tas- 
mania,   Drs.    Lewis  and   Sandford.     The  Archbishop 

^  St.  Petals  Magazine,  May,  1SS3,  pp.  12  seq. 


200  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

had  a  peculiar  interest  in  consecrating,  as  his  successor, 
one  so  loved  and  trusted  by  him  as  his  Chaplain  and 
a  Canon  of  the  Cathedral ;  while  the  Bishop  of 
London  (Dr.  Jackson),  and  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield 
(Dr.  Maclagan,  formerly  Vicar  of  Kensington),  had 
the  pleasure  of  presenting  for  consecration  to  his  high 
office,  one  closely  united  with  themselves  by  friendship 
and  common  work  in  the  great  city. 

On  May  15th,  the  new  Bishop  was  received  in  the 
city  of  Truro  with  a  thorough  Cornish  welcome  by  a 
very  large  gathering  of  the  clergy  and  leading  laymen. 
Dr.  Temple,  the  Bishop  of  Exeter,  commended  him 
to  the  "attachment"  and  "loyal  respect"  of  the  Church 
people  of  Cornwall.  The  friendly  words  of  the  Mayor 
of  Truro,  Mr.  Martin,  a  Nonconformist,  gave  Dr. 
Wilkinson  the  opportunity  of  speaking  of  Dissenters 
in  a  kindly  strain,  and  of  declaring  his  intention  to 
carry  on  the  work  of  his  predecessor  ;  he  determined 
to  have  as  his  ideal  "the  highest  that  a  Bishop 
of  Truro  .  .  .  can  put  before  his  mind,  to  be  ...  a 
father  in  God,  to  be  on  earth  a  representative  of  what 
the  great  Father  is,  to  be  a  father,  as  He  is  Father, 

The  ceremony  of  enthronement  took  place  in  the 
little  wooden  church,  that  had  been  erected  after  old 
St.  Mary's  Church  had  been  demolished,  with  such 
ceremonial  as  was  possible  under  the  homely  conditions, 
of  which  Dr.  Wilkinson  had  said  some  years  before, 
that    the   besrinninors   of   the   new    Diocese   of   Truro 

'  St.  Peter's  Magazine,  June,  1S83,  jjp.  133  seq. 


TFIE   SECOND   BISHOP  OF  TRURO  201 

reminded  him  of  the  primitive  simpHcity  of  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostles.  The  new  Bishop  preached  from  the 
words  "Jesus  Christ,  the  same,  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever." 

With  such  a  happy  inauguration  Bishop  Wilkinson 
entered  upon  his  work.  Great  expectations  were  raised 
of  what  he  might  be  able  to  accomplish,  especially 
as  he  had  already  for  some  years  past  proved 
himself  to  be  in  full  sympathy  of  spirit  with  earnest 
men  of  widely  different  convictions.  He  thoroughly 
entered  into  the  aspirations  of  those  who  loved  a 
well-ordered  service,  and  who,  loyal  to  the  teaching 
of  the  Prayer  Book,  valued  the  grace  given  through 
the  Sacraments  of  the  Church.  But  he  was  an 
"Evano-elical,"  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word.  Personal 
religion  was,  to  him,  as  essential  to  the  well-being 
of  the  individual  soul,  as  corporate  religion  is  to  the 
spiritual  stability  of  the  Church,  and  every  member 
of  it.  It  had  been  his  great  aim,  as  Vicar  of  a  London 
parish,  to  bring  the  two  into  true  co-ordination,  and 
he  set  before  himself  the  same  object,  in  his  new 
and  far  more  difficult  position  as  Bishop  of  so  unique 
a  diocese  as  that  of  Truro. 

The  position  of  the  Church  in  Cornwall,  owing  to 
the  causes  referred  to  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  book, 
is  that  of  a  Church,  supposed  to  be  "  established,"  tace 
to  face  with  a  great  body  or  bodies  of  professing 
Christians,  outside  her  pale,  rendering  her  no  alle- 
giance, and  very  often  deriding  her  claims  and  oppos- 
ing  her   work.      A   faithful    Churchman    looks   at   the 


202  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

situation  as,  for  instance,  Bishop  Benson  regarded  it. 
He  cannot  fail  to  recognise  the  spiritual  power  of  the 
"great  John,"  the  "complete  manner  of  the  work 
done  by  him  in  Cornwall."  It  cannot  be  denied  that 
he  "kept  a  living  though  insufficient  religion  alive." 
Bishop  Benson  says  with  great  truth,  "  As  a  logician 
he  [Wesley]  is  something  like  J.  H.  Newman,  But 
his  moral  power — the  beauty  with  which  he  delineates 
what  he  sees  with  such  intense  accuracy,  both  of  faults 
and  of  graces,  is  marvellous — and,  except  for  the 
witchery  of  Newman's  language,  I  should  place 
Wesley  above  him  as  a  heart-reader."  But,  on  the 
other  hand.  Dr.  Benson,  with  all  his  eager  desire 
to  appreciate  the  work  of  John  Wesley  and  his 
followers,  was  unable  to  deny  that  a  "  deterior 
progenies  "  had  succeeded  to  his  work.  The  doctrine 
of  "assurance  and  perfection,"  however  guardedly 
taught  by  the  early  Methodists,  had  results  too  often 
unsatisfactory.  Apart  from  the  special  evils  already 
mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter,  the  whole  idea  of 
the  Christian  Faith  had  been  lowered.  "  It  is  a 
religion  in  which  Repentance  is  minimised,  pressed 
indeed  into  minutes,  while  Assurance,  and  the  con- 
viction of  Self-perfection  reached,  are  as  attractive 
as  Repentance  is  to  nobler  minds."  And  all  this 
system  has  been  organised  and  entrenched  in  every 
town  and  villao-e,  sometimes  with  its  hug-e  barrack- 
like  meeting-house,  at  other  times  its  little  wayside 
whitewashed  chapel.  Bishop  Benson,  early  in  his 
ministry,    was    accused    of    insulting    the    Methodist 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP  OF  TRURO  203 

ministers,  because  he  had  used  the  phrase  "a  legiti- 
mately descended  ministry  "  of  those  in  the  Holy 
Orders  of  the  Church  of  I^ngland.  He  was  said, 
in  "furious  letters,"  to  have  branded  Wesleyan 
preachers  as  belonging  "to  a  bastard  ministry." 
They  started,  it  is  thought,  a  Wesleyan  College  for 
boys  in  Truro  as  a  counter  movement  to  the  bishopric 
and  the  Cathedral,  and  all  the  Church  educational 
ao-encies  connected  with  those  institutions.  So  great 
a  man  as  John  Bright,  in  a  speech  at  Rochdale, 
accused  Dr.  Benson  of  having  "charged  the  Cornish 
clergy  and  laity  to  '  contend  with  and,  if  possible, 
suppress  Dissent  in  Cornwall.'"  The  Bishop,  in  a 
public  speech  at  Truro,  said,  "  I  will  never  contend 
with  Dissent  with  any  weapons  save  those  of  faith 
and  holiness — my  message  is  one  of  peace  and  good 
will  only  :  my  object  is  to  urge  Churchmen  to  work 
their  own  work  and  live  holy  lives,  and  all  else 
I  leave  to  God."^  From  all  this  it  is  (juite  evident, 
that  any  Bishop,  coming  into  Cornwall,  however  con- 
ciliatory his  character,  however  tactful  his  language 
and  conduct,  must  be  prepared  to  face  a  great  amount 
of  misapprehension,  if  not  downright  opposition, 
when  he  delivers,  in  all  its  fulness,  his  message  as 
a  Chief  Pastor  of  the  Church. 

Whether,  if  Dr.  Wilkinson's  episcopate  had  con- 
tinued for  many  years  unbroken  by  the  sad  interrup- 
tions of  repeated  ill  health  ;  whether,  if  he  had  been 

'  This  and  other  statements  on  this  subject  are  ciuoted  from 
Dr.  Benson's  Diarv. 


2  04  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

able  to  show,  as  he  began  to  do,  in  Ills  own  attractive 
and  inimitable  manner  to  the  more  spiritually  minded 
Wesleyans  the  spectacle  of  a. "truly  converted  man," 
holding  at  the  same  time  quite  firmly  the  doctrines 
of  Apostolic  Succession  and  Sacramental  Grace,  the 
Divine  origin  and  constitution  of  the  Visible  Church; 
and  yet  able  to  sympathise  tenderly  with  their  deeper 
religious  experiences,  and  even  to  adopt  some  of  their 
methods  of  speaking  and  acting;  any  great  results 
towards  the  reunion  of  Christians  in  Cornwall  would 
have  been  achieved,  it  is  not  possible  to  say  with  any 
degree  of  certainty. 

Dr.  Wilkinson,  with  a  most  loving  and  tender 
yearning  for  souls,  and  an  ardent  longing  for  unity, 
went  very  far  to  meet  those  who  were  separated  from 
the  Church.  Some  of  the  clergy  and  the  laity  of  the 
diocese  w^ere,  perhaps,  apprehensive,  on  one  or  two 
occasions,  lest  the  principles  of  Church  order,  if  not 
Church  teaching,  should  be  in  danger  of  being- 
compromised. 

But  no  real  risk  was  run,  at  the  hands  of 
one  so  loyal  to  the  Prayer  Book  and  so  deeply 
attached  to  the  Catholic  faith.  But  it  may  be  doubted 
whether,  then  or  now,  any  definite  approach  towards 
corporate  reunion  between  the  Church  and  Methodism 
is  possible,  until  some  very  great  and  radical  changes 
take  place  in  the  minds  of  the  leaders  of  thought 
among  the  latter.  The  Anglican  Communion  has 
declared  its  own  mind  in  the  definition  of  principles 
of  unity   laid   down    in   the    Lambeth    Conference  of 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  205 

1888:^  it  is  impossible  to  imagine  that  any  further 
reduction  of  terms  can  be  offered  without  stultifying 
the  whole  ecclesiastical  and  doctrinal  position  of  the 
Anglican  Church.  Those  terms  were  (i)  the  Holy 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  as 
"containing  all  things  necessary  to  salvation,"  and 
as  being  the  rule  and  ultimate  standard  of  faith  ;  (2) 
the  Apostles'  and  Nicene  Creeds  ;  (3)  the  two  Sacra- 
ments of  Baptism  and  the  Supper  of  the  Lord,  and 
(4)  the   Historic  Episcopate.- 

Until  Dissenters  grasp  what  it  is  that  Churchmen 
understand  by  the  Catholic  Church,  no  advance  is 
possible.  The  idea  which  fills  the  mind  of  the  average 
Dissenter  is  that  of  a  number  of  denominations  of 
which  the  Church  is  one  ;  with  no  special  spiritual 
claim  upon  his  allegiance  beyond  an  interesting 
history  and  certain  State -given  privileges,  without 
any  divinely  ordained  authority,  or  venerable  con- 
stitutions resting  on  apostolic  foundations.  So  long 
as  this  idea  prevails,  as  it  certainly  does  in  Cornwall, 
there  is  naturally  no  reason  why  the  average  Dissenter 
should  submit  to  any  claim  made  to  him  on  behalf  of 

1  The  Lambeth  Co7ifercttces  of  1867,  1878,  a)id  18S8,  edited  by  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  pp.  280,  281. 

-  In  1897  the  fourth  Lambeth  Conference  passed  a  group  of 
resolutions  on  promoting  "  visible  unity  amongst  Christians,"  indicating 
the  duty  of  special  intercession  for  the  unity  of  the  Church,  in  accordance 
with  our  Lord's  own  prayer  ;  and  suggesting  other  methods  for  en- 
couraging any  tendencies  in  this  direction,  not  only  with  "different 
Christian  bodies"  at  home,  but  with  the  churches  of  the  East,  the  Unitas 
Fratruin  or  Moravians,  and  the  "Church  of  Sweden  "  abroad. — Report  of 
the  Lambeth  Cofiferetice,  1897,  pp.  4?,  43. 


2o6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  Church.  On  the  other  hand,  the  spiritually 
minded  Methodist  is  not  likely  to  surrender  his  inde- 
pendence at  the  call  of  the  most  cleverly  reasoned 
arguments,  that  convince  the  understanding  but  do  not 
touch  the  heart.  The  truly  devout  Wesleyan,  who 
loves  his  Lord  and  Saviour  with  all  his  soul,  will  not 
be  moved  by  dry  arguments  about  Church  government 
or  organisation,  or  appeals  to  antiquity  however  un- 
answerable. He  will  only  be  brought  to  love  the 
Church  and  delight  in  the  Sacraments,  when  he 
realises  that,  the  Church  is  the  dear  Spouse  of  Christ, 
and  the  Sacraments  the  very  means  that  his  Lord  has, 
in  tender  love,  ordained  for  the  needs  of  his  soul. 
Some  of  them  have  learned,  and  are  now  learning,  all 
this.      Dr.  Benson  records  : — 

"  I  was  shown  an  old  man  aged  eighty-two,  who  had  been 
always  an  earnest  man  about  religion,  and  had  been  a 
member  of  every  sect.  One  evening  he  broke  out  of  a  brown 
study  to  a  friend  who  was  sitting  with  him,  in  these  words  : 
'  Why  be  I  to  chapel  now  ?  All  the  good  I  ever  got  was  to 
church.'  His  neighbour  sagely  replied,  'Well  I'm  sure  I 
don't  know  why  ye  be  to  chapel'  The  next  Sunday  he 
came  to  church  and  has  clone  so  ever  since.  This  old  man's 
unmeant  alienation  for  so  long  from  the  Church,  is  a  sort  of 
parable  of  the  Cornish  people.  They  are,  in  very  many 
cases.  Dissenters  without  meaning  it :  they  will  come  in 
crowds  to  church  and  sing  '  We  love  Thine  Altar,  Lord,'  with 
endless  fervour,  and  listen  to  the  highest  doctrine,  without 
remonstrance,  and  subscribe  to  the  restoration  of  the  churches 
freely.    By-and-by  they  will  inquire  '  Why  be  I  to  chapel  ?  '  " 

And  again  under  the  date  May  7th,  187S  :  — 

"  An  old  bright  woman  came  to  Mason  and  told  him  she 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  207 

and  her  husband  had  broken  out  together  over  their  dinner, 
'  Why  shouldn't  we  do  something  for  the  Cathedral  ? '  And 
they  had  resolved  to  give  ten  pcjunds  or  fifteen  pounds,  at 
the  rate  of  two  pounds  a  year,  '  And  here  are  our  first  two 
sovereigns.  We  say,  we  were  born  in  the  Church,  baptised 
in  the  Church,  married  in  the  Church,  and  only  been 
Methodists  for  some  years  since,  and  why  shouldn't  we 
belong  to  the  Church  still,  and  come  back  to  it  ?  for  after  all 
it's  tJie  Church — the  Church — it's  the  Church.'  "  ^ 

Down  at  the  bottom  of  their  hearts,  in  spite  of  long 

years  of  alienation,  the  claims  of  the  Church  still  keep 

a  place.      Dr.  Mason  has  recorded  in  his  Diary  : — 

"September  20th,  1881. —  .  .  .  Old  Caroline  Pascoe,  a 
beautiful  and  devout  old  woman  whom  I  visited  for  the  first 
time.  I  asked  if  she  belonged  to  the  Wesleyans.  '  Xo,'  she 
said,  '  I  don't  like  pride  ;  I  like  to  meet  with  a  humble  little 
people.  So  when  I  came  here  twenty  years  ago  1  joined  the 
Bryanites,  for  they  was  a  little  humble  people  then.  I've 
been  with  them  ever  since,  but  now  they'm  got  so  proud  as 
the  Wesleyans.'  I  told  her  I  thought  that  the  old  Church  was 
after  all  'the  humble  little  people'  she  wanted.  'Ah!'  she 
said,  '  that's  of  it ;  the  Church  is  the  mother  of  us  all." 

What  is  wanted  to  revive  or  recreate  loyalty  for  the 

Church    is    an    earnest    ministry.      Once    more    Dr. 

Mason's   Diary  speaks  for  itself. 

"October  18///,  1881. — In  the  e\eiiing  \\\\  Rible-class,  and 
then  a  visit  to  poor  Ann  Bluett,  in  bed  again.  .  .  .  '  A 
woman,'  she  said,  '  asked  me  the  other  day,  "  Where  do  you 
go  now?"  "To  church,"  I  said.  "To  church!"  said  she. 
"  Why,  how's  that  ?  Did  you  ever  hear  of  an}'one  being 
saved  under  the  parsons  ?  "  I  advised  her  to  tell  them,  the 
next  time,  that  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  were  '  parsons.' " 

1  Diary. 


2o8  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

A  priesthood  full  of  spiritual  vigour  may  surely  win 
this  people. 

So  far  as  Dr.  Wilkinson  was  able  to  exhibit  a 
friendly,  and  even  an  affectionate,  attitude  towards 
Nonconformists,  and  certainly  always  to  think  and 
speak  of  them  in  a  most  loving  spirit,  he  did  not 
a  little  to  soften  the  bitterness  of  religious  controversy. 
But  it  would  be  misleading  to  let  it  be  supposed  that, 
so  far  as  can  be  seen,  any  definite  breaking  down 
or  even  any  loosening  of  the  barriers  has  taken  place. 
Indeed  since  Wesleyanism  has  claimed,  by  some  occult 
process,  to  develop  itself  from  a  Society  into  a  Church, i 
since  its  chapels  more  and  more  provide  elaborate 
musical  services  of  the  cathedral  type,  the  spirit 
of  rivalry  has  increased,  and  the  desire  for  unity 
proportionately  diminished.  There  are  still  too  many 
indications  of  a  tendency  to  use  persecuting  methods, 
to  deter  young  persons  from  offering  themselves  for 
Confirmation;  and  the  cry  for  "Religious  Equality" 
too  often  really  means  the  denial  of  the  just  rights 
of  the  Churchman.  Refusals  to  provide  consecrated 
crround  in  public  cemeteries,  and  appoint  Chaplains  in 
workhouses,-  have  been  notoriously  general.  Any- 
thing- like  the  spirit  of  compromise  between  Church 
and  Dissent  is  doomed  to  failure  in  Cornwall ;  to 
some  extent  it  has  been  tried  in  the  past  and  been 

1  See  note  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 

2  In  not  one  Poor  Law  Union  in  Cornwall  is  the  workhouse  provided 
with  a  chapel  or  with  a  chaplain  appointed,  as  required  by  law,  by 
Boards  of  Guardians  ;  everything  is  left  to  voluntary  effort. 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP  OF  TRURO  209 

found  wanting.  In  the  early  days  of  Methodism, 
there  were  undoubtedly  excellent  persons  who  were 
staunch  members  of  the  "Society"  and  regular  com- 
municants of  the  Church.^  But,  as  time  went  on,  the 
"  Society  "  drifted  further  and  further  till  it  adopted 
the  attitude  of  a  rival  "Church."  The  combination 
of  morning  attendance  at  church,  with  evening 
attendance  at  "chapel."  very  common  indeed  through- 
out Cornwall  up  to  recent  times,  did  not  tend  to 
produce  a  very  satisfactory  or  wholesome  type  of 
religion,  and  certainly  not  one  that  built  up  a  strong 
kind  of  Churchmanship.  Cornish  people  like  a 
decided  form  of  religion  ;  they  can  delight  in  a  "  red- 
hot  "  revi\-al,  and  in  some  places  at  all  events  have 
become  enthusiastic  adherents  of  teaching  on  the 
Sacraments,  private  confession,  and  ceremonial,  which, 
by  some,  might  be  deemed  extreme.  A  thorough- 
going and   consistent   "Evangelical"   parson   will  be 

^  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Malan,  Vicar  of  Altarnun,  for  the 
following  very  interesting  inscriptions  on  tombstones  in  his  churchyard, 
that  illustrate,  vfery  well,  the  original  intention  and  practice  of  the  first 
Methodists  in  Cornwall,  (i)  "Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Digory  Isbell, 
who  died  in  the  Lord  23rd  June  1795,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age,  and 
of  Elizabeth  his  wife,  who  exchanged  earth  for  heaven  8th  of  October 
1805,  in  the  87th  year  of  her  age.  They  were  the  first  who  entertained 
the  Methodist  preachers  in  this  county,  and  lived  and  died  in  that 
connection,  but  strictly  adhered  to  the  duties  of  the  Established  Church. 
Reader,  may  thy  end  be  like  theirs."  (2)  "  This  stone  is  erected  by  Henr>' 
Harris  to  the  memory  of  his  father,  Jonathan  Harris,  who  departed  this 
life.  May  19th,  1805,  aged  84  years.  Also  to  the  memory  of  his  mother, 
Susanna  Harris,  who  departed  this  life,  June  9th,  183S,  aged  66  years. 
He  was  for  seventy  years  one  of  the  Methodist  Society,  and  died  in  that 
connection,  yet  strictly  adhered  to  his  duty  as  a  member  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church." 


2IO  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

sure  to  make  his  mark.  But  the  colourless  and  so- 
called  "  safe  "  form  of  religion  that  aims  principally  at 
avoidine  offence,  will  not  strike  fire  from  the  Western 
Celt,  nor  leave  any  definite  result  behind  it  in  a 
Cornish   parish. 

After  all,  the  best  means  to  promote  unity  is  not 
controversy  or  compromise,  but  prayer  ;  such  prayer 
as  Bishop  Benson  wrote  in  his  Diary,  February  12th, 
1871  :— 

"  Grant,  Lord,  that  Thy  Church  may  war  without  carnal 
weapons.  Grant  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  to  preach 
Christ  without  contention  and  to  advance  Thy  Church  without 
part}%  or  faction,  without  animosity,  without  disputation." 

As  might  have  been  expected  from  his  antecedents, 
Bishop  Wilkinson  was  keenly  interested  in  the  special 
mission  work  in  his  diocese,  as  the  following  letters 
indicate. 

Bishop  Wilkinson  was  always  very  particular  in 
sending  out  a  missioner  with  his  own  personal 
blessing  and,  if  possible,  after  private  conference  and 
prayer. 

Nor  did  his  own  share  in  the  work  then  cease.  He 
was  glad  to  receive,  when  time  permitted  it,  accounts 
of  the  spiritual  progress  of  a  mission,  and  was  always 
ready  to  encourage  the  missioner,  and  the  incumbent 
of  the  parish  with  inspiring  messages  and  wise 
counsels. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  sent  to  a 
missioner  will  illustrate  this  side  of  his  character  : — 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  21  x 

"  Lis  Escoi',  Truro, 

''December  ^th,  1886. 

"  Mv  DEAR  ...  I  must  send  you  and  the  Vicar  and  all 
workers  a  word  of  blessing  for  your  first  Sunday.  We  have 
been  day  by  day  remembering  the  work.  I  am  thankful  to 
have  been  in  the  church  on  a  Sunday  and  so  to  be  able 
better  to  realise  the  mission.  May  the  God  of  hope  fill  you 
with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  and  enable  missioner  and 
Vicar  and  workers  to  abound  in  hope  (however  discouraging 
may  be  the  aspect  which  Satan  presents)  by  the  power  of  the 

Holy  Ghost 

"...  Do  not  take  the  trouble  of  writing  a  regular  letter, 
but  send  me  a  mem.  if  there  be  any  special  need.  Be  ver\- 
careful  about  your  health,  food,  sleep,  etc.  I  have  often 
found  it  a  blessing  to  make  an  act  of  faith  in  our  blessed 
Lord,  when  over-tired,  and  even  to  miss  a  Celebration,  so  as 
to  have  the  needed  rest.  He  knows  whereof  we  are  made. 
"  With  kind  love  to  them  all, 

"  I  am,  my  dear  .  .  . 

"  Affectly.  yours, 

"  GeoRG  :    H.   TruRON  :  " 


"  Lis  Escor, 

"■February  Jth,  1889. 

"...  We  are  not  failing  to  remember  you,  day  by  day,  in 
our  chapel,  as  well  as  privately.  The  mission  was  also 
remembered  the  day  that  I  was  at  the  Cathedral  for  Holy 
Communion. 

" '  Be  strong  and  of  a  good  courage,  for  the  Lord  }-our  God, 
He  it  is  that  goeth  before  }-ou.'  ..."  I  will  guide  thee  with 
mine  eye.'  ..  Kver  affectly., 

"GeORG:    H.   TruRON:" 


212  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

And  two  days  later  : — 

"  Lis  Escor, 

''  February  gth,  1889. 

"...  Thank  you  for  your  letter,  with  its  cheering  account 
of  answered  prayers  and  breaking  Hght  and  comfort  for  your 
own  soul.  .  .  .  May  He  continue  to  bless  you  in  your  own 
soul  and  in  the  work. 

"  Ever,  my  dear  .  .  . 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"Georg:  H.  Truron:"  " 

The  following  letter  was  sent  to  a  Priest,  conducting 
a  mission  at  a  sea-coast  parish  in  beautiful  scenery, 
with  cloudless  moonlight  at  night  and  sunlight  by  clay, 
just  a  week  or  two  before  the  "  Great  Blizzard "  of 
March    1891  : — 

"  Lis  Escor, 

"  February  21st,  1 89 1 . 

"...  I  am  thinking  much  of  you,  and  hope  that  the 
glorious  weather  and  beautiful  light  of  that  '  pale  empress  of 
the  night '  (as  someone  calls  the  moon)  have  been  to  you 
outward  and  visible  signs  of  blessing,  given  to  the  Church  at 
large  and  to  your  own  individual  souls.  What  an  illustration 
the  pathway  of  the  moonbeam  on  the  waters  gives  for  a 
mission  ! 

"The  dark  waters  on  either  side — the  bright  pathway  of 
the  moonlight. 

"  The  solitary  ship — like  a  separate  soul — comes  into  the 
beautiful  light— as  doubtless  many  are  now  coming  at  R. 
The  tiny  vessel  pauses  awhile  in  that  glittering  light.  For  a 
moment  every  sail  and  rope  and  spar  is  irradiated. 

Well  for  it — if  it  let  down  its  anchor  and  abide  in  the 
liirht — for   often — even    as   we    gaze — the    vessel    moves — so 


THE   SEC  ON  J)   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  213 

slowly  and  silently  but  so  surely — out  of  the  li^^ht  into  the 
deep  unutterable  darkness. 

"  And  for  the  dear  people,  whether  belongin<:,r  to  church  or 
chapel,  who  love  our  Lord,  what  echoes  are  sounded  in  their 
ears  from  last  Sunday.  The  Grace  of  God.  The  Grace  of 
the  Incarnation,  the  Atonement — their  Baptism,  their  Con- 
firmation, their  Hoi)'  Communion — received  in  vain  to  no 
purpose — etV  Kevov — that  solemn  '  now '  (2  Cor.  vi.  2).  And 
for  ourselves,  what  searching  questions  arise  from  each  word 
of  the  epistle. 

"  My  love  to  X.  and  to  Y.  The  almighty  and  merciful 
God  bless,  preserve  and  strengthen  and  guide  you. 

"  Ever  affectionatel)', 

"GeORG:    H.   TruRON:" 

After  his  departure  from  the  diocese,  and  while 
still  in  precarious  health,  he  continued  to  remember  in 
his  prayers  the  mission  work  of  Cornwall,  and  wrote 
to  the  same  missioner  about  a  parish  in  which  he  was 
greatly  interested,  and  the  Parish  Priest. 

"He  is  such  a  good  fellow.  ,  .  .  Repentance, 
peace  and  joy  ;  perfect  surrender  to  our  Lord  ; 
these  are  the  needs  of  a  Parish   Priest." 

There  was  in  the  place  a  poor  suffering"  girl  who 
wrote  books.  The  Bishop  added  that  the  Parish  Priest 
and  others  would  be  sure  to  tell  the  missioner  about 
her,  and  wrote :  "  Will  you  call  and  give  her  the 
Blessing  from  me,    with   my   love.     Ask  one   ot    the 

B s     to     write     and     tell     me     how     the     mission 

prospers." 

With  reference  to  an  allusion  to  their  "late  dear 
Bishop"  in  the  preparatory  letter  sent  by  the  missioner. 


J 14  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

he  said,  "  I  know  how  you  will  miss  me.  I  was 
touched  by  words  in  your  letter." 

On  beino-  told  of  the  o-ood  fruits  that  followed  the 
distribution  of  some  of  his  books — Break  up  your 
Fallow  Gro7ind,  The  Way  of  Salvation,  and  others — 
"  I  was  much  touched  by  the  way  in  which  you 
ofather  too^ether  the  indications  of  God's  blessino-  on 
my  books." 

Certainly  a  Bishop  like  this  was  a  wonderful  support 
to  his  mission  clergy. 

Dr.  Wilkinson  took  up  the  threads  of  episcopal 
work,  just  where  his  predecessor  had  dropped  them. 
He  had  several  of  Dr.  Benson's  fellow- workers  who 
were  also  his  own  friends,  to  assist  him — Canons 
Mason  and  Whitaker,  the  Rev.  F.  E.  Carter,  and  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  Reeve.  He  brought  with  him  as  Domestic 
Chaplain,  the  Rev.  John  Maxwell  Lyte,  one  of  the 
Curates  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square,  a  clergyman 
of  singularly  attractive  personality  and  gifts,  whose 
premature  death  early  in  1887,  deprived,  not  only  his 
Bishop  of  a  valued  friend  and  helper,  but  the  diocese 
of  a  bright  example  of  clerical  character  and  high 
ideals. 

He  called  to  his  aid,  as  Examining  Chaplain,  the 
Rev.  H.  Scott  Holland,  Senior  Student  of  Christ 
Church,  and  now  Canon  Residentiary  and  Precentor 
of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral.  He  was  Honorary  Canon 
of  Truro  from  1883  to  1884,  and  still  acts  as 
Examining  Chaplain  to  the  present   Bishop. 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  215 

The  new  Bishop,  as  was  to  be  expected  from  his 
antecedents,  made  every  effort  to  set  before  his  clerjry 
a  lofty  standard  of  pastoral  work,  as  well  as  to  deepen 
in  them  b\-  every  means  the  inner  spiritual  life.  lie 
was,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  greatly  interested 
in  the  Devotional  Conference  of  the  Clergy  of  Corn- 
wall while  he  was  Chaplain  to  Dr.  Benson;  and,  from 
the  beginning  of  his  episcopate  onwards,  he  helped 
it  by  his  presence  and  by  addresses  delivered  at  its 
meetings.  Of  these  conferences  his  predecessor  had 
formed    a   high   opinion  ;   they  "  were  full   of  life  and 

energy  and  spirituality  too — and  as  jNI— said  to  me 

privately,  '  there  was  a  wonderful  sense  of  fellowship ' 

throughout  all — of  course  they  are  the  cream  of  the 

clergy,   but  the  cream   was  Cornish  cream."  '      After 

Dr.  Wilkinson's  arrival  as  Bishop,  in  addition  to  the 

Devotional  Conferences,  an  annual  Diocesan  Retreat 

for  the  Clergy  was  established  ;   mainly  through  the 

care   and   devotion   of  the   second   Canon    Missioner, 

the   Rev.    F.    E.   Carter.      This  has   been   maintained 

ever  since,  and  some  of  the  greatest  masters  of  the 

spiritual    life    in    the    Church   of  England   have   come 

to  Truro  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  these  retreats. 

Among    them    may    be    mentioned    the    late    Bishop 

Bickersteth  of  Japan,  Archdeacon  Hutchings,  Canons 

Body,  Bodington,  Gore,  and  Newbolt,  Fathers  Benson 

and  Puller,  the  Revs.  \ .  S.  Stuckey  Coles,  H.  Bromby 

of  All  Saints".  Clifton,  and  J.  Wylde  of  St.  Saviour's, 

Leeds.    Bishoji  W'ilkinscMi  himself  conducted  the  retreat 

'  Dr.  Ijcnson's  Diary,  April  25th,  1882. 


2i6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

in  iSS6,  which  was  held  at  St.  John's  Church,  Truro. 
The  addresses  were  mainly  on  "The  Pastor  dealing 
with  Individual  Souls,"  and  were  characterised  by  the 
spiritual  insight  that  was  the  fruit  of  the  speaker's 
own  long  experience  and  devoted  labours.  Since  the 
Cathedral  was  built  and  consecrated  the  services  of 
the  retreat  have  always  been  held  within  that  noble 
sanctuary,  in  view  of  the  beautiful  reredos. 

The  preparations  for  Ordination  had  under  the  first 
Bishop  of  Truro  always  been  most  careful.  The 
peaceful  surroundings  of  the  grounds  of  Lis  Escop, 
the  quiet  churchyard  and  impressive  dimness  of  the 
church  at  Kenwyn  ;  the  services  in  the  little  chapel  of 
the  Bishop's  house  :  the  earnest  addresses  given  by 
some  well-known  spiritual  guide,  form  elements  of  a 
memory  that  will  live  long  in  the  hearts  of  many 
clergymen  ordained  for  work  in  the  Truro  diocese. 
There  was  always  one  very  helpful  part  of  the  week's 
work,  and  that  was  the  conversation,  or  rather  con- 
ference, after  dinner  when  some  chosen  subject  was 
passed  round  the  table  for  all  who  wished  to  contribute 
a  share  in  the  discussion  and  finally  summed  up  by 
the  Bishop  in  wise  and  fatherly  words. 

The  Ordination  services  continued  to  be  held  in 
various  parochial  churches,  until  the  consecration  of 
the  Cathedral,  where  (with  the  one  exception  of  the 
Trinity  Ordination  at  Bodmin  in  1895)  they  have 
ever  since  taken  place. 


THE   SECOND    BISHOP   OF  TRURO  217 

The  new  Bishop  had  his  hands  more  than  full  of 
work  inaugurated  by  Dr.  Benson.  But  lie  did  not 
shrink  from  the  breaking  fresh  ground  and  undertaking 
new  responsibiHties,  One  of  these  was  connected 
with  women's  work  in  the  Church. 

Besides  the  ordinary  work  done  by  Christian  women 
in  the  Church,  such  as  that  of  district  visiting,  Sunday- 
school  teaching  and  the  Hke,  Bishop  Wilkinson  had  a 
great  appreciation  of  organised  Community  Life,  and 
was  very  anxious  to  foster  it  in  his  diocese.  Indeed 
the  idea  of  such  a  religious  community  of  women  for 
Cornwall  had  already  occupied  the  mind  ot  the  first 
Bishop  of  Truro,  who  has  recorded  in  his  Diary  an 
interesting  discussion  at  the  Ruri- Decanal  Con- 
ferences on  this  subject.  "  At  every  one  of  them 
clergy  and  laity  have  unanimously  been  of  opinion 
that  some  distinct  organisation  of  women  into  Sister- 
hoods or  Deaconesses'  Institutions,  with  distinctive 
dress  and  vows,  at  least  temporary,  and  solemn 
episcopal  sanction,  are  become  now  absolutely 
necessary  in  the  Church  of  England.  I  am  surprised 
to  find  the  feeling  what  it  is."  Nor  must  it  be  for- 
o'otten,  that,  for  verv  manv  vears  a  branch  of  the 
Comniunity  of  St.  Mary  the  \^irgin,  \\^antage,  had 
been  established  near  Lostwithiel,  where  a  House  of 
Mercy  dedicated  to  St.  Faith,  has  received  many 
penitents,  whose  lives  have  been  changed  and  their 
future  well-being  furthered.  Bishop  Benson  and  his 
successors  valued  this  work  highly.  The  Sister-in- 
Charcre,  Sister  Anna,  was  a  '-reat  favourite  of  his.      In 


2i8  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

his  Diary  he  speaks  of  her  as  "an  ever  grand  old  lady. 
Brown  as  a  nut,  and  wiry  and  bright-eyed."  He 
approved  of  the  methods  of  the  community,  as  not 
having  too  "precise  rules  and  many  silences,  easy  for 
the  Sisters  and  hard  for  the  girls."  The  Sisters  were 
called  by  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  "  Mercy 
Ladies."  The  Rev.  W.  F.  Everest,  during  a  lengthy 
period,  was  the  pious  and  faithful  Chaplain,  and  his 
services  were  greatly  appreciated  and  duly  recognised 
by  Bishop  Wilkinson,  who  appointed  him  to  an 
Honorary  Canonry  in  the  Cathedral  in  1890. 

Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  a  notable  example  of 
a  consecrated  life  had  many  years  been  seen  in 
Cornwall  in  the  person  of  "  Mother  Charlotte,"  widow 
of  the  Rev.  W.  Broadley,  Vicar  of  Carnmenellis.  After 
twelve  years'  devoted  work  with  her  husband  in  that 
newly  formed  and  lonely  Cornish  parish,  she  devoted 
herself  after  her  husband's  death,  to  ministering  to  the 
needs  of  the  orphan  children  of  her  sister,  and  went  to 
reside  in  London.  Here  she  became  known  to  the 
Rev.  G.  W.  Herbert,  founder  and  first  Vicar  of 
St.  Peter's,  Vauxhall.  After  a  time,  she  became  a 
Probationer  of  the  sisterhood  formed  in  that  parish, 
and  in  1866  was  chosen  first  Mother  Superior.  After 
eleven  years  of  untiring  labour  among  the  poor  of 
Kennington,  she  was  compelled,  after  her  third  period 
of  office,  to  retire  from  active  work  and  returned  to 
Carnmenellis  in  1877.  Here  she  lived  a  life  of  devotion 
guided  by  strict  rule,  and  with  her  nieces  established 
many    agencies    for    the    spiritual    well-being    of    the 


THE   SECOND   lUSIIOP  OF  TRURO  219 

people.  In  1882  she  was  called  away,  leavinc^  behind 
an  example  of  "a  life  of  prayer  and  lovinL;-  ministry 
diat  will  not  easily  be  forgotten."^ 

But  the  second  Bishop  of  Truro  desired  to  see  at 
work  in  Cornwall  a  Diocesan  Community  under  his  own 
immediate  q-uidance  and  control,  strengthened  by  his 
episcopal  sanction,  and  (as  he  hoped)  increasing  in 
such  numbers,  as  might  make  it  available  for  various 
kinds  of  work  in  all  parts  of  the  diocese.  The 
materials  for  the  first  nucleus  of  such  a  community 
were  already  to  hand. 

The  following  account  has  been  supplied  by  the 
Communit)-,  and  is  inserted  without  alteration  : — 

THE    FOUNDATION    OF    THE    COMMUNITY 
OF    THE    EPIPHANY 

In  the  years  between  1876  and  1880,  when  Vicar  of  St. 
Peter's,  Eaton  Square,  he  fek  the  great  need  of  the  work 
of  consecrated  women  in  his  parish.  He  therefore  gathered 
together  a  band  of  hidies,  with  a  view  of  founding  a  Religious 
Communit}',  which  he  intended  should  be  established  in  the 
Parish  of  St.  Peter's,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the 
various  parochial  and   mission  works. 

These  ladies  took  up  their  residence  in  Hobart  Place,  close 
to  the  Church  of  St.  Peter's,  in  1880;  but,  finding  the  need 
of  more  quiet  preparation  for  their  future  life,  they  went 
to  Boyne  Hill  in  1881,  where  they  took  charge  of  an  Indus- 
trial School  for  committed  children,  in  compliance  with  a 
request  from  the  Committee  of  the  School,  who  were  members 
of  the  St.  Peter's  congregation. 

At    Boyne    Hill    they  were  close  to  All    Saints'  Church, 

'  For  further  details,  her  life  by  Louisa  Herbert  (published  by  Lony- 
hurst,  KenninL;ton)  should  be  consulted. 


r2o  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

where  they  had  the  advantages  of  the  daily  Celebration  and 
frequent  services,  while  the  Vicar  of  St.  Peter's  visited  them 
fortnightly  for  teaching  and  ministerial  help. 

During  this  time,  the  Constitutions  and  Rule  having  been 
drawn  up,  the  Community  was  established,  and  the  Novitiate 
duly  inaugurated. 

In  1883  when  the  Vicar  of  St.  Peter's  was  appointed  to 
the  See  of  Truro  and  enthroned  in  the  month  of  May — on 
the  following  July  5th,  the  Sisters  came  to  Truro— taking  up 
their  abode  at  Alverton,  which  has  become  the  Home  of  the 
Community.  On  November  ist  of  the  same  year  all  the 
Sisters  were  professed  by  the  Bishop— and  the  Mother 
installed  in  her  office.^ 

At  the  present  time  there  are  seventeen  professed  Sisters 
and  three  Novices.  Since  the  foundation  of  the  Community 
the  works  have  grown  considerably,  so  that  the  Sisters  have 
to  refuse  many  calls. 

The  works  consist  now  of: — 

The  Mother  House,  the  centre  of  the  life  and  work 
of  the  Community. 
There  are  three  Branch  Houses  : — 

{ci)  A  Laundry  Home  for  penitents. 

iU)  A   Convalescent   Home  for  working    men   at  St. 

Agnes. 
{c)  A  Mission   House  in  the  town,  where  the  Sisters 
hold  classes,  etc.,  for  factory  girls. 

In  addition  they  have — 

Charge  of  the  Rosewin  Training  School  for  Servants. 
The  care  of  the  altars  in  the  Cathedral  and  St.  Paul's 
Parish  Church. 

District    work    in    the    parishes    of    St.    Mary's,    St. 
George's,  and  St.  Paul's  as  far  as  their  numbers  allow. 
A  Church  Needlework  Society. 

The  supply  of  altar  breads  to  churches  in  the  diocese. 
The  Community  of  the  Plpiphany  is  diocesan,  under  the 

1  Over  the  door  of  the  House  is  inscrilied  :  "  There  they  dwelt  with 
the  King  for  His  work"  (i  Chron.  iv.  23). 


THE   SECOND   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  221 

control    of    the    Bishop.      On    the    resignation     of    Bishop 
Wilkinson,  the  present  Bishop  became  Visitor. 

Canon  Body,  D.D.,  of  Durham  is  Warden,  and  the  Rev. 
D.  E.  Young  holds  the  office  of  Sub-Warden,  for  many  years 
filled  by  Canon  F.  E.  Carter. 

The  following  sentences  are  inscribed  on  the  ebon}'  cross 
bearing  a  silver  Epiphany  star,  worn  by  the  Sisters  : — 

"We  have  seen  His  Star,  and  are  come  to  worship  Him." 
"  Behold  Th}-  servants  are  ready  to  do  whatsoever  My 
Lord  the  King  shall  appoint." 

"  Fear  not.      I   have  called  thee  b}-  th)'  name.      Thou 
art  Mine." 

The  Bishop  himself  e.xplained  the  objects  and 
principles  of  the  sisterhood  in  his  first  address  to  his 
Diocesan  Conference  in  1883  : — 

"  The  value  of  sisterhood  life  has  long  been  felt  in  the 
diocese,  and  the  self-denial  and  patient  work  of  the  Sisters  at 
Lostwithiel  is  well  known  to  many  here  present.  The  historj- 
of  this  new  sisterhood  may  be  quickly  told.  The  need  of 
women,  entireh-  devoted  to  the  work  of  God,  was  pressed 
upon  me  in  my  London  parish,  and  I  was  fortunate  enough 
to  secure  the  assistance  of  five  of  the  most  earnest  of  those 
who  had  helped  in  our  parish.  The  plan  of  the  sisterhood  is 
very  simple.  The  Bible  as  interpreted  by  the  Prayer  Book 
in  its  obvious  meaning  is  their  standard.  Loyal  submission 
to  their  Bishop  is  their  guiding  principle.  While  it  is  my 
dut)',  as  their  Father  in  God,  to  guard  them  from  all  mere 
idle  curiosit}-,  ever)-  detail  of  their  rule  will  be  gladly  shown 
to  any  who  are  interested  in  their  life.  At  present  they  are 
working  in  the  schools,  visiting  the  sick,  and  helping,  so  far 
as  they  are  able,  all  who  need  their  assistance  The  special 
object,  however,  which  I  hope  to  accomplish  b)-  their  in- 
strumentalit)',  is  the  developing  and  deepening  of  woman's 
work  in  the  diocese.  If  it  be  God's  will  that  the)-  remain  in 
Truro,  and  if  it  be  God's  will  that  their  numbers  increa.se,  and 


2  22  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

that  they  succeed  in  winning  the  confidence  of  the  diocese,  I 
hope  that  they  will  be  invited  to  stay  for  two  or  three  weeks 
at  a  time  in  our  towns  and  villages,  to  strengthen  the  hands 
of  the  Church,  and  to  render  any  help,  which  they  are  able,  to 
the  clergy  of  the  parish.  I  hope  also  that  women  will  be  sent 
to  the  sisterhood  in  order  to  be  trained  in  the  various  branches 
of  parochial  work,  and  then  go  back  to  their  homes  better 
able  than  before  to  help  their  clergyman,  better  acquainted 
perhaps  with  the  deeper  laws  of  the  spiritual  kingdom." 

Reference  has  already  been  made  in  a  previous 
chapter  to  the  excellent  help  given  by  the  community, 
in  parochial  and  mission  work  :  and  the  thoroughly 
loving  and  perfect  manner  in  which  they  care  for  the 
Cathedral  building,  its  altars  and  ornaments,  is  the 
admiration  of  all  who  visit  it.  Not  only  are  a  number 
of  carefully  selected  women  employed  by  them  to 
clean  the  building,  but  a  band  of  lady  volunteers  assist 
in  taking  charge  of  the  choir  and  sanctuary,  arranging 
the  flowers  and  changing  the  frontals.  They  meet 
rec'-ularly  for  prayer  and  occasionally  for  instruction. 
The   following    prayer   has    been    provided   for    their 

use  : — 

Collect  for  Cathedral  Workers. 

O  Lord  Jesu  Chrlst,  Who  when  Thou  wast  on  earth 
didst  cleanse  Thy  Father's  house  from  all  defilement ;  Bless 
us  Thy  servants  in  the  work  belonging  to  us  in  this  holy  and 
beautiful  house,  and  enable  us  to  do  it  faithfully  as  in  Thy 
sight.  Give  us  more  love  for  Thee  and  Thy  service.  Make  us 
kind  and  forbearing  towards  those  with  whom  we  work  ;  and 
grant  that  we,  who  minister  in  Thy  temple  on  earth,  may 
hereafter  see  Thee  face  to  face,  where,  with  the  Father  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  Thou  livest  and  reignest,  one  God  world 
without  end.     Amen. 


THE   SECOND   h'JSJIOP   OF   TKURO  223 

NOTE— "THE   WESLEYAN    SOCIETY" 

On  llic  front  page  of  the  Minutes  of  Conference,  up  to  very  recent 
years  (a.d.  1891),  the  title  ran,  "Minutes  of  several  Conversations 
at  the  [number]  Yearly  Conference  of  the  People  called  Methodists 
in  the  Connexion  established  by  the  late  Rev.  John  Wesley,  a.m., 
begun  in  [town]  on  [date  folloii's]."  At  the  top  of  this  page  there  has 
of  late  appeared  "  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  "  with  a  line  beneath. 
The  explanation  is  given  under  "  Standing  Orders,  part  ii.  i  " 
printed  in  Section  V.  of  each  volume  of  Minutes  of  Conference. 

"  Title  of  the  Connexion. — Having  regard  to  the  terms  used  in 

our  Trust  Deeds  and  other  legal  documents,  it  is  not  possible  for  the 

Conference  to  alter  the  title  of  the  Connexion  as  it  appears  on  the 

front  page  of  the  Minutes  of  Conference.     The  Conference  declares, 

however,  that  the  title  hitherto  used  is  not,  and  never  has  been, 

inconsistent  with  the  assertion  for  '  the  People  called  Methodists  ' 

of  a  true  and  proper  position  as  a  church,  with  all  the  authorities, 

privileges,   and  responsibilities    belonging   to   the    New  Testament 

Church  ;  and  in  this  view  of  our  principles  and  of  the  facts  of  the 

case,  the  Conference,  so  far  from  discouraging,  distinctly  approves 

of    the    general    and    popular    use    of   the   term,    '  The   Wesleyan 

Methodist  Church'"  {Minutes,   1891,   p.  321).     From  the  Annual 

Address  of  the  Conference  (1892)  to  "the  Methodist  societies,"  it 

appears  that  "we   might  have  remained  content  with  the  simpler 

title  which  the  circumstances  of  our  origin  imposed,  if  it  had  not 

been   made  necessary  by  arrogant  gainsayers  to  assume  explicitly 

what  we  have  always  claimed"  {Minutes,   1892,  p.   367).     In   the 

same  address  it  is  stated  (p.  366)  that  "John  Wesley,  in  the  living 

portrait  of  his  Journals,  is  a  perpetual  source  of  inspiration  to  his 

spiritual  children."    In  Wesley's  Journal,  under  January  2nd,  1787,  we 

read  the  following  :  "  I  went  over  to  Deptford,  but  it  seemed  I  was 

got  into  a  den  of  lions.    Most  of  the  leading  men  of  the  society  were 

mad  for  separating  from  the  Church.     I  endeavoured  to  reason  with 

them,  but  in  vain ;  they  had  neither  sense  nor  even  good  manners 

left.     At  length,  after  meeting  the  whole  society,  I  told  them,  '  If 

you  are  resolved,  you  may  have  your  service  in  Church  hours ;  but, 

remember,  from  that  time   you  will  see  my  face  no  more.'     This 

struck  deep  ;  and  from  that  hour  I  have  heard  no  more  of  separating 

from  the  Church."     (  Wesley's  Works,   third  edition,  with   the  last 

corrections  of  the  author,  vol.  iv.  p.  357.) 


CH APTE  R   XI 

PREPARATION 

IT  would  obviously  be  impossible  in  a  work,  like 
the  present  volume,  to  attempt  to  give  any 
adequate  account  of  Bishop  Wilkinson's  inspiring 
ministrations  throughout  the  diocese.  Spiritual  fer- 
vour, and  the  magnetism  of  a  character  and  per- 
sonality rarely  met  with,  affected  greatly  all  who 
came  within  the  sphere  of  their  influence.  In  public, 
whether  at  a  great  Church  gathering,  missionary  meet- 
ing, or  conference,  his  appearance  on  the  platform  was 
sure  to  attract  a  large  audience.  At  the  Cathedral, 
the  announcement  that  he  would  preach  was  sure  to 
bring  a  congregation,  too  numerous  for  the  incomplete 
buildino-  to  accommodate  with  convenience.  At  Con- 
firmations.  Church  dedications,  and  other  special  occa- 
sions, crowds  of  people,  not  by  any  means  all  members 
of  the  Church,  flocked  to  listen.  What  did  they  see  ? 
A  slight  figure,  a  pallid  face,  raven  black  hair,  an 
eager  look  dashed  by  a  shade  of  melancholy.  What 
did  they  hear?  A  voice  of  strangely  vibrating 
quality,  not  perhaps  musical  in  tone,  but  thrilling 
and   penetrating.      But  there  was  much  more.     The 

look    and    the    voice    were    the    e.xpression    and    the 

224 


PRE  PAR  ATI  ON  225 

vehicle  of  ei  message  sincere,  convincing-,  affectionate  ; 
sometimes  almost  terrifying.  Men,  and  not  women 
only,  felt  sure  that  before  them  was  one,  who  had  a 
Divine  message  to  deliver,  to  which  even  against  their 
will  they  were  bound  to  listen.  In  private,  with  all 
who  sought  his  advice,  whether  on  matters  directly 
spiritual  or  ecclesiastical,  or  on  secular  business,  there 
was  felt  to  be  round  them  an  atmosphere,  created  by 
a  life  of  devotion  and  communion  with  God. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that,  with  all  this  spiritual 
fervour,  his  Lcmi)erament  was  so  hi(>"hlv  strunQ-  or 
overwrought  as  to  make  him  unpractical,  or  dreamy 
in  matters  of  e\-eryday  life,  or  lacking  in  the  business- 
like qualities,  so  necessary  to  the  administration  of  a 
diocese,  and  the  government  of  men  and  affairs.  On 
the  contrary,  he  was  always  recognised  by  the  laity, 
as  well  as  the  clergy,  as  an  excellent  chairman  in 
committees,  conferences,  and  every  kind  of  meeting. 
He  organised  his  diocesan  work,  his  Confirmation 
tours,  and  other  visits  to  all  parts  of  Cornwall,  with 
no  little  method  and  systematic  care  ;  and,  while  he 
spent  much  of  his  time  at  Lis  Escop,  and  was  fre- 
quently present  at  the  Cathedral  services,  he  was,  so 
long  as  his  health  permitted,  constantly  moving  about 
in  the  outlying  parts  of  the  diocese,  carrying  with 
him  to  many  a  clerical  home  that  warm  sympathy  and 
tender  encouragement,  which  he  knew  so  well  how  to 
give,  to  those  isolated  and  often  disheartened  clergy, 
who  niinister  under  trying  conditions,  and,  too  often, 
among  an  uns\mpathetic,  if  not  an  estranged,  people. 
Q 


2  26  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

The    followine    e'ives    an     admirable    idea    of    his 
character  and  disposition  : — 

"  His  own  native  character  combines  in  one,  two  tempers, 
which  look  so  opposite  to  one  another,  and  yet  which  are  so 
constantly  united  in  the  typical  Celt.  He  is  at  once  mystical 
and  practical.  Is  there  anyone  in  the  world  more  shrewd 
and  thrifty,  when  thrift  is  the  word,  than  your  Irish  peasant 
with  all  his  religious  intensity?  And  the  Bishop,  rapt  and 
intense  as  he  is  on  the  spiritual  side,  has  the  most  curious 
regard  to  the  smallest  practical  details  :  he  loves  minute  and 
exact  method  ;  he  keeps  his  affairs  in  the  most  absolute 
order  ;  he  has  an  enthusiastic  belief  in  punctuality  ;  he  is  a 
first-rate  chairman  at  a  business  committee  ;  he  has  a  strict 
eye  for  the  use  of  every  minute  of  time  ;  he  takes  positive 
pleasure  in  the  careful  scheming  of  details.  His  note-book  of 
engagements  is  a  miracle  of  precision.  And  moreover,  his 
eye,  in  detecting  and  noting  down  what  is  happening  all  about 
him,  is  unexpectedly  rapid,  and  even  alarming.  He  misses 
nothing,  when  you  least  imagine  him  to  be  observing — a 
passing  expression  in  a  man's  face,  a  txny  faux  pas  or  lack  of 
tact,  a  touch  of  difference  in  a  tone  of  voice,  a  jarring  phrase. 
And  be  it  observed  that  this  combination  of  mysticism  with 
practical  shrewdness  is  no  mere  alternation  of  rival  moods. 
Far  from  it.  The  Bishop  never  slackens  the  tension  of  the 
spiritual  exaltation.  The  religious  point  of  view  is  sustained 
without  break  or  interval.  It  would  be  impossible  for  him  to 
abandon  it  and  then  resume  it.  He  cannot  conceive  life, 
except  in  its  mystical  significance.  Yet,  without  any  sense 
of  contradiction,  without  any  drop  in  the  spiritual  level,  his 
practical  instincts  are  at  work  with  shrewd  precision,  with 
exact  observation  of  details,  at  the  very  moment  and  within 
the  same  impulse  in  which  he  is  putting  out  his  spiritual 
energies.  Has  this  not  been  a  trait  in  many  of  the  good 
mystical  teachers?  Was  not  St.  Teresa  herself  remark- 
able  for   her    keen    common    sense    in   the   management   of 


PRE  PA  KA  TION  2  2  7 

affairs?  The  combination  is,  in  reality,  more  normal  than 
we  are  apt  to  fancy.  No  one  would  understand  the 
Bishop  fully  who  had  not  appreciated  both  sides  of  his 
character."  ^ 

In  addition  to  all  the  other  duties  of  his  office  there 
was  pressing-  upon  him  daily  the  task  of  the  building 
of  the  Cathedral,  and  niakin;^-  it  in  all  respects  fit  for 
worship. 

The  departure  of  Ur.  Benson  from  Cornwall  might 
have  been  supposed  to  be  the  signal  for  the  slackening 
of  the  interest  aroused  by  his  enthusiasm  in  the 
foundation  and  erection  of  the  Cathedral ;  were  it  not 
that,  in  his  successor,  there  was  found,  not  only  a 
similar  enthusiasm  and  a  perfectly  loyal  purpose  of 
carrying  on  all  the  great  tasks  he  inherited  ;  but  a 
remarkable  powerjof  influencing  men  and  women,  to 
give  generously  to  the  many  objects  of  Church  work, 
which  he  placed  before  their  notice.  Besides,  there 
was  a  strong  desire  to  commemorate  permanently  the 
great  initiatory  work  of  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro,  in 
the  building  he. had  so  successfully  founded.  It  was 
therefore  determined  to  add  to  the  choir  and  aisles, 
the  south  transept  as  a  monument  to  the  founder. 
Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe  once  more  took  the  lead  in 
this  fresh  effort,  and  was  vigorously  supported  by  the 
laity  of  the  diocese.  That  part  of  the  building,  now 
known  as  the  Benson  transept,  was  accordingly  begun. 
Later  on,  it  received  as  memorials,  the  stone  tracery 

'  H.  Scott  Holland  in  tlie  Cornish  Magazine,  vol.  ii.,  January,  1899, 
PP-  4,  5- 


2  28  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

of    its   rose  window  as  a  gift   from   the   masters   and 
scholars  of   his   old   college  at  Wellington  ;  ^   and,   in 
after  years,  his  episcopal  staff,  left   in  his  will   to  his 
"own    dear    Cathedral";   besides   family   monuments, 
and   a   brass   effigy   of   himself,    given   by   clergymen 
ordained    by    him    at    Truro    and    Canterbury,      The 
erection   of   the   baptistery  as  a  memorial   to    Henry 
Martyn  ;  the  north  transept,  the  central  tower  as  far 
as  the  lantern   stage,   the  clock  tower  of  the   parish 
church,   followed    each   other    in   comparatively  rapid 
succession  :  and  proved  how  strong  was  the  desire,  in 
the  hearts  of  Cornish  Churchmen,  to  follow  the  lead 
of  their  first   Bishop,  and  remove  the  reproach,  that 
so  long  lay  on  the  Anglican   Church,   that    she   had 
so    little    real    belief   in    her   principles,   and   so   little 
real  enthusiasm  for  the  worship  of  the  Almighty,  on 
a  scale  of   real  dignity,  as  to  have  shrunk  from  the 
task    of   building  a   single   new    Cathedral  for    many 
centuries. 

Mr.  A.  P.  Nix,  Major  Parkyn,  and  Mr.  R.  Swain, 
clerk  of  the  works,  were  among  the  most  energetic 
of  those  who  raised  funds  for  these  successive  addi- 
tions to  the  building. 

Moreover,  under  Bishop  Wilkinson's  rule,  not  only 
was  a  noble  fabric  built,  but  it  was  filled  with  beautiful 
decorations,    and    furnished   with    rich   and    abundant 

^  A  brass  commemorates  this  gift  with  the  following  inscription  : — 
"Ad  majorem  Dei  gloriam,  Reverendissimum  Edwardum  White  Episco- 
pum  Truronensem  amore  et  pietate  prosecuti  hanc  rosam  fenestralem 
Wellingtonenses  sui  ponendam  curaverunt.     A.D.  MDCCCLXXVII." 


PRE  PA  RA  TION  2  2  9 

ornaments  cind  furniture,  worthy  of  the  architectural 
design.' 

That  this  was  possible,  was  due  to  the  admirable 
efforts  of  Cornish  women,  who.  in  the  space  of  about 
a  year,  raised  nearly  ^16,000  for  the  internal  httings. 
When  it  is  remembered  that,  in  after  years,  at  a  time 
when  efforts  were  being  made  to  complete  the  nave, 
about  ^5,000  more  was  collected  by  the  same  agency, 
it  will  go  down  to  history  as  a  great  achievement, 
that,  more  than  ^20,000  for  the  ornamentation  and 
completion  of  a  cathedral,  was  collected  in  the  last 
sixteen  years  of  the  nineteenth  century,  by  the  earnest 
and  persistent  work  of  devoted  Churchwomen  of  the 
West.  Stained-glass  windows,  a  complete  organ,  a 
noble  reredos,  marble  pavement,  all  the  stalls  and 
woodwork  of  the  choir,  the  font,  the  splendid  altar 
plate  and  magnificently  embroidered  frontals,  form 
part  of  these  rich  and  noble  offerings. 

Nothing  poor  or  mean  was  permitted  to  find  an 
entrance  into  so  fair  a  sanctuary,  and  the  architect 
exercised  a  thorough  and  careful  supervision  over  the 
details  of  every  separate  gift. 

The    utmost    care    and    reverential    exactness    was 

^  Canon  Mason  had,  at  the  Diocesan  Conference  in  October,  1883, 
humorously  alluded  to  the  lack  of  provision  made  for  any  ornaments 
or  furniture.  "  With  the  exception  of  a  noble  lectern  and  a  few  books,  the 
Cathedral  is  (so  far  as  I  know)  as  yet  unprovided  with  a  single  article 
of  furniture.  Perhaps,  however,  we  might,  like  our  brethren  of  the 
Eastern  rite,  bring  crutches  with  us  to  lean  upon,  and  dispense  with  seats 
and  hassocks  which  are  ordered  by  no  rubric,  and  therefore  might  even 
be  considered  as  prohibited  ornaments."  From  that  time  attention  was 
specially  directed  to  the  subject. 


2  30  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

exercised  in  making  every  part  of  the  building,  not 
only  artistically  harmonious  and  in  good  taste,  but 
to  minister  to  the  devout  influence  that  should  be 
helpful  to  worshippers. 

"  The  portion  of  east  window"  (so  the  Bishop  wrote) 
"  which  is  done,  requires  some  alteration  ;  but  it  is, 
I  think,  quite  glorious.  The  prayers,  so  far,  have 
been  answered." 

He  had  been  with  the  sculptor  of  the  reredos,  and 
prayed  with  him,  that  the  figure  of  the  crucified  Lord, 
in  the  centre,  might  be  a  worthy  one,  and  helpful  to 
all  who  should  hereafter  see  it.  Even  small  details, 
such  as  the  type  and  binding  of  books  for  the  altar 
and  Canons'  stalls,  were  carefully  considered.  The 
women  of  Padstow  collected  £\oo  for  the  purchase 
of  books.  The  design  for  the  binding,  and  other 
particulars,  were  submitted,  as  had  been  done  in  the 
case  of  all  the  rest  of  the  ornaments,  to  the  architect. 
The  Bishop  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"  Septejiibcr  ist,  1887. 

"...  I  gave  Mr.  Pearson  instructions  about  the  books 
and  had  a  long  interview  with  him.  The  enck)sed  has  just 
come.  Will  you  compare  it  with  the  list  which  you  have 
and  write  me  a  line  by  bearer  to  say  if  it  is  correct,  and  also 
to  answer  Mr.  Pearson's  question  about  the  Bible." 

Many  of  the  smaller  gifts  offered  to  the  Cathedral 
had  interesting  personal  associations  ;  none  perhaps 
more  touching  than  the  embroidery  of  a  fair  linen 
chalice  veil  mentioned  in  the  following  letter  : — 


PRE  PA  RA  TION  2  3 1 

"  Lis  Escop, 

".']//  Saints  Day,  1888. 

"...  I  send  herewith  a  t^ift  for  our  Cathedral,  not  unworthy 
to  be  placed  b\-  the  side  of  the  Alabaster  Box.  It  is  the  work 
of  a  poor  ^^o\erness,  who  has  sat  up  man}-  a  lonel}'  hour,  in 
order  to  make  it  ready  for  the  anniversary  of  the  consecration 
at  the  8  a.m.  celebration  of  Holy  Communion.  Could  you 
send  me  a  short  note  of  acknowledgment  which  I  can  send 
to  cheer  her  in  her  lonel}'  life? 

"  Ever  sincerely  yours, 

"  GeORG  :   H.   TrURON  :  " 

The  following-  instances  were  given  by  Bishop 
Wilkinson  in  his  address  at  the  Diocesan  Conference 
of  1884:— 

"  A  letter  written  by  a  husband  from  the  deathbed  of  his 
wife  contains  these  touching  words  :  '  My  wife  wishes  me  to 
tell  you,  that  she  is  doing  her  best  to  get  her  card  for  the 
Cathedral  filled  up.'  '  I  send  you,'  says  another, '  the  proceeds 
of  a  book  written  b}-  one  who  is  now,  we  humbly  believe,  in 
Paradise  rejoicing  over  the  work  which  is  being  done  for 
God's  Cathedral.'  '  I  have  thought,'  said  a  }-oung  girl,  when 
she  parted  with  a  beautiful  trinket,  '  what  there  was  I  cared 
for  more  than  anything  else  I  possessed,'  and  the  best  was 
freely  given,  unasked,  to  beautify  the  house  of  God." 

After  he  had  left  Cornwall,  the  Cathedral  and  all 
its  services  held  a  large  place  in  his  affection  as  the 
following  letter  will  show  : — 

"Eastbourne, 

''  October  26th,  1891. 

"  Thank  you  ver}-  much,  m}-  dear  Precentor,  for  }'our 
affectionate  letter  and  the  copy  of  the  service  [the  order  for 


232  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  enthronement  and  installation  of  his  successor  as  Bishop 
and  Dean]. 

"  How  beautiful  the  Cathedral  will  look.  How  God's  help 
in  raising  that  '  holy  and  beautiful  house,'  and  furnishing  it  in 
all  its  wonderful  perfection,  is  a  pledge  to  you  all,  for  ever, 
that  His  blessing  shall  rest  upon  the  diocese,  and  His  help 
for  it  never  be  invoked  in  vain.  God  bless  you  all. 
"  Yours  affectionately, 

"George  H.  Wilkinson, 

"  Bishop." 

One  ornament  must  be  singled  out  for  special 
mention,  and  that  is,  "the  Bishop's  chalice."  It  was 
made  from  a  large  number  of  beautiful  jewels,  given 
to  Bishop  Wilkinson,  which  have,  as  far  as  possible, 
been  retained  in  their  original  settings  ;  six  hoop 
rings  being  mounted  on  the  band  of  the  knop  and  six 
roses  on  its  upper  lobes.  It  is  of  considerable  in- 
trinsic value,  and  of  excellent  design  and  workmanship. 
The  following  is  engraved  beneath  the  foot : — 

"  1887.  All  Saints'  Day.  This  sacred  vessel  is  a  memorial 
before  God  of  the  spirit  of  devotion,  which,  in  these  latter 
days,  He  has  quickened  in  the  Church  of  England.  The 
gold,  and  '  precious  stones  for  beauty,'  are  the  gifts  of  a  large 
number  of  persons,  who  have  severally  offered  that  which 
they  most  value,  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  service  of  His 
Holy  Table." 

An  eminent  Nonconformist  leader,  when  he  saw 
it,  said,  "It  is  a  beautiful  symbol,  in  gems  and  gold, 
of  loving  self-sacrifice." 

Bishop  Wilkinson  stirred  up  this  great  effort  by  his 
enthusiasm,  he  fanned  it  by  his  eloquence,  and  con- 


PREPARATION  233 

secrated  it  with  prayer.  It  was  inaugurated  in  May. 
1884,  by  a  great  gathering  in  the  temporary  Cathedral 
at  a  celebration  of  the  Holy  Eucharist,  and  followed 
by  a  meeting  in  the  Public  Rooms. 

Queen  Alexandra,  then  Princess  of  Wales,  was  in- 
vited to  be  president,  Miss  S.  Thornton  was  the  first 
secretary,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Arthur  Tre- 
mayne  of  Carclew,  who  for  many  years,  by  her  per- 
severing devotion,  has  led  the  women  of  Cornwall  to 
emulate  her  own  enthusiasm,  and  bring  their  work  to 
a  successful  issue.  When  their  work  was  being  com- 
pleted, the  Bishop  issued  the  following  letter  : — 

"Truro,  August  sij-/",  1887. 

"My  dear  Friends,— It  is  alike  my  duty  and  m\- 
pleasure,  before  our  Cathedral  is  consecrated,  to  thank  you 
for  the  way  in  which  you  have  responded  to  your  Bishop's 
appeal,  when  he  asked  >-ou  to  provide  the  internal  fittings  for 
the  house  of  our  God. 

"Your  work,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  was  done 
heartily,  unitedly,  quickly,  and  thoroughly. 

"You  bore  cheerfully  the  various  difficulties,  which,  from 
time  to  time,  arose  in  connexion  with  this  great  effort. 

"Old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  Nonconformists  and 
Churchwomen,  united,  with  one  accord,  to  give  their  pence, 
and  silver  and  gold. 

"  In  a  ver}-  short  time  you  collected  more  than  fifteen 
thousand  pounds. 

"You  have  given  an  example  of  devotion  to  God's  Church, 
which  has  been  followed  in  other  dioceses. 

"You  have,  to  an  extent  which  you  will  never  know  on 
earth,  gladdened  the  heart  of  the  Bishop,  and  strengthened 
his  faith  in  the  power  and  goodness  of  God. 


2  34  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

"  You  have,  I  humbly  beHeve,  done  much  to  set  forward 
the  kingdom  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  to  manifest  His 
glorious  Name. 

"  God  bless  you,  dear  people,  in  your  own  souls — your 
hearts — }'our  parishes.      BeHeve  me, 

"  Yours  ever  sincerely, 

"GeoRG:   H.   TruRON:" 

All  these  efforts  were  entirely  in  accordance  w^ith 
the  mind  of  his  predecessor,  who  warmly  seconded 
Bishop  Wilkinson's  desire  for  a  beautiful  and  well- 
furnished  cathedral,  as  the  following  letter  shows  : — 

"  Lambeth  Palace,  S.E., 

"April  2lth,   1884. 

"My  dear  Bishop  of  Truro, — When  I  was  in  Corn- 
wall I  was  anxious  for  the  Cathedral  to  be  built,  fitly  pro- 
vided, and  used  as  the  great  Central  Agency  for  doing  all 
those  things  which  the  parochial  clergy  see  and  say  must  be 
done  centrally ;  as  well  as  for  enabling  the  parochial  clergy  to 
take  their  part  in  organisations  for  effecting  equably  and 
economically  those  spiritual  purposes  which  cannot  be  sus- 
tained dispersedl)'. 

"  Now  that  I  am  away  from  Cornwall  1  see  the  necessity  for 
it  more  strongly  still  for  that  dear  Cornwall's  sake  ;  and  I  see 
it  moreover  now  as  the  necessary  bond  by  which  all  the 
centralised  work  of  dioceses  may  in  turn  be  knit  together  in 
the  still  greater  unity  of  the  province  and  of  the  Church. 

"  One  great  means  of  unifying  laity,  clergy,  Bishops  into 
federal  work  for  God's  Church,  and  for  carrying  out  objects 
which  can  never  be  adequately  attempted  in  isolation,  is  by  a 
living  use  of  the  cathedral  system.  Some  cathedrals  of 
course  have  not  the  least  idea  of  their  powers,  others  have, 
and  I  trust  in  God  to  see  Truro  grow  into  its  fulness  of  use- 
fulness and  service. 

"  I  earnestly  hope  that  your  appeal  will  meet  with  a  hearty 
response.  "  Yours  affectionately, 

" Edw  :  Cantuar :  " 


PRE  PA  RA  TION  2  3  5 

As  the  time  approached  for  the  completion  of  the 
Cathedral,  it  became  necessary  to  review  the  whole 
ecclesiastical  position  of  the  parish  in  which  it  stood, 
and  adjust  the  relations  between  the  somewhat  compli- 
cated rights  and  privileges  belonging  to  both  Cathedral 
and   parish.      On   the   one  hand,  it  was  important   to 
guard   and   maintain,    in    its   entirety,   a   very   ancient 
parish  ;  to  prevent  it  from  being  unduly  overshadowed, 
or  even  absorbed,  by  the  Cathedral  with  its  capitular 
body,  and  its   central   diocesan   dignity  and  authority. 
Bishop  Wilkinson  was  able  to  bring,  not  only  his  tact 
and    courtesy,    but    his   sympathy,    as    an   old    Parish 
Priest  of  lono-  standino-,  to  the  aid  of  the  Rector  and 
churchwardens  ;    while,  on  the  other  hand,  his  strong 
appreciation   of  the  great  value  of  a  true  cathedral, 
with  its  central  position  as  the  mother  church  of  the 
diocese,   and  his   perfect  loyalty  to  his  predecessor's 
ideals,  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  consent  to  any 
compromise,  that  would  sacrifice  that  position.      Long 
and  anxious  discussions  took  place  between  the  Rector 
and  churchwardens  on  the  one  hand,  and  representa- 
tives of  the  Cathedral  on   the  other,  under  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Bishop  ;  and  the   result  was,  that  a  Bill 
was    drawn     up,     embodying    the    recommendations 
arrived   at,    which   eventually,   through   the   care   and 
watchfulness    of    the     Right    Hon.     \V.     H.     Smith, 
passed     into     law    as     "  The     Truro     Bishopric    and 
Chapter    Acts   Amendment    Act"    (50   and    51    \'ict. 
c.    12).      By    this    Act.    the    old   south    aisle    of    the 
Church   of  St.    Mary   was    recognised    as   the   parish 


236  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

church,  and  secured  in  full  parochial  rights  and  privi- 
leges without  interference  by  the  capitular  body  ;  and 
only  subject  to  a  special  regulation  as  to  hours  of 
service  by  the  Bishop,  to  prevent  collision  with  those 
of  the  Cathedral.  The  newly  erected  Cathedral  was, 
on  the  other  hand,  delivered  from  any  possible  danger 
from  being  hampered  by  the  intrusion  of  parochial 
ratepayers  into  its  internal  government ;  and  its 
Chapter  legalised,  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
belonging  to  other  similar  capitular  bodies.  So  Truro 
secured  its  position  with  its  Residentiary  and  General 
Chapters — its  right  to  elect  a  capitular  Proctor,  as 
well  as  its  Bishop  under  the  congd-cCelire;  and  to  hold 
property  as  a  corporation.  To  the  new  Chapter  were 
afterwards  transferred  twelve  benefices  in  Cornwall 
previously  held  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Exeter. 
Under  the  provisions  of  the  Act  above  mentioned  the 
office  of  Sub- Dean  is  held  in  conjunction  with  that  of 
Rector  of  the  parish  ;  and,  so  far  as  could  be,  every- 
thing was  done  to  secure  unity  of  action,  between 
parish  and  Cathedral ;  and  the  existing  parochial 
officials  were,  quietly  and  without  a  break,  attached 
to  the  Cathedral,  in  the  same  or  similar  positions 
hitherto  occupied  by  them. 

The  office  of  Dean  was,  for  a  time  at  least,  to  be 
held  by  the  Bishop  ;  and  residence  was  not  required 
such  as  would  interfere  with  episcopal  work  in  the 
diocese.  While  it  is  very  important,  in  new  founda- 
tions, to  secure  for  the  Bishop  a  recognised  position  in 
the   Cathedral,    and   to   make    it   impossible   that   the 


PRE  PA  RA  TION  2  3  7 

scandalous  spectacle,  that  has  sometimes  been  seen, 
abroad  and  at  home,  should  be  ever  again  repeated, 
of  a  Bishop  being  excluded  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
church  where  his  Cathedra  is  set  up  ;  yet,  it  may  very 
well  be  cfuestioned,  whether,  as  a  rule,  the  union  of  the 
two  offices  is  politic  or  desirable.  The  duties  of  a 
Dean,  as  resident  head  of  the  Chapter,  lie  mainly 
within  the  cathedral  city,  and  the  mother  church  ; 
the  office  of  the  Bishop  is  exercised,  far  and  wide, 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  diocese  ; 
and  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  same  person  to  give 
complete  attention  to  the  demands  of  both. ^  In  new 
foundations  it  might,  perhaps,  be  well  to  revive  the 
precedents  of  Llandaff  and  St.  David's,  where,  until 
the  monotonous  levelling  Act  of  1840,  in  the  former, 
the  Archdeacon,  and,  in  the  latter,  the  Precentor  acted 
as  President  of  the  Chapter  :  or,  possibly,  it  would  be 
better  still,  to  have  a  Provost  elected  by  the  Canons 
themselves,  as  in  early  days  Deans  were  chosen. 

At  Truro,  after  the  legal  establishment  of  the  Dean 
and  Chapter,  the  Honorary  Canons  were  by  no  means 
relegated  to  the  mere  shadowy  position,  occupied  by 
such  dignitaries  in  many  cathedrals.  They  were,  by 
the  Acts,  recognised  as  having  a  share  in  the  patronage 
of  the  Chapter  ;  and,  in  practice,  they  exercise  their 
vote  in  the  election  of  the  capitular  Proctor  ;  besides 
being  summoned,  at  least  three  times  a  year,  along 
with  the  Residentiaries  for  business  and  deliberation. 
In  actual  practice,  as  in  theory,  by  the  draft  statutes, 

'  Cf.  Bishop  Benson,  The  Catlwdral,  p.  43. 


238  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  Cathedral  Chapter  acts  as  the  Bishop's  Council, 
which,  indeed,  according  to  Canon  Law,  is  its  essential 
idea.  They  also  preach  in  turn,  ordained  by  statute, 
at  least  once  annually,  in  the  Cathedral  pulpit.  In 
fact,  they  occupy  a  position  very  similar  to  that  held 
by  Prebendaries  or  non-residentiary  Canons  in  Cathe- 
drals of  the  "  Old  Foundation." 

Bishop  Wilkinson,  as  might  have  been  expected, 
was  not  content  to  exercise  every  possible  care  to 
provide  his  new  Cathedral  with  all  beautiful  and 
necessary  furniture,  and  to  secure  for  the  capitular  body 
as  complete  a  contribution  as  possible  ;  he  was  also 
especially  anxious  to  prepare  the  minds  of  his  people, 
to  make  a  due  use  of  the  noble  Cathedral  that  was 
soon  to  be  consecrated  in  their  midst.  Some  months 
before  the  date  fixed  for  the  dedication,  he  com- 
missioned the  Rev.  F.  E.  Carter,  the  Canon  Missioner, 
to  organise  and  carry  out,  at  several  centres,  a  number 
of  quiet  days  for  prayer  and  devotion,  by  way  of 
preparation  for  the  great  event.  The  addresses  were 
mainly  directed  to  impress  upon  people's  minds  the 
true  principles  of  worship  ;  and  the  devotional  acts 
were  largely  made  up  of  intercessions  for  the  diocese 
and  its  needs,  and  for  the  Divine  blessing  upon  the 
services  that  should  be  held  within  the  Cathedral 
walls,  and  the  work  that  should  centre  round  and 
emanate  from  its  staff  of  clergy.  Throughout  his 
episcopate,  all  who  knew  Bishop  Wilkinson  felt  how 
much  he  depended  upon  such  days  or  seasons  of 
prayer.     Whether  it  was  the  starting  of  the  women's 


PREP  A  RA  riON  239 

association  for  providing  internal  fittings,  or  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Cathedral  Bill  into  Parliament,  or  the 
commencement  of  some  new  diocesan  society;  nothing 
was  ever  entered  upon  without  a  special  celebration 
of  the  Holy  Eucharist,  or  a  largely  attended  service 
of  intercession  when  some  deeply  solemn  and  fervid 
address  would  stir  the  hearts  of  men  and  women,  and 
inspire  them  to  go  forward  in  some  new  enterprise. 
Then,  when  the  success  was  gained,  or  the  peril 
passed,  sometimes  beyond  all  expectation,  the  secret 
of  it  all  was  felt  to  lie  hid,  in  the  prayers  and  inter- 
cessions that  had  been  offered  with  so  much  united 
earnestness  and  faith  ;  and  then,  there  would  follow 
a  service  of  thanksgiving,  a  special  Eucharist,  or  a 
Te  Deuin. 

The  Rector  of  St.  Mary's,  Canon  J.  H.  Moore, 
Sub- Dean  of  the  Cathedral,  arranged  for  a  series 
of  devotional  services  to  prepare  the  worshippers  at 
the  Cathedral  and  his  own  parishioners,  for  their 
entrance  into  their  new  and  greatly  enlarged  sanctuary, 
with  proper  dispositions  of  heart.  The  services  were 
conducted  by  the  late  Rev.  E.  Steele,  Vicar  of  St.  Neot, 
and  made  much  impression — especially  the  chanting 
of  the  Litany  in  the  main  streets  of  the  parish.  The 
following    letter    was    issued    by    the    Rector    to    his 

parishioners  : — 

"St.  Mary's  Rectory,  Truro, 

"  September  26th,  1S87. 
"  Dear  People, — The  time  for  consecrating  the  Cathedral 
to  the  worship  of  God  is  fast  approaching,  and   I  am  very 
anxious  that  this  event  should  be  a  blessing  to  all  of  us. 


240  TflE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

''•  Besides  its  Beauty  and  Glory,  which  strike  all  who  enter 
it,  the  consecration  of  the  Cathedral  is  something  even  more 
than  this  to  the  people  of  St.  Mary's  parish,  and  to  those  who 
have  sacred  memories  of  the  old  church. 

"  The  Cathedral  is  the  Mother  Church  of  the  Diocese ; 
many  from  distant  parts  of  Cornwall  will  come,  we  hope, 
from  time  to  time,  and  feel  at  home  there,  and  find  a  welcome 
from  us,  and  a  blessing  from  God.  But  that,  which  to  others 
in  the  diocese  can  only  be  an  occasional  help  and  blessing, 
will  be  to  you  a  constant  privilege  ;  for  Sunday  by  Sunday, 
at  least,  you  will  be  invited  to  worship  there,  where  there 
is  room  for  all,  using  our  south  aisle  and  its  altar  for  lesser 
occasions,  or  when  found  more  convenient. 

"  So  the  consecration  of  the  Cathedral  has  for  you  all  the 
interest  and  solemnity  of  your  parish  church  opening. 

"  One  principal  thought  on  the  reopening  of  a  church 
is_that  we  must  enter  it  with  hearts  and  lives  prepared 
for  worship. 

"  To  help  us  in  this,  the  Rev.  E.  Steele  has  very  kindly 
consented  to  come  here  on  Sunday,  October  i6th,  until 
Thursday  the  20th,  to  help  us,  as  God  may  give  him  power, 
by  sermons  and  addresses  suited  to  the  occasion.  Full 
particulars  will  be  given  you  of  the  hours,  etc.,  and  I  hope  to 
have  an  early  opportunity  of  giving  you  further  details  of  the 
arrangements  for  November  3rd  and  following  days. 
"  Further  I  wish  to  say  : — 

"  This  Cathedral  Consecration  is  a  call  to  all  of  us :  those 
w^ho  have  learnt  best  how  to  worship,  know  best  how  hard 
it  is,  and  will  gladly  use  this  further  help. 

"  But  this  is  a  call  also  to  that  large  number  whom  I  long 
to  see  awakened  to  a  higher  and  truer  life,  especially  a  large 
number  of  men  who  are  strangers  to  worship  of  any  kind. 
To  these  also  I  send  this  appeal.  Here  is  a  blessing  offered 
to  them  ;  for  the  Cathedral  opening  is,  in  part  a  fulfilment  of 
our  blessed  Lord's  parable  which  shows  the  responsibility  both 
of  the  messenger  and  of  the  people, — '  A  certain  man  made 


PREP  A  RA  TION  2  4 1 

a  great  supper  and  bade  many  ;  and  sent  his  servant  at  supper 
time,  to  say  to  them  that  were  bidden,  Come,  for  all  things 
are  now  ready.'  And  then  a  second  time, — '  Go  out  quickly 
into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither  the 
poor,  and  the  maimed,  and  the  lame,  and  the  blind  :  and  the 
servant  said,  Lord,  it  is  done  as  thou  hast  commanded,  and 
yet  there  is  room.'  And  yet  a  third  time  '  the  lord  said  unto 
the  servant,  Go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges  and  compel 
them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may  be  filled.' 

"Your  faithful  Pastor, 

"James  H.  Moore. 

"  Here  is  a  prayer  for  all  of  us  to  use : — 

"  Almighty  God,  Who  wast  pleased  to  show  a  pattern 
of  heavenly  worship  to  Thy  servant  Moses,  teaching  us 
thereby  with  what  reverence  and  holy  care  Thou  wouldest  be 
worshipped  on  earth  ;  Grant  to  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  such 
a  right  understanding  of  earthly  worship,  as  may  fit  and 
prepare  us  for  a  place  in  Thy  Church  Triumphant,  through 
the  merits  and  intercession  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Ameny 

The  Bishop  issued  the  following  Pastoral  Letter, 
which  was  sent  throughout  the  diocese. 

He  called  attention  to  certain  arrangements  that 
would  be  made  for  the  Day  of  Consecration,  and 
invited  his  people  to  prepare  their  hearts  for  so 
great  an  occasion. 

"  CONSECRATION  OF   TRURO   CATHEDRAL. 

"  November  yd,  1S87. 
"  '  This  is  the  da}-  which  the  Lord  hath  made  : 

We  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it.' 
"  '  O  come,  let  us  worship  and  fall  down  : 
And  kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker.' 
'"Ye  shall  reverence  My  sanctuary.     I  am  the  Lord.* 

R 


242  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

"  Dearly  Beloved  in  the  Lord, — The  circumstances 
of  this  day  are  exceptional.  Directions  therefore  given,  with 
reference  to  the  services,  are  not  to  be  regarded  as  precedents 
for  the  future  use  of  the  diocese — or  as,  of  necessity, 
expressing  the  mind  of  the  Ordinary. 

"  It  is  requested  : — 

"  I.  That,  those,  who  can  conveniently  do  so,  communicate 
at  one  of  the  Early  Celebrations  ;  in  order  to  reduce  the 
number  of  communicants  at  the  Consecration  Service. 


St.  Mary's 


7.0 


St.  Paul's      .  ...     7.30 

St.  George's  .  .         .7-30 

St.  John's      .  ...     7.30 

Kenwyn        .  ...     8.0 

"II.  That,  those,  who  desire  to  communicate  at  11  a.m., 
forward  the  enclosed  paper  to  Chancellor  Worlledge,  4, 
Strangways  Terrace,  Truro,  not  later  than  October  31st;  so 
that  due  provision  may  be  made  for  the  administration  of  the 
Holy  Communion. 

"  III.  That,  in  order  to  avoid  confusion,  the  congregation 
remain  through  the  entire  service,  and  until  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  the  Archbishop,  Bishops,  and  clergy  have  left  the 
church. 

"  IV.  That,  all  who  worship  in  the  Cathedral,  carefully 
attend  to  the  rubrical  directions  as  to  standing,  kneeling,  etc. 

"  V.  That,  above  all  things,  each  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion so  prepare  his  heart  by  prayer  and  study  of  God's  Word, 
that  he  may  be  kept  by  the  Holy  Spirit  from  wandering  and 
unworthy  thoughts,  and  be  enabled  to  offer,  this  day,  a  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  Praise  and  Thanksgiving. 

"The  blessing  of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  be  upon  you,  and  remain  with  you 
always.     Amen. 

"  Your  affectionate  Father  in  God, 

(Signed)     Georg  :   H.  TrurON  : 

''Truro,  October,  1887." 


PRE  PA  RA  TION  2  4  3 

Every  care  was  taken  to  prepare  a  dignified  service 
for  the  consecration  of  the  Cathedral.  For  some 
months  previous  to  that  great  event,  Bishop  Wilkinson 
had  been  in  communication  with  the  Archbishop,  who 
with  his  keen  love  of  a  correct  ritual,  and  his  wide 
liturgical  knowledge,  entered  with  enthusiasm  upon 
the  task.  The  Bishop  of  Truro  laid  before  the 
Residentiary  Chapter  the  oudines  of  the  service,  which 
received  great  care  and  attention  from  several  com- 
petent authorities,  before  it  took  final  shape.  The 
Cathedral  committees  held  frequent  meetings,  to 
prepare  and  carry  out  plans  for  the  proper  representa- 
tion of  every  class  of  person,  at  the  services  of  the 
Dedication. 

As  the  time  drew  near,  the  building  presented, 
within  and  without,  signs  of  the  great  beauty  of  its 
architecture,  and  the  perfection  of  every  detail  of  its 
decorations  and  furniture.  But,  up  to  the  last  moment, 
workmen  were  seen  hurrying  to  and  fro,  giving  a 
touch  here  and  there,  finishing  a  piece  of  carving, 
smoothing  a  rough  edge,  fixing  a  piece  of  marble 
pavement. 

The  night  before  the  consecration,  there  were 
assembled  at  the  Rectory,  the  Archbishop,  the  Bishop 
of  Truro,  the  Residentiary  Canons  and  others,  to 
review  carefully  all  the  details  of  the  coming  cere- 
monies. Here  it  was  that  some  of  the  special  gifts  of 
the  Archbishop  were  manifested.  At  one  moment  he 
pointed  out  a  flaw  in  the  Precentor's  plans  for  the 
procession    to    be    corrected  ;     at    another    a    bright 


244  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

sueeestion  or  telling  addition  was  offered,  for  the 
improvement  of  the  order  and  dignity  of  the  whole 
service.  The  time  went  rapidly  by,  the  hour  of  the 
dinner-party,  at  which  the  Archbishop  was  expected, 
had  long  passed  ;  and  still  the  litde  company  sat  on, 
undl  all  was  arranged,  and  every  possible  emergency 
provided  for. 

It  is  by  such  care  and  trouble  that  disorder  and 
confusion  are  avoided,  on  occasions  when  orderly 
arrangements  maintain  the  reverence  and  dignity  of 
a  great  act  of  worship. 


CHAPTER   XII 
FULFILMENT 

AT  last  the  long:-expected  day  arrived.  Seven 
years  had  passed  since  the  foundation-stones 
were  laid,  in  hope  and  faith — seven  years  of  patience 
and  of  prayer,  which  were  to  be  crowned  by  success, 
and  happy  realisation. 

In  the  early  morning— at  7,  7.30,  or  S — quiet 
celebrations  of  the  Holy  Communion  were  held  in 
every  parish  church  in  Truro;  when  thanksgivings  for 
the  past  were  offered,  and  prayers  sent  up  for  blessings 
upon  the  services  of  the  day,  by  companies  of  com- 
municants, composed  not  only  of  inhabitants  of  Truro, 
but  of  others,  who  had  already  come  from  distant 
places  for  the  great  solemnities  of  the  day.  At  halt- 
past  nine  the  streets  were  filling  with  numbers  of 
persons,  who  were  either  making  their  way  to  the 
various  doors  of  the  Cathedral,  or  taking  up  posts  of 
observation  to  witness  the  outside  procession,  and  the 
arrival  of  the  Prince  of  Wales.  The  streets  and 
High  Cross  were  gay  with  Hags  and  decorations,  and 
the  closed  shutters  of  the  shops  and  places  of  business 
proclaimed  that  Truro  was  keeping  universal  holiday. 

245 


246  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

The  Duke  of  Cornwall,  on  arriving  from  Falmouth, 
where  he  had,  on  the  previous  afternoon,  amid  a 
storm  of  wind  and  rain,  laid  the  foundation-stone  of 
All  Saints'  Church,  was  received  at  the  Truro  station 
by  the  Lord-Lieutenant,  and  the  Mayor  of  Truro 
(R.  M.  Paul,  Esq.).  In  the  course  of  his  reply  to  a 
loyal  address,  presented  by  the  Mayor  and  Corporation, 
His  Royal  Highness  said  :  "It  affords  me  the  most 
unfeigned  satisfaction  to  be  able  to  attend  the  great 
religious  service  which  is  held  here  to-day,  and  to 
be  present  at  the  consummation  of  the  important 
ceremony  in  which  I  took  a  leading  part  more  than 
seven  years  ago."  After  expressing  the  unabated 
interest  taken  by  the  Duchess  of  Cornwall  as  well  as 
by  himself  in  the  progress  of  the  work,  the  Prince 
added  :  "  I  join  most  heartily  in  the  expression  of 
your  hope,  that  the  western  part  of  the  building  may 
ere  long  be  completed,  and  I  trust  that  circumstances 
will  then  allow  me  once  more  to  visit  a  town,  which 
can  boast  of  having  been  mentioned  in  the  Domesday 
Book  eight  hundred  years  ago." 

Within  the  Cathedral  all  was  bright,  and  in  perfect 
order  for  the  approaching  service.  On  the  retable 
were  four  vases  filled  with  white  flowers,  flanked  by 
the  candlesticks  with  their  tall  wax  tapers.  The 
splendid  altar  cross  glittered  with  its  silver  gilt  and 
jewels ;  and  the  festal  frontal,  with  its  varied  em- 
broidery, made  a  central  point  of  rich  magnificence. 
There  was  a  mass  of  gold  and  silver  on  a  side 
table,    at    the    south    side    of    the    altar.      This    was 


FULFILMENT  247 

the  Communion  plate,  soon  to  be  solemnly  con- 
secrated, which  was  carefully  guarded  by  the  Sacrist 
(the  Rev.  J.  J.  Agar-Ellis).  who  stood,  in  surplice 
and  stole,  at  the  entrance  of  the  sanctuary.  Now 
and  then  a  gleam  of  sunshine  lit  uj)  the  tiers  of 
figures  on  the  reredos,  and  touched  the  warm  colours 
of  the  crimson  draperies  of  the  Prince's  seat,  and  the 
purple  hangings  over  the  Archbishop's  chair. 

The  southern  and  north-west  and  south-west  doors 
were  now  opened,  and  the  worshippers  flowed  in  ;  and 
were  silently  conducted  to  their  places  by  the  numer- 
ous and  efficient  band  of  laymen,  told  off  for  this 
service  ;  consisting  of  Mr.  A.  P.  Nix,  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Cathedral  Building  Fund,  the  churchwardens 
and  sidesmen  of  St.  Mary's  parish,  and  others. 

The  wide  space  under  the  tower,  the  transepts,  the 
south  aisle,  or  parish  church  of  St.  Mary's,  were  all 
soon  thronged  with  an  orderly  multitude.  There  were 
two  spacious,  but  temporary,  galleries,  one  above  the 
other,  at  the  west  end  of  the  building,  from  which  a 
commanding  view  of  the  ceremony  could  be  obtained. 
These,  and  the  permanent  gallery  in  the  north  tran- 
sept, were  rapidly  filled  ;  while,  through  the  arcades 
of  the  triforium,  could  be  seen  a  large  body  of  the 
workmen,  who  had  raised  the  walls  and  arches  of 
that  structure,  whose  consecration  they  were  now 
assembling  to  witness. 

About  2,500  persons  were  accomniodated  in  the 
building,  besides  those  in  the  choir,  choir  aisles,  and 
triforium.      In  this  number  were   included  representa- 


248  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

tives  of  all  classes :  the  subscribers,  the  general, 
executive,  and  ladies'  committees ;  Church  workers  of 
every  kind,  working  men,  as  well  as  magistrates, 
churchwardens,  school  teachers,  widows  of  clergy 
who  in  olden  days  had  laboured  in  the  diocese  :  in 
short,  every  one  who  had  done  any  kind  of  work 
for  the  Cathedral  and  diocese  was  either  present, 
or  was  represented  by  one  of  those  with  whom  he 
or  she  had  worked.  The  seats  were  assigned  by 
ballot. 

At  I0.20  all  were  seated,  and  as  the  organ  com- 
menced a  triumphal  march,  the  first  act  of  the  great 
ceremony  began.  A  procession  was  seen  to  enter  the 
Cathedral  from  the  wooden  building,  that  so  long  had 
served  as  a  pro-cathedral.  It  was  that  of  the  great 
body  of  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  and  passed,  in 
two  divisions,  through  the  north-west  and  south-west 
doors,  up  the  church,  into  the  north  and  south  aisles 
of  the  choir.  Each  division  was  headed  by  a  cross- 
bearer.  That  on  the  south  consisted  of  the  students 
of  the  Divinity  School,  the  Readers  of  the  diocese, 
and  the  junior  clergy;  that  on  the  north  of  the  senior 
clergy  of  the  diocese.  The  two  divisions  were  under 
the  guidance  and  direction  of  the  Rev.  ].  Brown,  Vicar 
of  St.  John's,  Truro  ;^  and  the  Rev.  F.  E.  Gardiner, 
Vicar  of  St.  Paul's,  Truro  (afterwards  Rector  of 
Hackney,  and  now  Sub-Dean  and  Rector  of  Truro). 

And  now  could  be  heard  from  without  the  ancient 
hymn,   Urbs  Beata,  according  to  the  version  translated 

^  Now  the  Rev.  J.  Gardner  Brown,  Vicar  of  St.  James',  Clapton,  N.E. 


FULFILMENT  249 

by  Dr.  Benson,  as  the  Bishops  and  others  passed  out 
of  the  crypt  in  the  following'  order  : — 

Cross  Bearer  and  Attendants. 

Instrumentalists,    two  and   two. 

Choristers,  two  and  two. 

Lay  Clerks  and  Vicars  Choral,  two  and  two. 

Precentors  of  Cathedrals,  and  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square. 

Diocesan  Inspector  of  Truro,  Vice-Chancellor  of  Truro  Cathedral. 

Rural  Deans  of  the  Diocese,  two  and  two. 

Prebendaries  of  Endellion,  two  and  two. 

Honorary  Canons  of  other  Cathedrals,  two  and  two. 

Prebendaries  of  Exeter,  two  and  two. 

Canons  Residentiary  of  other  Cathedrals,  two  and  two. 

Archdeacons. 

The  Dean  of  Chester. 

Canons  of  Truro,  two  and  two. 

Archdeacons  of  the  Diocese  of  Truro. 

Bishops,  two  and  two,  each  attended  by  his  Chaplain. 

The  Registrar  of  the  Diocese,  and  the  Architect. 

The  Pastoral  Staff,  borne  by  the  Bishop's  Private  Chaplain. 

The  Lord  Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 

Chaplains. 

The  Apparitor-General  of  the  Province  (Sir  John  Hanhani). 

The  Mace  Bearer. 

The  Archbishop's  Cross,  borne  by  His  Grace's  Domestic  Chaplain. 

The  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

Train  Bearers. 

Chaplains. 

Provincial  Registrar  (Sir  John  Hassard). 

In  the  procession  of  Bishops  were,  the  Bishops  of 
Argyle  and  the  Isles  and  Aberdeen,  Bishops  Mitchin- 
son  and  Blyth  of  Jerusalem,  the  Bishops  of  Bedford, 
Nottingham,  Colchester,  Trinidad,  Ely,  Salisbury, 
Exeter,  Southwell,  Newcastle,  Lichfield,  St.  Asaph, 
Bath  and  Wells,  Bangor,  Winchester,  and  London  ; 
besides  the   Bishop  of  Truro  and  the  Archbishop  of 


2  50  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Canterbury.  The  procession  of  Bishops  was  under 
the  special  direction  of  Canon  Thynne  ;  that  of  the 
dignitaries  was  ordered  by  Canon  Mason  ;  that  of  the 
diocesan  clergy  by  Canons  Harvey  and  Du  Boulay  ; 
Mr.  Sinclair  had  charge  of  the  choir  ;  while  the  Pre- 
centor, Canon  Donaldson,  was  responsible  for  the 
whole. 

The  Precentor  gave  the  signal,  which  was  taken  up 
by  Mr.  Sinclair,  and  passed  on  to  the  scarlet-clad 
musicians  of  the  Royal  Marines,  who  headed  the 
procession,  and  to  the  stately  tune  "  Oriel,"  the 
solemn  hymn  was  sung  by  the  choir  and  clergy  in 
unison. 

The  procession,  having  passed  out  of  the  Cathedral- 
yard  and  round  the  eastern  and  southern  sides,  entered 
the  covered  way  at  the  west  end  of  the  Cathedral. 

Here  the  choir  and  clergy  formed  into  two  double 
lines,  reaching  from  the  ante-room  to  the  west  door  ; 
while  the  Bishops  with  the  Primate  and  the  Bishop  of 
the  diocese,  awaited,  in  the  ante-room,  tog-ether  with 
the  Mayor  and  Corporation  of  the  city  and  the 
representatives  of  the  Cathedral  Committee,  the 
arrival  of  the  Prince  and  his  attendants.  This  was 
not  long  delayed  ;  punctual  to  the  appointed  time  the 
Duke  of  Cornwall  drove  up,  amid  the  applause  of  the 
crowd  and  the  salute  of  the  ist  Volunteer  Battalion  of 
the  Duke  of  Cornwall's  Light  Infantry. 

When  all  was  ready,  the  Bishops  led  the  way 
through  the  lines  of  surpliced  choristers  and  clergy, 
and  were  followed  by  the  Primate  and  the  Bishop  of 


FULFILMENT  251 

the  diocese,  who  preceded  the  Prince,  attended  by  the 
Earl  of  Mount  Edc^^cumbe  (Lord  Lieutenant  of  the 
county),  Lord  Suffield,  and  Colonel  Stanley  Clarke, 
and  accompanied  by  the  General  in  command  of  the 
Western  District  and  his  aide-de-camp,  in  scarlet  and 
gold,  and  the  commander  of  H.M.S.  Osborne  in  the 
blue  and  gold  of  the  Royal  Navy. 

And  now  began  the  solemn  service  at  the  door. 
The  prayer  of  deprecation  "  Remember  not.  Lord," 
with  its  response,  was  said,  sine  notd,  and  the  Bishop, 
taking  his  staff,  struck  thrice  at  the  door,  and  said, 
"  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates." 

This  the  choir  outside  repeated,  in  simple  harmonised 
cadence,  and  the  clerks  within  sang,  "  Who  is  the 
King  of  Glory?"  and  then,  when  both  Bishop  and 
choir  had  answered  "  The  Lord  of  Hosts,"  at  the 
consecrating  prelate's  command,  the  door  was  thrown 
open  by  Mr.  R.  Swain,  clerk  of  the  works,  and  the 
procession  entered. 

The  Diocesan,  the  Primate,  with  their  Chaplains, 
cross  and  pastoral  staff,  passed  up  the  church,  followed 
immediately  by  the  Prince  and  his  attendants,  the 
Mayor  and  civic  authorities  ;  and  then  the  Bishops, 
after  whom  followed  the  choir  and  clergy,  headed  by 
the  silver  processional  cross  carried  by  Mr.  Kendall. 
In  the  open  space  under  the  tower  the  procession 
halted,  while  the  Lord  Lieutenant  prepared  to  present 
the  petition  ;  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  suite  standing 
on  the  south,  with  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  to  his 
left,    and     on     the     north    the    Archbishoi")    and    his 


252  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

attendants,  with  Lord  Mount  Edsfcumbe  to  his  ricjht. 
On  the  steps  of  the  choir  were  grouped  the  Bishops 
in  their  scarlet  Convocation  robes,  the  whole  forming 
a  most  striking  scene,  with  bright  masses  of  colour 
and  quaint  varieties  of  costumes  ;  the  rich  furred  robes 
of  the  Mayor,  and  the  uniforms  of  the  military  and 
naval  officers,  the  lawn  and  line  linen  of  episcopal  and 
priestly  robes,  the  bright  scarlet  cassocks  and  caps  of 
the  little  acolytes,  who  held  the  Primate's  train  (sons 
of  the  Precentor  and  the  Treasurer  of  the  Cathedral). 

The  petition  was  now  read  by  the  Registrar 
(Mr.  Arthur  Burch,  Mayor  of  Exeter)  ^  in  a  clear 
voice,  and  then  onwards  came  the  choir  of  ninety  men 
and  boys,  composed  of  the  Truro  Cathedral  choristers 
and  lay  clerks,  reinforced  by  contingents  from  St. 
Paul's,  Bristol,  Exeter,  Gloucester,  Hereford,  Lichfield, 
Christ  Church  (Oxford),  and  Wells  Cathedrals,  and 
the  parish  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Square  ;  who,  by  the 
generosity  of  their  respective  Chapters  or  other 
authorities,  had  been  sent  to  sing  the  service,  and 
showed  how  widespread  was  the  sympathy  of  the 
whole  Church  with  the  day's  great  service.  The  organ 
gave  out  the  chant  (Hayes  in  A)  and  the  well-known 
Psalm  xxiv.,  Domini  est  terra,  was  sung  by  the  men 
and  boys  alternately,  with  an  occasional  burst  of  full 
unison  or  harmony,  and  the  whole  procession  passed 
into  the  choir.  The  choristers  were  marshalled  by 
their  conductor,  Mr.  Sinclair,  organist  of  Truro 
Cathedral  ;    the   clergy  and    Bishops   filled   the   stalls 

^  At  the  time  Mr.  Burch  was  actually  Deputy-Registrar. 


FULFILMENT  253 

and  other  seats  prepared  for  them,  while  the  Prince  of 
Wales   was   conducted    to   the   canopied   seat   on   the 
south  side  of  the  presbytery.      Standincr  near  him,  as 
he  knelt  at  the  faldstool,  were  the  Archbishop  and  the 
Diocesan  with  their   Chaplains  ;   four  Canons   of  the 
Cathedral  ascended  the  steps  of  the  sanctuary,'  where 
the  Precentor  intoned  the  suffrages  for  the  Queen,  to 
which  the  choir  responded  ;  and  the  Bishop  then  said 
the    prayer   for   the    Queen,    and    after   some    special 
suffrages,  a  prayer  for  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  Duke 
of  Cornwall,  "his  wife,  his  sons  and  daughters,  and  all 
who  are  near  and  dear  to  him."     Then,  when  all  had 
taken   their   places,   there   followed   a  solemn   silence 
before   the   commencement   of  the  great  act   of  con- 
secration,   which   was   ushered    in    by   the   singing  of 
Veni    Creator,     to    Attwood's    familiar    and    sweet- 
toned  phrases.     The  clear  voices  of  some  forty  well- 
trained    bovs    orave    out    the   first   verse   with    almost 
thrilling  power.      Presently  the  Lord  Lieutenant  came 
forward,  and   reverently   kneeling,   presented   the   in- 
strument of  donation  which  was  placed  on  the  altar 
by  the  Bishop,  who  first  addressed  the  congregation  ; 
and  then,  accompanied  by  Staff-bearer  and  Chaplains, 
and  preceded  by  the  Chancellor,  Sub-Dean,  Missioner, 
Treasurer,  passed  out  of  the  choir  to  the  baptistery, 
while  the  organ  played  soft  and   appropriate  music  ; 
one  after  another  the  various  parts  of  the  building — 
font,   lectern,  pulpit,  place  of  marriage,  and  of  Con- 
firmation— were    solemnly    hallowed,    the    great    con- 
gregation standing,  silent,  as  the  litde  company  passed 


2  54  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

onwards ;  ever  moving  eastwards,  as  the  organist 
(Mr.  Lloyd,  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford)  skilfully  played 
suitable  strains  in  the  intervals  between  the  reading 
of  the  lections  (by  Canon  Mason),  and  the  prayers 
offered  up  by  the  Bishop.  At  length  the  altar  was 
reached  and  solemnly  blessed,  and  the  choir  and 
organ  burst  out  into  the  full  "Amen"  at  the  prayer  of 
the  consecrating  Prelate.  Now  came  a  very  solemn 
moment,  as  the  Bishop  turned  to  the  west,  and,  with 
uplifted  hand,  said,  "  Behold  a  ladder  set  up  on  the 
earth,"  after  which  the  Archbishop  offered  a  prayer 
of  benediction  derived  from  ancient  sources. 

Then  the  Chancellor  of  the  Diocese  (the  Worship- 
ful and  Ven.  \\\  J.  Phillpotts,  Archdeacon  of  Corn- 
wall) came  forward  from  his  stall,  and  read  at  the 
altar  the  sentence  of  consecration.  This  was  signed 
by  the  Bishop ;  and,  as  he  did  so,  the  Bishop  of 
Salisbury  passed  from  the  Archbishop's  side  across 
to  the  Prince's  seat,  and  requested  the  Duke  of  Corn- 
wall to  si^n  the  document  as  a  witness. 

This  done,  there  followed  the  solemn  celebration  of 
the  Holy  Communion,  admirably  sung  by  the  united 
choir  to  Smart's  service  in  F,  with  Stainer's  arrange- 
ment of  the  Sursum  Corda  and  Lord's  Prayer. 

The  Bishop  of  Truro  was  celebrant.  The  Epistle 
was  read  by  the  venerable  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
formerly  Vicar  of  Kenwyn  ;  the  Gospel  by  the  Bishop 
of  London,  to  whom,  when  Bishop  of  Exeter,  Corn- 
wall owed  so  much.  The  grand  strains  of  the  Nicene 
Creed  over,  the  Bishop,  with  his  Chaplains,  conducted 


FULFILMENT  255 

the  Prince  of  Wales  and  his  attendants  to  the  Dean's 
stall  and  seats  at  the  south  side  of  the  choir,  where 
they  remained  for  the  rest  of  the  service.  The  Arch- 
bishop, preceded  by  his  cross  bearer,  ascended  the 
pulpit  and  delivered  the  sermon.  It  is  not  difficult  to 
imagine,  but  impossible  to  describe,  the  feelings  of 
joy  that  must  have  been  in  the  heart,  both  of  the 
preacher  and  those  whom  he  addressed,  at  the  wonder- 
ful realisation  of  that  grand  idea  which  he  conceived, 
and  which  they  helped  so  zealously  to  carry  out — the 
rearing  in  Cornwall  of  a  Cathedral,  as  a  visible 
emblem  of  that  revived  diocesan  life  which  he  was 
first  called  upon,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  guide 
and  develop. 

The  subject  of  his  sermon  was  "Unity  through 
Truth,"  from  the  text,  "In  due  season  we  shall 
reap,  if  we  faint  not"  (Gal.  vi.  9).  One  passage 
which  greatly  impressed  all  who  heard  it  must  be 
given  : — 

'"  Respoiidete  natalibiisl  was  the  cry  of  Cyprian  to  the 
Church  of  Carthage—'  Rise  to  your  birthrights.'  How  it 
would  ring  from  his  lips  to-day,  if  he  saw  the  Bishop  of  an 
unbroken  line,  in  the  presence  of  the  Royalt}'  of  England, 
receive  and  offer  His  Church  material,  and  his  Church 
spiritual,  in  one  offering  before  the  King  of  Kings,  and  knew 
all  that  is  needed  outside. 

" '  Rcspondete  natalibus',  would  he  echo  the  word  to  \-ou — 
that  old  second  Bishop  of  the  newly-united  dioceses — who, 
held  by  the  hands  of  Edward  the  Confessor  and  Queen  Edith, 
paced  up  the  fresh-built  Cathedral  Church  of  Exeter,  and 
received  it  as  their  gift.     Would  he  not  say,  rejoicing  that 


256  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  Church  in  Cornwall  is  her  own  again,  '  Rise  to  your  birth- 
right ' — your  English,  Catholic,  Apostolic,  Christ-given  birth- 
right— help,  comfort,  strengthen,  revive,  found  ?"i 

The  sermon  ended,  the  offertory  followed.  The 
choir  sang  two  appropriate  hymns,  while  the  alms 
were  collected,  and  presented  ;  and  the  holy  vessels 
and  ornaments  were  brought,  in  succession  from  the 
side-table,  by  the  Chancellor  and  Missioner,  and 
solemnly  offered  by  the  Bishop,  together  with  a 
parchment  record  of  other  gifts  ;  the  organ,  in  the 
quaint  old-world  English  of  the  rubric,  "playing  a 
still  verse  the  while."  And  then,  the  choir  sang  the 
words  of  David,  "Who  am  I,  and  what  is  my 
people?"  etc.  (i  Chron.  xxix.  14),  to  a  composition 
by  Mr.  C.  H.  Lloyd  ;  after  that,  in  silence,  each  piece 
of  plate  was  blessed  by  the  Bishop,  and  a  solemn 
prayer  of  consecration  completed  the  dedication  of 
the  sacred  vessels.  The  Communion  Service  pro- 
ceeded, the  Confession  was  said  in  quiet  monotone  ; 
the  Sursum  Corda  and  Sanctus  rang  out  grandly  ; 
and,  after  the  Consecration  Prayer,  the  "  Sevenfold 
Amen  "  was  sung  with  perfect  reverence  and  delicate 
gradation  of  "light  and  shade."  And  then  followed 
the  Communion.  The  reception  of  the  Sacrament 
by  the  Archbishop  and  then  by  the  large  company  of 
Bishops,  in  their  scarlet  robes,  kneeling  across  the 
Sanctuary  at  the  altar  rail ;  the  solemn  carrying  of  the 
Sacred  Elements  to  the   altar   in   the  south  aisle,  to 

1  Twelve   Sermofts  preached  at  the  Consecration   of  the  Cathedral 
Church  of  Truro,  p.  1 2. 


FULFILMENT  257 

communicate  those  who  were  kneeHng-  there,  were 
striking  episodes  in  the  service. 

During  the  Communion  time,  Cowper's  lovely  hymn, 
"Jesus,  where'er  Thy  people  meet,"  was  sung  with 
a  quiet  feeling,  that  moved  many  hearts,  perhaps  more 
than  any  other  part  of  this  beautiful  service,  and  made 
them  feel  that  "God  was  with  them  of  a  truth."  There 
were,  in  spite  of  the  letter  circulated  by  the  Bishop 
advising  as  many  persons  as  possible  to  receive  at  any 
early  Celebration,  four  hundred  and  fifty  communi- 
cants ;  and  this  part  of  the  service  was  consequently 
much  prolonged;  but  there  was  great  quiet  and  order  all 
the  time  ;  and  it  was,  doubdess,  a  great  satisfaction  and 
happiness  to  so  many  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  who  had 
come  up  from  distant  places,  to  receive  the  blessed 
Sacrament  of  Christ's  Body  and  Blood  at  the  newly 
consecrated  altar  of  their  mother  church.  The  Lord's 
Prayer  was  solemnly  sung  to  the  old  plain -song 
arranged  by  Stainer  ;  and  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis,  to 
Smart  in  F,  made  a  glorious  act  of  thanksgiving  at 
the  close  of  the  Celebration.  The  Archbishop  gave 
the  Blessing,  after  offering  two  final  prayers,  one 
in  behalf  of  benefactors,  and  the  other  for  God's 
acceptance  of  the  service. 

The  Prince  and  his  suite,  preceded  by  the  civic 
authorities,  and  followed  by  the  Archbishops  and 
Bishops,  left  the  church  and  went  down  to  the  western 
door  of  the  covered  way,  through  the  lines  of  the 
diocesan  clergy,  who  had  previously  filed  out  of  the 
choir  aisles,  in  the  same  order  in  which  they  entered  ; 
s 


258  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

while  the  hymn,   "  Hark,  the  sound  of  holy  voices," 
was  triumphantly  sung. 

The  procession  of  dignitaries  and  others  then  passed 
out  from  the  choir,  and  the  vast  congregation  quickly 
melted  away.  When  the  service,  which  had  occupied 
nearly  four  hours,  was  then  brought  to  a  conclusion, 
the  Duke  of  Cornwall  was  driven  to  the  Public  Rooms, 
where  some  four  hundred  of  the  principal  residents  of 
Cornwall,  with  the  Archbishop  and  most  of  the  Bishops, 
and  other  dignitaries,  both  clerical  and  lay,  were  as- 
sembled at  luncheon.  The  streets  were  packed  by 
cheering  people,  while  the  roadway  was  kept  by  de- 
tachments of  the  I  St  Volunteer  Battalion  of  the  Duke 
of  Cornwall's  Light  Infantry.  The  Lord  Lieutenant 
presided  at  the  luncheon,  and  in  replying  to  the  toast 
of  his  health,  the  Prince  said  that  among  the  different 
visits  which  he  had  been  able  to  pay  to  his  ancient 
Duchy,  "  none  had  given  me  greater  pleasure  and 
satisfaction  than  that  which  I  am  paying  at  the  present 
moment.  .  .  .  The  most  interesting  service  and 
religious  ceremony,  at  which  we  have  assisted  to-day, 
are  not  likely  to  be  forgotten  by  me  nor  by  any 
of  you.  It  is  the  event  of  a  lifetime,  and  I  con- 
gratulate you,  the  Duchy,  the  county,  and  all  concerned 
with  it,  on  the  erection  of  so  noble  an  edifice,  and 
I  trust  that,  before  long,  we  may  see  the  completion 
of  the  building.  It  is  a  real  sorrow  to  me  that  the 
Princess  of  Wales  and  some  of  my  children  should 
not  have  accompanied  me  on  this  occasion,  as  they 
did   when   the   foundation-stone   was   laid.      Although 


FUL  FIL  ME  NT  2  5  9 

they  arc  far  away,  you  may  feel  sure  that  they  take 
a  great  interest  in  what  is  being  done  here  to-day." 
The  Prince  concluded  by  proposing,  in  highly  eulogistic 
terms,  "the  health  of  our  Lord  Lieutenant,"  who  then 
spoke  of  the  admirable  work  of  the  architect  of  the 
Cathedral. 

In  the  afternoon  Evensong  was  sung  at  four.  There 
was  a  procession  from  the  west  door  to  the  choir, 
sineino;,  "At  the  Name  of  Jesus."  The  "  preces  and 
responses"  were  rendered  with  the  full  five-part 
harmonies  of  Tallis  ;  the  "service"  was  Stainer  in 
E  flat,  and  the  anthem,  "  Great  is  the  Lord,"  by 
Ouseley.  The  Lessons  were  read  by  the  Bishops  of 
Aberdeen  (Dr.  Douglas)  and  Newcastle  (Dr.  E.  R. 
Wilberforce),  and  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Bishop  of  London  (Dr.  Temple). 

It  was  a  powerful  discourse,  and  delivered  with 
great  vigour,  and  made  a  deeper  impression  than  any 
other  of  the  sermons  preached  during  the  Consecration 
and  Octave  services.  The  subject  was  "  Catholicity 
and  Individualism";  and  the  preacher  set  forth  the  true 
idea  of  the  unity  of  the  Church,  as  declared  in  the 
New  Testament,  and  especially  in  the  Epistle  to  the 
Ephesians  from  which  the  text  was  taken.  One 
passage  must  be  quoted. 

"  We  are  sometimes  asked  to  think  that  the  Church  only 
exists  in  the  union  of  believers,  and  has  no  reality  of  its  own. 
Now,  it  is  perfectly  clear  that,  in  the  New  Testament,  the 
idea  of  the  Church  is  not  that.  Men  talk  sometimes  as  if  a 
Church   could  be  constituted   simpl\-  by  Christians  coming 


26o  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

together,  and  uniting  themselves  into  one  body  for  the 
purpose.  Men  speak  as  if  Christians  came  first  and  the 
Church  after ;  as  if  the  origin  of  the  Church  was  in  the  wills 
of  the  individual  Christians  who  composed  it.  But,  on  the 
contrary,  throughout  the  teaching  of  the  Apostles,  we  see 
that  it  is  the  Church  that  comes  first,  and  the  members  of  it 
afterwards.  Men  were  not  brought  to  Christ  and  then  de- 
termined that  they  would  live  in  a  community.  Men  were 
not  brought  to  Christ  to  believe  in  Him  and  in  His  Cross, 
and  to  recognise  the  duty  of  worshipping  the  heavenly 
Father  in  His  Name,  and  then  decided  that  it  would  be  a 
great  help  to  their  religion  that  they  should  be  united  in  the 
bonds  of  fellowship  for  that  purpose.  In  the  New  Testament, 
on  the  contrary,  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  already  in 
existence,  and  men  are  invited  into  it.  The  Church  takes  its 
origin,  not  in  the  will  of  man,  but  in  the  will  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  He  sent  forth  His  Apostles  ;  the  Apostles 
receive  their  commission  from  Him  ;  they  were  not  organs  of 
the  congregation  ;  they  were  ministers  of  the  Lord  Himself."^ 

At  the  close  of  the  service,  which  was  excellently 
rendered  by  the  choir,  the  Precentor  intoning  the 
prayers,  before  the  Blessing  was  pronounced,  the 
"  Hallelujah  Chorus"  from  the  Messiah  was  sung. 

The  congregation  at  Evensong,  was,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  a  different  one  from  that  which  was 
present  in  the  morning ;  and,  in  order  to  give  to 
others  still  one  more  opportunity  of  taking  part  in  the 
services  of  the  day,  an  evening  "  Service  of  Praise  " 
was  arranged.     This  was  held  at  7.30,  and  the  con- 

1  Twelve  Serfnons  preached  at  the  Cotisecratioji  of  the  Cathedral 
Church  of  Truro,  p.  17.  For  some  similar  thoughts  on  the  Church,  cf. 
The  Ascension  atid  Heavenly  Priesthood  of  our  Lord.  Baird  Lecture, 
1891,  by  the  late  William  Milligan,  D.D. 


FULFILMENT  261 

greg-ation  were  quietly  ushered  into  their  seats  by  a 
company    of  stewards    organised    by    Mr.    Mack,   for 
many  years  a  devoted  member  of  the  Cathedral  choir. 
The  choir  entered  in   procession,  while   ]\Ir.   Sinclair 
played  on  the  organ  Sterndale  Bennett's  "  Barcarole." 
Then  followed  "The  old  hundredth  psalm,"  sung  by 
the  vast  conereoration  as  well  as  the  choir,  with  most 
impressive    effect.     The    Precentor    then    said    some 
collects  and  the  Lord's  Prayer,  after  which  was  sung, 
"Now  we  are  ambassadors"  (by  two  lay  clerks  from 
Oxford),    and     the    chorus,     "  How    lovely     are     the 
messengers."     Mr.  Sinclair  then  played  a  "  Sonata  in 
D  Minor"  (Guilmant),  which  gave  him  full  opportunity 
for    displaying   the   rich   capabilities    of   the    splendid 
organ.      Perhaps  the  most  striking  vocal  performance 
of  the    evening   was    the    solo    in  Hear   viy   Prayer 
(Mendelssohn)  by  Master  Y .  Thomas,  leading  treble 
in  the  Truro  Cathedral  choir  ;  1    which,  with  its  motet 
and  chorus,  was  followed   by  the  recitative  and  aria 
from  the  Elijah  "Ye  people,  rend  your  hearts,"  etc., 
by    Mr.    C.    W.    Fredericks,    of   Lichfield    Cathedral. 
This  concluded  the  first  part.      During  the  singing  of 
the   hymn   ''  O   worship   the    King,"  the   alms   of  the 
people   were    gathered.     The   conductor    of   the   first 
part  was  Mr.  C.  H.  Lloyd,  who  now  changed  places 
with  Mr.  Sinclair,  and  gave  a  fine  performance  of  a 
"  Finale  Fugato,"  by  H.  Smart,  and  a  "  P^antasia  in 
F  Minor"  by  Mozart.     The  other  items  in  the  second 
part  being,   "Why   do  the  heathen"   (Handel),  finely 

'  Now  organist  of  St.  Austell  parish  church. 


262  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

sung  by  Mr.  Sunman,  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford  ;  and 
the  duet,  ''  Love  divine,"  from  Stainer's  Daughter  of 
Jairus,  exceedingly  well  rendered  by  Master  F. 
Thomas  and  Mr.  C.  W.  Fredericks.  The  whole 
concluded  with  the  "  Hallelujah  Chorus,"  and  the 
Blessing.  And  so  ended  a  long  but  happy  day,  that 
will  certainly  live  in  the  memories  of  all  who  took 
part  in   its  services. 

In  the  evening  also  the  Mayor  and  Mayoress  of 
Truro  gave  a  brilliant  reception  at  the  Town  Hall, 
and  the  city  was  extensively  illuminated.^ 

The  Octave  Services 

The  consecration  of  the  Cathedral  was  meant  to  be 
an  era  in  diocesan  life.  Numerous  and  representative 
as  the  congregation  on  November  3rd  was,  they  only 
formed  a  portion  of  the  people  in  Cornwall  who 
wished  to  share  in  the  oreat  event.  It  was  therefore 
a  happy  idea,  that  took  form  in  the  Bishop's  mind,  to 
hold  a  series  of  services  throughout  the  octave,  at 
which  the  country  parishes  might  send  up  their 
representatives  of  clergy,  choirs,  and  church  workers 
in  large  numbers,  and  claim  the  Cathedral  as  their 
own  great  mother  church.  The  plan  was  very 
successfully  carried  out.  The  twelve  rural  deaneries 
of  the  diocese  were  grouped  and  arranged  for  the 
various  days  as  follows  : — 

^  For  the  benefit  of  a  large  number  of  residents  and  visitors  who 
could  not  find  room  in  the  Cathedral  at  any  of  the  services,  concerts  of 
high-class  music  were  provided  at  the  Public  Rooms  in  the  afternoon 
and  evening. 


FULFILMENT  263 

Friday         .     Nov.    4th    .    Penwith  and  Stratton. 

Preacher,  The  Bishop  of  Winchester  (Dr.  E.  Harold  Browne). 

Saturday     .     Nov.     5th    .    Powder.  ^ 

Preacher,  The  Rev.  C.  Gore. 

Monday      .     Nov.    7th    .    Pydar,  Bodmin,  and  Trigg  Minor. 
Preacher,  The  Bishop  of  Newcastle 

(Dr.  E.  R.  Wilberforce). 

Tuesday      .     Nov.    8th    .    Kirrier,  East  and  Trigg  Major. 
Preacher,  The  Rev.  Canon  A.  J.  Mason. "^ 

Wednesday     Nov.    9th   .    Carnmarth. 

Preacher,  The  Rev.  C.  Bodington. 

Thursday    .     Nov.  lOth    .    St.  Austell  and  West. 

Preacher,  The  Rev.  Canon  A.  J.  Mason. 

There  were  assembled  throughout  the  octave  prob- 
ably no  fewer  than  10,000  people,  from  all  parts,  of 
whom  2,000  were  singers  of  the  diocese,  some  700  of 
these  being  in  surplices.  Each  day  the  white-robed 
company  came  in  procession  to  the  choir,  marshalled 
in  due  order  by  the  Precentor,  headed  by  the 
Cathedral  choristers  and  cross-bearer,  and  singing 
"Blessed  city,  heavenly  Salem."  On  several  occa- 
sions it  overflowed  the  limits  of  the  choir,  and  added 
one  or  more  white  lines  to  the  body  of  singers  out- 
side. Each  day  the  great  central  space  was  tilled 
with  unsurpliced  singers,  men  and  women,  girls  and 
lads.  Each  day  large  congregations  filled  the  whole 
available    spaces.     The    fishermen,    miners,    agricul- 


1  (I 


'  The  undesigned  coincidence  "  of  the  combination  of  '*  Powder  "  (the 
name  of  a  hundred  and  rural  deanery-)  with  November  5th  caused 
much  amusement. 

-  In  the  place  of  Canon  liasil  Wilberforce. 


264  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

turists  of  Cornwall  were  there,  among  the  Sunday- 
school  teachers,  members  of  the  Church  Society, 
parochial  guilds,  etc.  ;  while  the  parochial  clergy 
filled  the  chairs  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  choir.  Each 
day  a  Rural  Dean  read  the  Lesson,  and  one  or  more  of 
the  clergy  of  the  deaneries  intoned  the  appointed 
prayers.  The  service  itself  was  simple  but  solemn,  a 
few  versicles  with  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  Dedication 
Psalm  xxiv.,  a  lesson,  a  hymn,  collects,  and  prayers  ; 
hymns  before  and  after  the  sermon,  and  on  entering 
and  leaving  church  ;  the  Te  Deinn  after  the  collection 
of  the  alms.  The  chants  and  hymn  tunes  were  easy 
and  melodious,  and  were  sung  with  most  impressive 
power,  revealing,  if  it  was  not  known  before,  what  a 
force  of  musical  gifts  is  treasured  up  in  the  Church 
choirs  of  Cornwall. 

Archbishop  Benson,  who  was  present  at  the  services 
on  two  of  the  days  of  the  octave,  wTote  thus  after  he 

had  left : —  ^,  ,  ,,  ^ 

"  Addington  Park,  Croydon. 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Precentor, — Your  glorious  work  is 
over.  I  wish  I  could  have  gone  on  as  a  member  of  each 
rural  deanery  in  turn. 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  the  extraordinary  unity  of  your 
choirs,  and  every  detail  of  arrangement. 
"  Blessing  was  upon  all  things. 

"  Yours  sincerely, 

"  Edw  :  Cantuar : " 
And  in  another  letter  he  adds  : — 

"  I  wish  I  could  express  to  the  Precentor  how  beautifully  I 
thought  all  his  plans  came  out. 

"  I  shall  never  see  anything  which  can  touch  or  impress 
me  more  than  these  services.'' 


FULFILMENT  265 

Notice  must  not  be  omitted  of  the  services  on  the 
Sunday  in  the  octave,  wiili  the  sermons  by  Canon 
Scott  Holland  and  the  Chancellor  of  the  Cathedral, 
who  filled,  at  a  short  notice,  the  place  of  Canon  Knox 
Little  ;  and  the  solemn  choral  celebration  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  which,  to  many,  was  one  of  the  not  least 
impressive  services  of  the  whole  octave.  The  most 
striking  feature  of  this  Sunday's  services  was,  however, 
the  great  gathering  of  men  in  the  afternoon,  to  hear 
the  Bishop  of  Newcasde  (Dr.  E.  R.  Wilberforce). 
It  is  calculated  that  a  thousand  men,  of  all  ranks  and 
stations,  met  toQ^ether  on  this  occasion. 

Evening  Meetings 

It  was  felt  that  the  consecration  of  the  Cathedral 
was  an  event  that  touched  the  life  of  the  Church  as  a 
whole,  and  not  the  Diocese  of  Truro  only  ;  it  was 
also  the  opinion  of  those  who  were  mainly  responsible 
for  the  consecration  services,  that  the  Church's  work, 
as  well  as  the  Church's  worship,  should  be  prominently 
set  forth  on  so  important  an  occasion. 

Two  evening  meetings  were,  therefore,  arranged  in 
the  Public  Rooms,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Bishop  : 
the  one  held  on  Friday,  November  7th,  the  subject  of 
which  was  entided,  "The  Church's  witness  to  her 
Lord  abroad "  ;  the  second  on  Tuesday,  November 
8th,  when  the  subject  was,  "  The  Church's  witness  to 
her  Lord  at  home."  The  Concert  Room  was,  on  both 
occasions,  filled  with  an  audience,  to  a  great  extent 
composed    of   working    people.     Simple  and   stirring 


266  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

hymns  were  sung,  such  as  "Rock  of  Ages,"  "The 
Church's  One  Foundation,"  "  Allehjia !  sing  to  Jesus," 
"From  Greenland's  icy  mountains,"  "Through  the 
nieht  of  doubt  and  sorrow." 

The  speakers  were  carefully  selected,  and  they 
delivered  most  earnest  and  able  addresses.  The 
Bishop  of  the  diocese  spoke  affectionate  words  of 
welcome,  and  the  Archbishop  struck  the  keynote  of 
"joy  "  at  the  happy  consummation  of  the  work  of 
raising  the  Cathedral,  which  contained  the  Henry 
Martyn  Baptistery,  as  a  perpetual  witness  for  foreign 
mission  work.  The  Bishop  of  Winchester,  with 
much  emotion,  alluded  to  his  old  parish  of  Kenwyn, 
saying,  "If  you  have  forgotten  me,  I  have  never  for- 
gotten you,"  and  called  upon  all  in  Cornwall  to  unite 
in  spreading  the  gospel  throughout  the  world.  Lord 
Nelson  and  the  Bishop  of  Bedford  (Dr.  W.  Walsham 
How)  spoke  of  the  need  of  spiritual  discipline  and 
self-sacrifice,  and  the  Bishop  of  Newcastle  (Dr.  E.  R. 
Wilberforce)  urged  the  necessity  of  zeal  and  en- 
thusiasm ;  while  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury  (Dr.  J. 
Wordsworth)  gave  some  account  of  the  Church  of 
England's  relation  to  the  Old  Catholics  of  Europe, 
and  the  Rev.  Charles  Gore  ^  of  mission  work  in 
India,  both  of  these  speakers  drawing  from  their 
own  personal  experience. 

On  the  second  occasion,  Canon  Scott  Holland 
delivered  an  address  on  "  Purity "  and  the  need  of 
some    oreat    national    reforms    in   this   direction ;    the 

1  Now  Bishop  of  Worcester. 


FULFILMENT  267 

Rev.  C.  Bodington^  laid  down  the  true  principles 
of  Temperance  ;  and  Canon  Mason  concluded  with  an 
address  on  "Truth  and  Loyalty  to  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  "  ;  showing  how  personal  devotion  to  the  Head 
of  the  Church  involved  love  for,  and  obedience  to,  the 
laws  of  His  mystical  Body,  the  Church.  These  two 
great  meetings  proved  very  interesting  and  profitable 
elements  in  the  proceedings  of  the  octave. 

On  November  13th,  the  Sunday  following  the 
octave,  there  was  a  kind  of  "  after-glow "  of  en- 
thusiasm evoked  by  the  teaching  of  the  Rev. 
R.  W.  Randall,  then  Vicar  of  All  Saints',  Clifton,'-  in 
his  sermon,  and  his  sympathetic  address  to  the 
assembled  children  of  the  five  parishes  of  Truro,  when 
a  hymn  specially  written  for  the  occasion  by  the 
Bishop  of  Exeter  (Dr.  E.  H.  Bickersteth)  was  sung, 
beeinninof  "  Great  God  of  our  salvation  "  ;  and  by  the 
solemn  baptism  of  seven  infants  in  the  afternoon  by 
the  Bishop,  who  preached,  in  the  evening  of  that  day, 
his  first  sermon  in  the  new  Cathedral,  on  "The  Earthly 
Temple,  the  symbol  of  the  Heavenly." 

There  remains  only  to  be  added  that  the  sum 
of  ^2,005  was  collected,  of  which  i^  1,735  ^^'^^  given 
on  the  consecration  day  itself.  In  the  week  following 
November  13th  was  held  the  first  Confirmation,  to  be 
followed  a  few  weeks  later  by  the  first  Ordination  ; 
and  so  Truro  Cathedral  was  given  up  to  God  and 
His   Church,   for  the  great   work  of  maintaining  the 

'  Now  Canon  and  Precentor  of  Lichfield. 
-  Afterwards  Dean  of  Chichester. 


268  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

constant  worship  of  the  Almighty,   and   the  edifying 
of  His  people.^ 

The  following  prayer,  compiled  by  Archbishop 
Benson,  and  used  in  a  fuller  form  in  the  actual 
consecration  service,  was  adopted  as  "the  Collect  for 
the  Cathedral,"  and  has  become  the  regular  prayer 
for  anniversaries,  as  well  as  for  societies  specially 
connected  with  Truro  Cathedral, 

Collect  for  the  Cathedral 

O  Lord,  Who,  by  the  prayers  and  hands  of  Thy  servants, 
hast  raised  high  in  so  fair  sanctity  this  House  of  Thy  doctrine 
and  service  ;  We  humbly  beseech  Thee  to  build  and  bind  Thy 
people,  one  and  all,  into  one  spiritual,  fitly  framed  temple  ; 
and  so  to  manifest  Thyself  in  this  Thy  sanctuary,  that  Thou, 
Who  workest  all  Thy  will  in  the  sons  of  Thy  adoption,  mayest 
continually  be  praised  in  the  joy  of  Thine  heritage ;  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

'  Some  portions  of  the  account  given  in  this  chapter  of  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  Cathedral  are  reproduced  (by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
owners  of  the  copyright,  the  Sisters  of  the  Community  of  the  Epiphany) 
from  the  Appendix  written  by  the  author  for  the  volume  entitled 
Twelve  Ser7)ions  preached  at  the  Consecration  of  the  Cathedral  Church 
of  Truro.      1888. 


CHAPTER    XIII 
EFFORTS 

THE  services  held  in  the  Cathedral  on  the  day 
of  its  consecration,  and  during  the  octave,  gave 
the  Churchmen  of  Cornwall  a  very  vivid  and  inspiring 
sense  of  their  Unity  in  one  Body.  This  was  exacdy 
the  result  desired,  and  hoped  for,  by  the  founder 
of  the  Cathedral  and  those  who  furthered  his  efforts. 
Some  immediate  fruit  followed. 

The  following  typical  communication  was  sent  to 
Truro  by  the  Rev.  E.  Douglas  Jones,  Vicar  of  Looe 
and  Rural  Dean  of  West,  being  a  resolution  passed 
by  his  synod,  held  at  Liskeard  : — 

"That  the  Dean  Rural  convey  to  the  Bishop,  the  Pre- 
centor, and  Cathedral  Committee,  the  thanks  of  the  clergy 
of  this  deanery,  for  the  great  trouble  they  have  taken  in 
enabling  the  choirs  and  parishioners  of  the  different  deaneries 
in  the  diocese  to  attend  the  octave  services  in  the  Cathedral, 
in  connection  with  the  consecration  ;  and  to  express  a 
hope  that  similar  services  may  be  annually  held  in  the 
Cathedral." 

The  result  of  this,  and  similar  communications,  was 
the  formation,  a  year  later,  of  the  Diocesan  Choral 
Union  ;  and  the  commencement  of  a  series  of  annual 

269 


2  70  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

gatherings  of  choirs  and  Churchworkers  at  the 
Cathedral,  which  has  continued,  with  unbroken  regu- 
larity and  no  slight  measure  of  success,  up  to  the 
present  time.  For  fourteen  years  there  has  been  each 
year  a  great  festival,  at  which  a  body  of  singers  varying 
in  numbers  from  six  hundred  to  a  thousand  has  taken 
part,  in  a  carefully  rehearsed  service  for  which  a 
diocesan  book  is  annually  published.  One  deanery 
after  another  heartily  took  up  the  scheme  ;  until,  in 
1 90 1,  each  of  the  twelve  deaneries  in  the  diocese,  either 
held  its  local  festival  or  sent  up  its  choirs,  according 
to  a  triennial  cycle,  to  take  part  in  the  diocesan  service 
at  the  Cathedral.  At  the  outset  the  organist  of  the 
Cathedral,  Mr.  G.  R.  Sinclair,  gave  very  valuable  help 
as  diocesan  choirmaster  ;  and,  for  twelve  years  past, 
his  successor  Dr.  M.  J.  Monk  has  bestowed  ungrudg- 
ing labour  upon  the  work  of  training  the  choirs  of 
the  diocese  with  conspicuous  success.  One  great 
value  of  these  gatherings  lies  in  the  fact,  that  they 
are  not  only  musical  festivals ;  but,  that,  on  each 
occasion,  a  large  contingent  of  Churchworkers  and 
parishioners  accompany  the  choirs  ;  and  a  very  great 
number  of  Cornish  folk  from  remote  parishes,  on 
either  coast  and  in  distant  villages,  visit  their  mother 
church,  learn  to  appreciate  its  beauty,  and  claim  it  as 
their  own  possession  ;  besides  realising  their  member- 
ship in  the  unity  of  the  Church,  on  a  greater  scale 
than  is  possible  in  the  limited  sphere  of  a  small 
parish.  Soon,  other  gatherings  of  Sunday-school 
teachers,  temperance  societies,  the  G.F.S.,  and  kindred 


EFFORTS  271 

organisations,  followed,  until  it  has  become  a  familiar 
idea  to  (rather  each  branch  of  Church  work,  in  its 
members  or  at  least  through  its  representatives,  round 
the  central  altar  of  the  diocese.  Nothing  can  be 
more  stimulating  and  invigorating  than  this. 

When  the  question  came  up  for  consideration  as  to 
how  the  ordinary  services  of  the  Cathedral  were  to  be 
maintained,  a  difficult  situation  had  to  be  faced.  It 
was,  of  course,  quite  within  the  reach  of  the  Bishop 
and  the  Chapter,  to  establish  and  maintain,  without 
serious  outlay,  simple  daily  services,  including  the 
daily  celebration  of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  It  has  been 
a  source  of  the  greatest  strength,  comfort,  and  blessing 
that,  from  the  first  day  on  which  the  altar  of  Truro 
Cathedral  was  dedicated,  on  November  3rd,  1887,  up 
to  the  present  time,  every  morning  of  the  year  has  it 
been  prepared  and  ready  for  the  celebration  of  the 
"  Holy  Mysteries,"  and  for  the  communion  o{  the 
faithful.  Not  only  has  this  blessed  privilege  been  a 
source  of  united  strenofth  to  those,  who  throuoh  Ion"' 
years  have  striven  to  uphold  and  extend  the  useful- 
ness of  the  Cathedral  for  the  welfare  of  the  diocese, 
as  well  as  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  but  it  has  pro\cd  to 
be  an  inestimable  and  ever-ready  blessing  to  great 
numbers  of  communicants  and  worshippers.  To  be 
able  to  feel  sure  that,  when  in  Truro  on  any  day  in 
the  year,  it  is  possible  to  unite  the  gratitude  of  the 
individual  soul,  for  mercies  received,  with  the  Divine 
Eucharist  ;  to  plead  for  blessings,  spiritual  and 
temporal,  in  behalf  of  others  or  for  one's  own  needs, 


272  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

in  union  with  the  o-reat  Memorial  Seicrifice,  offered 
once  on  Calvary  and  perpetually  pleaded  in  heaven, 
and  mystically  presented  at  the  earthly  altar  ;  all  this 
has  been,  and  is,  an  unspeakable  consolation  to  many 
a  Christian  man  and  woman.  Not  only  has  a  regular 
scheme  of  subjects  for  intercession,  at  the  daily 
Eucharist,  been  drawn  up  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter, 
but  constantly  requests  for  prayer  and  praise  are  sent 
up,  from  many  parts  of  the  diocese,  and  even  from 
beyond  its  borders.  For  this  alone  the  Cathedral  has 
proved  worthy  of  the  cost  bestowed  upon  it,  and  has 
fulfilled  a  great  ministry. 

It  was  possible  to  secure  the  services  of  an  efficient 
set  of  choir  men,  from  those  who  had  been  voluntary 
members  of  the  old  parish  choir,  and  were  glad  and 
willing  to  continue  their  free-will  services  in  the 
Cathedral.  But  the  cost  of  the  maintenance  of  the 
fabric,  the  ordinary  expenses  of  Divine  service — ^as 
heatino-  liCThtinof,  and  other  matters — would  have,  it 
seemed,  to  depend  upon  the  somewhat  precarious 
support  of  collections  in  church.  Several  generous 
friends  of  Bishop  Wilkinson  came  forward,  and 
o-uaranteed  some  hundreds  a  year  to  tide  over  the 
difficult  crisis.  But  it  was  felt,  that  a  serious  effort 
should  be  made  to  obtain  some  permanent  and  de- 
pendable income  for  the  very  necessary  objects  above 
indicated. 

It  was  determined  to  make  an  appeal  to  Parliament, 
for  powers  to  enable  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners 
to  assign  certain  endowments,  to  which  Cornwall  ap- 


EFFORTS  273 

peared  to  have  some  equitable  claim,  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  Cathedral  and  its  staff. 

In  order  to  understand  the  position  of  affairs,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  give  a  brief  summary  of  legislation 
carried  out,  or  attempted,  in  connection  with  the 
Truro   Bishopric.   Chapter,  and  Cathedral. 

First  there  was  the  Act  of  1876  (39  &  40  Vict. 
c.  54),  by  which  the  Bishopric  was  founded  after  so 
long  a  period  of  patient  working  and  waiting,  and  by 
which  Cornish  Churchmen  at  last  received  the  permis- 
sion of  the  State  to  have  a  Bishop  for  themselves, 
supported  by  an  endowment  provided  by  their  own 
strenuous  effort  and  self-sacrifice.  The  last  clause  of 
the  Act  (following  precedents)  jealously  prohibited 
the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners  from  applying  "any 
portion  of  their  common  fund  towards  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Bishopric  of  Truro,  or  of  the  Dean  and 
Chapter  thereof." 

Secondly,  in  1878  was  passed,  not  without  difficulty 
and  opposition,  the  Truro  Chapter  Act  {41  &  42 
Vict.  c.  44).  By  its  provisions,  the  fifth  canonry  of 
Exeter  Cathedral  was  transferred  to  Truro  ;  out  of  it 
to  be  founded  two  endowed  canonries  ;  power  was 
given  for  the  formation  of  a  Truro  Chapter  Endow- 
ment Fund  (not  out  of  endowments  held  by  the  Com- 
missioners, but  from  private  sources).  Provision  was 
made  for  the  creation  of  a  Dean  and  Chapter,  (a  Dean 
and  not  less  than  four  Residentiary  Canons)  as  a  body 
corporate,  with  the  same  powers  and  privileges  as 
other    sin-iihu-    bt)dies.       But    residentiary    canonries 

T 


2  74  THE    BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

might  be  formed,  as  soon  as  funds  permitted,  before 
the  complete  Chapter  was  created. 

It  was  a  serious  mistake  that  the  annual  income 
of  the  Dean  was  fixed  at  a  minimum  of  ^i,ooo.  A 
smaller  sum,  as  in  some  of  the  Welsh  cathedrals, 
would  have  sufficed. 

Bishop  Benson  recorded  in  his  Diary  under  June 
loth,  1878,  some  account  of  this  Act.  "The  passing 
of  the  Chapter  Act  was  singular  in  its  circumstances." 
After  recounting  how  the  Bishop  of  Exeter  and  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  that  cathedral,  and  the  Ecclesias- 
tical Commission  had  assented,  and  the  Home  Secretary, 
Mr.  Cross,  afterwards  Viscount  Cross,  was  ready  to  intro- 
duce the  Bill  as  a  Government  measure,  he  states :  "  The 
Bill  having  passed  the  House  of  Lords,  the  second 
reading  was  to  come  on  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
when  for  some  unknown  reason,  in  the  very  thickest  of 
the  work  in  July,  Mr.  D.  and  Mr.  C.  [two  well-known 
members  of  Parliament]  had  given  notice  that  they 
would  oppose  the  Bill."  The  Bishop  received  a  hint 
that  it  might  be  advisable  to  see  Mr.  C.  "  But 
of  course,"  said  his  informant,  "  it's  possible  that  it 
might  do  more  harm  than  good  to  interfere  with 
him."^  Bishop  Benson  quite  accidentally  met  Mr.  C. 
in  the  street.  "  Something  withheld  me  from  saying 
to  him,  as  we  stopped  to  chat  with  mutual  astonish- 
ment at  the  odd  meeting,  '  Why  can't  you  let  our  little 
Bill  alone?'      I  thought  it  would  be  rather  an  unfair 

'  It  has  been  lately  said  "  There  is  no  surer  way  of  securing  Mr.  C.'s 
opposition  than  by  getting  him  on  your  own  side." 


EFFORTS  275 

thrust  just  then,  but  did  not  doubt  that  the  little 
cordiality  would  be  a  help  to  nie  within  thirty-six 
hours." 

The  foundation  of  two  canonries,  from  the  fifth 
Exeter  canonry,  authorised  by  this  Act,  was  not 
actually  completed  till  March  loth,  1885,  when  an 
Order  in  Council  announced  their  creation. 

Thirdly,  there  was  the  Truro  Bishopric  and 
Chapter  Acts  Amendment  x'\ct,  1887  (50  &  51 
Vict.  c.  12.)  This  has  already  been  referred  to 
in  a  previous  chapter,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  say  here, 
that,  the  provisions  of  this  Act  legalised  the  present 
stattis  of  the  Chapter,  as  a  corporate  body  composed 
of  the  Bishop  holding  the  office  of  Dean  (until  further 
provision  can  be  made),  two  Residentiary  Canons 
with  endowed  stalls,  and  the  Sub- Dean  and  another 
Canon  holding  either  of  the  offices  of  Missioner, 
Treasurer,  or  President  of  the  Honorary  Canons. 
The  limits  of  the  Cathedral  and  the  parish  church 
(the  present  south  aisle  of  the  choir)  were  defined  ; 
the  transfer  of  capitular  patronage  in  Cornwall,  before 
held  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  E.xeter,  to  the  new 
body  at  Truro  was  authorised  ;  ^  and  powers  were 
given  to  that  body  to  hold  and  manage  a  "Truro 
Cathedral  Endowment  Fund."  But  no  transfer  of  any 
endowment  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners  to  the 
Cathedral  at  Truro  was  permitted. 

1  This  was  canietl  into  effect  by  an  Order  in  Council  dated  Februarj' 
22nd  18S9,  after  the  consent  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  E.xeter  had  been 
given. 


2  76  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Bishop  Wilkinson  always  felt  that  a  special  Provi- 
dence had  watched  over  the  successful  passing  of  this 
Bill  through  Parliament,  in  answer  to  earnest  and 
persevering  prayer.  It  was  felt  by  him,  and  others, 
that,  in  the  then  condition  of  politics,  and  in  the 
attitude  that  many  took  up  in  Parliament  towards 
Church  questions,  it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to 
carry  such  a  Bill.  He  therefore  "fell  back,"  as  he 
said,  "upon  the  supernatural  power  of  the  interceding 
Church,  linked  with  the  Great  Intercessor,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  before  the  Father's  throne  in  heaven." 
And  the  answer  came.  The  Bishop,  sitting  one  day 
in  the  Athenreum  Club,  in  much  perplexity  about  the 
measure,  unexpectedly  met,  first  one,  and  then  another 
friend,  members  of  both  Houses,  who  by  advice, 
counsel,  and  action,  removed  difficulties,  improved 
clauses,  and  at  length  secured  its  passage.  As  he 
said,  "  A  very  influential  person,  when  he  looked  back 
upon  the  great  difficulties  which  beset  the  passing 
of  the  Bill,  confessed,  in  a  simple-hearted  way,  that,  to 
his  mind,  there  was  something  more  than  mere  human 
influence  and  human  power  at  work  ;  for  he  could  not 
otherwise  explain  how  it  passed  so  smoothly  and 
easily."  And  the  Bishop  added  "when  he  was  in  the 
Home  Office,  in  the  House  of  Lords,  or  in  the 
library  of  the  club,  he  called  upon  God,  and  the  Lord 
'did  not  cast  out  his  prayer,'  but  'led  him  by  the 
rio-ht  wav  '  and  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  difficulties." 
It  was  in  accordance  with  the  Bishop's  usual  custom 
that,   not  many  months  afterwards,  a  special  service 


EFFORTS  277 

of  thanksgiving,  for  these  and  other  great  blessings, 

together  with  intercessions  for  the  future  work  of  the 

Cathedral,  took  place  at  Truro  Cathedral  on  the  Feast 

of  the  Purification,  February  2nd,  1888. 

While  the  Bill  was  being  prepared  Bishop  Wilkinson 

wrote  from  London  : — 

''February  Wi,  1887. 

"  God  is  raising  up  many  old  friends  to  help  me  with  the 
Cathedral  Bill— but  I  think  of  dear  Lyte's  text :  '  O  God  the 
Lord,  in  THEE  is  my  trust.' 

"  I  have  been  analysing  it  to-day,  so  that  the  short  analysis 
may  be  printed  and  sent  round  the  Cabinet,  that  they  may 
decide  whether  to  help  us  or  not.     You  will,  I  know,  pray." 

A  local  circumstance,  surrounded  with  certain 
difficulties,  is  referred  to  in  the  following  letter  : — 

''September  ist,  1887. 

"  Yesterday  was  a  difficult  da\- ;  but  it  is  happier  when  we 
feel  that  all  these  hindrances  and  difficulties  are  only  the 
translation  into  the  nineteenth-century  life  of  the  great 
law  of  limitation,  which  so  pressed  upon  the  Spirit  of  our 
blessed  Lord." 

A  further  attempt  was  made,  in  the  same  year,  to 
obtain  some  endowment  for  Truro  Cathedral,  from 
funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Com- 
missioners. A  Bill  was  drafted  intituled,  "  An  Act 
to  provide  a  Fund  for  the  Repair  and  Services  of  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  Truro."  hi  the  preamble  refer- 
ence was  made  to  large  estates  held  by  the  Coni- 
missioners,  originally  given  for  Cathedral  and  capitular 
purposes  to  the  old  Diocese  of  Exeter,  out   ot   which 


2  78  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  Truro  Diocese  had  been  taken  ;  it  was  noted  that 
much  of  this  property  was  situate  within  the  present 
Cornish  Diocese  ;  it  recalled  a  previous  Act  (29  & 
30  Vict.  c.  3,  s.  18),  by  which  the  Commissioners 
were  empow^ered,  under  certain  circumstances,  to  make 
provision  for  the  stipends  of  officials,  choristers,  and 
others  ;  it  proposed  to  extend  these  powers  to  Truro, 
and  to  assign,  out  of  the  common  fund  (and  particularly 
out  of  estates  situate  in  Cornwall),  ^3,000  a  year 
towards  the  repair  of  the  fabric,  and  the  maintenance 
of  Divine  service  in  Truro  Cathedral.  A  memorandum 
was  drawn  up,  giving  full  information  about  the 
Truro  bishopric  and  Cathedral  and  the  requirements 
of  the  latter,  which  was  circulated  among  members  of 
the  tw^o  Houses  of  Parliament  and  other  influential 
persons.  ^ 

Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe,  with  his  accustomed  zeal 
for  Truro  and  its  Cathedral,  introduced  the  Bill  into 
the  House  of  Lords.  In  an  able  speech  he  called 
attention  to  the  sacrifices  made  in  Cornwall  for  the 
foundation  of  the  see  and  Cathedral  :  and  Bishop 
Wilkinson  seconded  the  measure,  expressing  his  belief 
that,  in  the  end,  the  granting  of  the  sum  asked  for 
would  not  have  the  result  of  depriving  any  of  the 
poorly  endowed  clergy  (with  whom  he  had  the  deepest 
sympathy)  of  what  they  might  justly  claim  :  it  would 
stimulate    generosity,    and    make    the    Cathedral    an 

^  It  was  stated  that  the  Commissioners  received,  or  would  very 
shortly  receive,  from  estates  in  Cornwall,  a  nctf  balance  of  nearly  ^5,ooo 
a  year  after  deducting  local  grants  made. 


EFFORTS  270 

efficient  centre  of  diocesan  work,  and  therefore  would 
be  helping  those  who  were,  and  had  been,  helping 
themselves.  Earl  Stanhope,  as  representing  the 
Ecclesiastical  Commission,  opposed  the  measure  ;  on 
the  grounds  of  the  diminution  of  funds  through  the 
agricultural  depression,  as  well  as  on  the  general 
principle  that,  to  make  this  grant  would  trench  upon 
the  Common  Eund,  and  be  contrary  to  the  whole 
original  intention  of  the  Commission  and  its  work. 
Lord  Grimthorpe  objected  to  the  creation  and  endow- 
ment of  capitular  bodies.  "  They  get  on,"  he  said, 
"very  well  without  them  at  St.  Albans.  It  seems  to  be 
an  annual  puzzle  what  to  do  with  Deans  and  Chapters; 
their  chief  function  is  now  said  to  be  to  quarrel 
with  the  Bishop."  Viscount  Cranbrook  supported  the 
Bill,  and  it  was  read  a  second  time  ;  but  later  on  it  was 
referred  to  a  Select  Committee.  Evidence  was  taken 
before  the  Committee  from  ^Ir.  De  Bock  Porter,  then 
financial  secretary  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Commission, 
the  Dean  of  Exeter  (Dr.  Cowie),  and  the  Chapter 
Clerk  of  Exeter  Cathedral  (Mr.  W.  J.  Battishill). 
Finally,  the  Committee  decided  against  proceeding 
with  the  Bill,  but  carried  a  resolution,  by  seven  votes 
to  six,  in  fa\'our  of  the  following  resolution  : — 

"  That,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  any  money  to  be 
granted  for  the  maintenance  of  the  fabric  and  services  of  the 
Cathedral  of  Truro,  should  be  obtained  from  the  money  paid 
to  the  Dean  and  Canons  of  Exeter,  on  the  occurrence  of 
vacancies,  anrl  should  not  exceed  ;^i,ooo  a  }'ear." 

Twelve    years    have    elapsed   since    that   resolution 


28o  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

was   carried,    but    no   further    action   has   been    taken 
in  the  matter. 

Yet  another  attempt,  on  a  much  smaller  scale,  was 
made  in  the  following  year  to  obtain  aid  towards  the 
fabric  and  services  fund.  Once  more  Lord  Mount 
Edorcumbe  o-allantlv  brought  forward  the  "  Arch- 
deaconry  of  Cornwall  Bill."  The  object  of  this 
measure  was  a  very  simple  one.  When  the  fifth 
canonry  of  Exeter  was  transferred  to  Truro  its 
income  of  ^i,ooo,  in  accordance  with  a  long-standing 
rule,  was  charged  with  the  payment  of  one-third  of  that 
sum  to  the  Archdeacon  of  Cornwall.  It  had  been  then 
provided  that,  at  the  next  vacancy  of  the  Archdeacon's 
office,  the  stipend  should  be  reduced  to  ^200  instead 
of  ^333  :  giving  ^400  each  to  the  two  Residentiary 
Canons  of  Truro.  The  Bill  proposed  that  the  Arch- 
deacon of  Cornwall's  stipend  should  be  paid  (as  in 
many  other  cases)  from  the  common  fund  of  the 
Ecclesiastical  Commission,  and  ^200  set  free ;  so 
that  the  whole  income  of  the  fifth  Exeter  canonry 
might  go,  as  it  was  legitimately  urged,  to  Truro 
Cathedral.  This  ^200  a  year  was,  however,  to  be 
devoted,  not  to  any  clerical  stipend,  but  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  fabric  and  services,  as  part  of  the 
"Truro  Cathedral  Endowment  Fund." 

Looking  back,  it  is  difficult  to  believe  that  men, 
who  had  no  personal  interest  in  the  question  which 
was  a  purely  local  Church  one,  should  year  after  year 
have  persistently  blocked  the  Bill,  supported  as  it  was 
by  every  ecclesiastical  authority  ;  including  the  Arch- 


EFFORTS  281 

bishop  of  Canterbury  and  the  Bishop  of  London,  who 
were  of  course  personally  acquainted  with  the  local 
needs,  as  well  as  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners 
themselves.  It  required  not  less  than  niiK^  years' 
patient  and  persevering  advocacy,  on  the  part  of  the 
Earl  of  Mount  rxlL^cumbe  and  those  who  helped  him. 
to  bring  the  matter  to  a  successful  issue.  On  June  3rd 
the  Archdeaconry  of  Cornwall  Act,  1897  (60  Vict, 
c.   9),   was  passed. 

It  will  be  probably  agreeable  to  the  reader  to  pass, 
from  these  somewhat  dr\-  parliamentary  details,  to  the 
more  interesting  subject  of  the  generous  and  freewill 
offerings  of  faithful  Church-people  ;  upon  which,  after 
all,  the  maintenance  of  all  the  chief  enterprises  of  the 
Church  in  our  day  must  mainly  depend.  There  were 
received,  at  this  time,  such  helpful  bequests  as  that  of 
a  house  left  by  Miss  Nankivell,  which  eventually 
came  into  the  hands  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  :  a  sum 
of  money  from  a  legacy  by  Miss  Field  for  the  education 
of  the  Cathedral  choristers.  Later  on  a  large  and  noble 
bequest  came  from  Miss  Anne  Pedler  of  Liskeard,  who. 
in  her  will,  signified  her  wish  to  carry  out  the  in- 
tentions of  her  brother  Edward  Moblyn  Pedler,  who 
for  many  years  had  desired  to  benefit  the  Cathedral 
at  Truro.  Mr.  Pedler  was  a  Churchman  of  the  old 
type,  self-denying,  generous,  and  loyal.  He  was 
greatly  interested  in  archaeology  and  Church  history, 
and  wrote  a  volume  on  The  Anglo-Saxon  Episcopate 
of  Cornwall,  which  contains  valuable  information,  and 
shows  much  painstaking  research.      In-  the  will  ot   his 


282  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

sister  the  large  sum  of  /^i 5,000  was  received  by  the 
Cathedral,  or  rather  by  trustees  appointed  to  distribute 
the  amount  for  certain  specified  objects.  Part  was  set 
aside  for  the  Building  Fund  ;  part  for  the  formation  of 
scholarships  for  the  choristers ;  part  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  services  ;  part  for  the  creation  of 
a  bursary  in  the  Divinity  School  ;  ^  and  between 
^4,000  and  ^5,000  towards  the  endowment  of  a  third 
residentiary  canonry.  This  last-named  object  is 
likely,  before  very  long,  to  be  realised  ;  for,  in  addition 
to  certain  other  sums,  the  above  amount  has,  for  some 
years,  been  accumulating  at  compound  interest,  and 
will  soon  produce  the  required  minimum  income  of 
^300  a  year. 

But,  in  spite  of  these  large  gifts,  the  responsibility 
of  maintaining  the  fabric  and  services  was  a  serious 
and  anxious  one.  The  liberal  promises  of  the  two 
or  three  friends  of  Bishop  Wilkinson  in  London, 
already  mentioned,  could  not  be  expected  to  be 
continued  for  more  than  two  or  three  years  ;  and  some 
Cornish  Church-people,  among  whom  were  conspicuous 
Canon  Phillpotts  (already  a  generous  benefactor  of 
the  see  and  Cathedral),  Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe, 
Colonel  Tremayne  and  others,  determined  to  make  a 
special  effort  to  raise  an  annual  sum  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  services  and  the  repair  of  the  fabric. 
On   May   20th,   1889,  a  considerable  subscription  list 

^  By  a  slig^ht  modification  in  the  scheme,  the  usefulness  of  this  Bursary, 
as  a  help  in  the  cost  of  training  a  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  for  work  in 
the  Diocese,  has  been  recently  (1902)  extended. 


EFFORTS  283 

was    started,   collectors    in    each    rural    deanery  were 
appointed,   and    collections    in    [)arish   churches   asked 
for.      For    the    last    thirteen    years,    "  the    Cathedral 
Union."  as  this  new  association  was  called,  has  done 
a  work  without  which  it  would  have  been  well-nigh 
impossible  to   carry  on   the  Cathedral   services.     An 
annual   income  from  ^450  to  ^500  has  been  raised, 
to  meet  the  lan^e  deficiency  that  would  otherwise  have 
overwhelmed    the    Chapter,    had    they    been    left    to 
depend  upon   the  slender  resources  at   their  disposal 
from  their  very  small  endowments  and  the  collections 
at  the  services — generous  indeed  when  the  means  of 
most  of   the   cono-res^ation   are  considered,   but   small 
enough,  in  actual  amount,  to  meet  the  necessary  ex- 
penses.^    Dr.  Benson,  then  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
was  very  pleased  to  hear  of  this  effort  and  referred  to 
it,    in    one   of   his   visitation    charges,   as   an   example 
which  might  have  to  be  followed  in  some  of  the  older 
cathedrals,  whose  revenues   have   of  late  become   so 
seriously  diminished. 
His  words  are  : — 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  here  to  note,  that  a  Cathedral  Union 
proposes  to  raise  over  ^500  a  year  towards  the  maintenance 
of  the  Service  and  Fabric  of  Truro  Cathedral.  This  was  an 
ancient  plan  elsewhere.  And  so  disastrous,  through  unfore- 
seen lcL;islation,  is  the  position  of  some  of  our  Mother 
Churches,  that  wc  must  almost  expect  it  to  be  resumed."- 

'  Throuyh  the  efforts  of  the  Cathedral  Union,  since  1S89  to  1902,  the 
sum  of  ;^8,678  15J.  <\d.  has  been  raised  within  thirteen  years  for  these 
purposes,  very  largely  within  the  Diocese. 

-  Fishers  of  Men,  p.  1 1,  note. 


284  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

With  such  hmitecl  resources,  the  services  at  Truro 
Cathedral  have  not  been  able  to  attain  any  high 
degree  of  elaboration,  or  lofty  standard  of  musical 
excellence.  As  has  already  been  noticed,  the  choir 
was  the  old  parochial  choir,  transferred  from  St.  Mary's 
Church  to  the  new  Cathedral.  But  the  first  organist, 
George  Robertson  Sinclair,  was  a  man  who  knew 
how  to  make  the  best  of  existing  material  ;  and,  with 
undaunted  courage  and  consuming  enthusiasm,  to 
attempt  and  to  succeed  in  noble  ambitions.  He  was 
a  pupil  at  Sir  Frederick  Gore  Ouseley's  College 
of  St.  Michael's,  Tenbury,  and  had  worked  under 
Dr.  C.  H.  Lloyd  at  Gloucester  Cathedral  (after- 
wards orofanist  at  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  and  now 
precentor  of   Eton). 

Coming  as  a  youth  to  Truro,  he  attracted  Dr. 
Benson  by  his  ardent  love  for  his  art  and  his  untiring- 
energy.^  Step  by  step  he  led  on  the  choir,  until  he 
succeeded  in  making  them  fit  to  render  the  best 
cathedral  music  ;  and  later  on  to  execute  works  like 
Mendelssohn's  Hymn  of  Praise,  Spohr's  Last  Jttdg- 
ment,  and  Stainer's  Dmighter  of  Jairtis  and  Si.  Mary 
Magdalene. ~ 

After  nine  years'  work  at  Truro,  where  in  addition 
to  his  Cathedral  duties  he  was  conductor  of  the  Phil- 
harmonic Society  and  musical  teacher  at  the  Training 

1  Canon  Mason  records  in  his  Diary  :  "Saturday,  Oct.  8,  i88i,  was 
to  have  returned  at  midday,  but  Walpole  left  me  to  hear  the  boy  Sinclair, 
who  had  come  to  try  for  our  organistship— a  wonderful  young  fellow." 

-  Mr.  Ivor  Atkins,  the  able  organist  of  Worcester  Cathedral,  was  for 
several  years  a  pupil  of  Mr.  Sinclair  at  Truro. 


EFFORTS  285 

College,  he  was  appointed  organist  of  Hereford.  As 
conductor  and  organist  of  the  "  Festival  of  the  Three 
Choirs,"  and  also  as  conductor  of  the  Birmingham 
Musical  Festival,  he  has  gained  a  very  high  reputa- 
tion. He  received  several  years  ago  the  honour  of 
the  Lambeth  degree  of  Doctor  in  Music,  from  the 
present  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  (Dr.  Temple),  and 
was  appointed  "  Grand  Organist"  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Freemasons  of  England. 

Dr.  ^L  [.  Monk,  who  succeeded  him,  has  maintained 
the  good  traditions  set  by  his  predecessor  ;  and,  as  a 
musician  of  refined  taste,  has  been  able  to  train  the 
choir  to  do  justice  to  a  repertoire  of  high-class  Church 
music,  pronounced  by  the  late  Dr.  Troutbeck,  of 
Westminster,  to  be  unusually  large  and  varied,  con- 
sidering the  number  of  choral  services  rendered.  For 
it  must  be  remembered,  that  the  revenues  at  Truro 
only  suffice  to  provide  a  choir  for  the  principal  Sunday 
services;  for  Evensong  on  Wednesdays,  Saturdays, 
and  holy  days  ;  and  certain  other  special  occasions. 
Competent  critics  have,  from  time  to  time,  judged 
favourably  of  the  music  at  Truro,  a  small  city  of 
eleven  thousand  inhabitants,  and  consequently  con- 
taining a  very  limited  area  from  which  to  draw  voices, 
where  there  are  competing  parochial  choirs  and  no 
such  financial  resources  as  enable  other  cathedrals  to 
attract  singers  from  afar. 

The  ceremonial,  in  use  at  the  Cathedral,  cannot  be 
called  in  any  sense  "extreme."  It  aims  at  dignity 
and   stateliness  ;     and    those   who   are   responsible  for 


286  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

the  ordering  of  the  services  have  striven  after  simpli- 
city and  reverence,  taking  the  use  of  St.  Paul's, 
London,   as  a  pattern  to  follow. 

When  the"  Lincoln  Judgment"  had  been  pronounced, 
the  following  statement  was  issued  by  the  Dean  and 
Chapter,  after  a  few  additions  had  been  made  to  the 
ritual  of  the  Holy  Communion  at  the  Cathedral, 
which  were  introduced  for  the  first  time  on  Easter 
Day.  These  included  the  use  of  two  lights  at  the 
early  celebrations  (afterwards  extended  to  all  celebra- 
tions) and  of  stoles  of  the  colour  of  the  season  at  the 
altar  services  ;  the  ablutions  taken  at  the  altar  instead 
of  in  the  vestry  ;  the  singing  of  a  hymn  (now  almost 
always  the  Agmts  Dei)  during  the  Communion  of  the 
people. 

"In  making  these  changes  the  Dean  and  Chapter  desire  to 
meet  the  feeHngs  and  wishes  of  various  classes  of  wor- 
shippers ;  and  to  make  the  Cathedral  services  minister,  more 
and  more,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edification  of  His 
people.  The  additional  enrichments  of  the  ritual  are  in 
harmony  with  the  exquisite  beauty  of  the  building  and  all 
its  fittings.  They  are,  moreover,  in  conformity  with  the  law 
of  the  Church,  as  stated  in  the  '  Ornaments  Rubric,'  and  have 
been  declared,  by  the  recent  judgment  of  the  Archbishop's 
Court,  to  be  not  contrary  to  the  mind  of  the  Church  of 
England.  It  is  believed  that  they  will  be  proved  to  be  instru- 
mental in  giving  increased  expression  to  the  reverence  and 
devotion  of  the  worshippers." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  find  space  for  any  detailed 
notice  of  some  of  the  great  services  that  have  been 
held  in  Truro  Cathedral  during  the  last  fifteen  years. 


EFFORTS  287 

Solemn  memorial  services  for  the  late  Queen  Victoria, 
the  Duke  of  Clarence,  Mr.  Gladstone,  Archbishop 
Benson.  Intercession  services  during  the  recent  war  in 
South  Africa ;  thanksi^ivings  after  victory,  as  when 
Mafeking  was  relieved.  Impressive  Advent  and  Lent 
courses  of  sermons  and  instructions  ;  addresses  to  men, 
Sunday-school  teachers.  Church  workers,  lay  readers. 
Perhaps  one  of  the  most  striking  of  all  is  the  annual 
service,  held  on  Christmas  Eve,  when  a  ''  Service  of 
IX.  Lessons,"  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Benson,  is  used.  The 
lessons  are  read  by  a  series  of  readers,  beginning  with 
a  chorister,  and  ending  with  the  Bishop.  Carols  and 
anthems  follow  each  lesson.  The  catalogue  of  special 
services  is  a  long  one,  and  space  fails  the  writer  in  any 
attempt  to  enumerate,  or  describe  them  in  detail. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  it  is  only  great  cere- 
monies and  stately  functions  that  have  been  conducted 
within  the  walls  of  Truro  Cathedral,  or  in  connection 
with  the  work  of  its  Chapter.  Many  have  been  the 
efforts  made  to  reach  souls  by  simple  methods,  as 
well  as  by  unusual  and  special  means. 

One  great  spiritual  attempt  was  made  in  November, 
1892,  by  a  general  Mission  throughout  the  city,  in- 
cluding all  the  parish  churches  as  well  as  the  Cathedral, 
to  awaken  souls  and  invigorate  Church  life. 

Bishop  Wilkinson  had  greatly  desired  that  during 
his  episcopate  such  a  mission  should  be  held  ;  and 
Bishop  Gott  did  all  he  could  to  ensure  its  success. 
The  Canon  Missioner  (Canon  F.  E.  Carter)  worked 
for   many   months   beforehand   indefatigably,   together 


288  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

with  the  city  clergy,  with  Sub- Dean  Bourke  at  their 
head,  to  make  thorough,  prayerful,  and  earnest  prepara- 
tion. A  very  impressive  day  of  solemn  intercession, 
at  which  nearly  all  the  churchworkers,  with  many  other 
communicants  in  the  city,  were  present,  was  held  in 
the  Cathedral,  shortly  before  the  Mission  took  place. 
Canon  Georo-e  Bodv  o-ave  the  addresses.  Without 
pronouncing  that  the  effort  failed  to  produce  the  results 
desired,  it  nevertheless  did  not  make  so  strong^  an 
impression  as  had  been  expected.  No  doubt  indi- 
vidual souls  received  much  blessino-  but  the  visible 
fruits  were  not  discernible,  in  any  general  advance 
in   Church  life  and  work  in   the  cathedral   city. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  said,  with  some  approach  to  truth, 
that  in  a  place  where  there  is  so  constant  a  round 
of  frequent  services,  and  so  many  sermons  delivered 
by  a  succession  of  different  preachers,  including  not 
a  few  men  eminent  for  learning  and  eloquence  in  the 
Church  at  home  and  abroad  ;  an  effort,  like  a  ten 
days'  mission,  does  not  so  greatly  strike  the  imagina- 
tion, or  arouse  the  interest,  as  in  the  case  of  less 
favoured  places. 

But  then,  the  favoured  place  ought  to  take  heed 
concerning  its  privileg'es. 


CHAPTER    XIV 

TRIALS 

IT  was  the  habit  of  Bishop  Wilkinson  to  receive, 
from  time  to  time,  at  Lis  Escop,  eminent  Church- 
men ;  and  especially  members  of  the  Home,  Colonial, 
and  American  Episcopate.  Among  these  were  Bishop 
Scott  of  North  China,  formerly  his  Curate  at  St.  Peter's, 
Eaton  Square,  Bishops  Edward  Churton  of  Nassau 
and  Kennion  of  Adelaide.^  Bishop  Doane  of  Albany 
visited  Truro,  during  the  absence  of  its  Bishop, 
while  endeavouring  to  obtain  restoration  to  health 
in  Switzerland.  He  preached  in  the  Cathedral,  was 
much  struck  by  its  services,  and  enchanted  with  its 
architecture.  "  This  time,"  he  said,  "  I  have  seen  the 
shrine,  next  time  I  hope  to  see  the  saint."  Since 
then,  he  has  had  the  satisfaction  of  erecting  a  very 
substantial  part  of  his  own  cathedral  at  Albany,  to 
the  dedication  of  which  he  invited  several  of  the 
clergy  of  Truro  Cathedral.  Bishop  Webb,  formerly  of 
Bloemfontein  and  afterwards  of  Grahamstown,  who  was 
always  in  Cornwall  when  he  visited  England,  was  an 
old  friend  of  Bishop  Wilkinson,  and  had  preached  at 
St.    Peter's,    Eaton   Square,   those  discourses  on   the 

^  Now  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells. 
U  289 


290  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Holy  Spirit,  which  have  since  been  pubHshed  in  that 
most  instructive  volume,  entitled  The  Presence  and 
Office  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  was  able  to  give 
efficient  help  to  his  friend,  by  taking-  Confirmations 
during  times  of  illness  ;  and  once,  at  very  short 
notice,  undertook  an  Ordination  ;  himself  giving  the 
addresses  to  the  candidates,  during  the  previous  days 
of  retreat.  These  addresses  were  afterwards  pub- 
lished, under  the  title  of  The  Minister  of  the  True 
Tabernacle ;  and,  among  other  valuable  instruction, 
contain  a  very  striking  statement  of  the  Anglican 
position,  as  regards  doctrine  and  worship.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  Bloemfontein  and  Grahamstown  have, 
since  then,  always  held  a  place  in  the  affections  of 
Cornish  Churchmen ;  who  have  been  glad,  by  the 
support  they  have  given  to  these  South  African 
dioceses,  to  express  the  gratitude  they  felt  for  one 
who  showed  much  brotherly  kindness  to  their  Bishop 
and  his  diocese. 

When  Dr.  Wilkinson's  illness  made  it  necessary 
for  him  to  prolong  his  absence  from  home  for  a 
considerable  time,  in  Egypt,  Italy,  and  Switzerland, 
he  was  able  to  obtain  the  services  of  an  episcopal 
commissary,  whose  name  will  not  easily  be  forgotten 
by  Cornish  Church-people.  Dr.  Speechly,  for  many 
years  a  missionary  in  Southern  India,  was  first  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  Travancore  and  Cochin,  from  1879 
to  1889.  On  his  retirement,  he  found  not  a  few 
opportunities  of  assisting  English  Bishops,  who  re- 
quired occasional  episcopal  help,  and  came  to  Truro 


TRIALS  291 

in  18S9,  to  su{)ply  the  place  of  the  aljsent  Bishop. 
His  kimlly  and  simple  manners,  and  amiable  disposi- 
tion made  him  a  welcome  Li'uest  in  the  houses  of  the 
clerg-y,  among  whom  he  exercised  an  admirable  over- 
sight, during  his  temporary  term  of  office.  Without 
possessing  any  remarkable  gifts  of  oratory  or  acquire- 
ments of  learning,  he  had  a  very  true  episcopal  faculty 
of  insight  into  character,  and  a  power  of  gauging 
work  ;  and  when,  some  years  later,  he  passed  away  at 
his  living  in  Kent,  there  were  many  in  the  Diocese  of 
Truro  who  lamented  his  death,  and  respected  his 
memory. 

During  these  years,  and  later,  many  visitors  from 
a  distance  entered  the  doors  of  Truro  Cathedral,  to 
be  greatly  impressed  by  its  beauty,  and  the  complete- 
ness of  its  details  :  Roman  Catholic  dignitaries  and 
eminent  Nonconformist  leaders,  royal  princes  and 
princesses,  politicians  of  different  opinions.  The 
Right  Hon.  W.  H.  Smith,  who,  by  noble  gifts  for 
the  rebuilding  of  the  parish  church  at  Portsea,  and 
for  the  restoration  of  two  remote  but  beautiful  Cornish 
village  churches,  proved  his  generosity,  as  well  as  his 
interest  in  church  architecture,  greatly  admired  the 
Cathedral.  His  quiet,  and  almost  silent,  appreciation 
was  in  remarkable  contrast  with  that  of  Mr.  Gladstone, 
who,  when  on  a  political  tour  in  the  West  during 
June  1 889,  snatched,  with  some  difticulty,  a  hurried 
quarter  of  an  hour  for  the  inspection  of  the  building. 
"  What  a  surprise  !  I  was  quite  unprepared  for  this  ! 
It  is  the  most  beautiful  modern  Gothic  buildine  I  have 


292  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

ever  seen  ! "  was  his  exclamation  as  he  entered  the 
south  porch,  and  looked  up  at  the  groined  roof.  And 
then,  as  he  walked  through  the  aisles  and  the  choir, 
he  left  to  the  Canon  in  residence,  who  acted  as  his 
guide,  nothing  to  say  or  do,  but  to  listen  with  admira- 
tion to  his  own  description  of  the  architect's  skill,  and 
the  beauty  of  the  building.  In  many  cases,  the 
admiration  thus  aroused,  has  borne  fruit  in  the  deter- 
mination of  Churchmen  elsewhere,  far  away  in  the 
Colonies  or  the  United  States  of  America,  to  obtain 
for  themselves  a  worthy  cathedral,  as  nobly  designed 
and  beautifully  furnished  as  that  at  Truro.  Not  once 
or  twice,  have  Bishops,  at  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
written  home  for  copies  of  its  statutes,  or  of  some 
of  the  forms  of  services  used  on  great  occasions  ;  to 
be  reproduced  or  adapted  in  those  new  lands,  where 
England's  Church  has  planted  its  offshoots,  and  where 
the  sister  or  daughter  Churches,  that  long  to  have  in 
their  midst  all  the  ancient  usages  and  time-honoured 
institutions  that  cathedrals  have  preserved,  have  been 
encouraged  by  the  example  of  the  latest  born  of 
English  Cathedrals  at  Truro. 

As  has  already  been  indicated.  Dr.  Wilkinson's 
health  began,  only  too  soon,  to  show  signs  of  serious 
failure.  Early  in  1888,  not  many  months  after  the 
consecration  of  the  Cathedral  and  the  Diocesan 
Conference  that  followed  it,  he  was  compelled  to 
leave  home  for  a  prolonged  rest ;  and  henceforth, 
for  about  three  years  and  a  half,  he  maintained  a 
pathetic,  but  brave,  struggle  against  weakness  of  body, 


TRIALS  293 

and  its  still  more  tryiiiL;-  accompaniment,  depression 
of  spirit.  The  causes  of  this  breakdown  are  not  to 
be  sought,  merely  or  chiefly,  in  the  arduous  duties 
of  his  episcopate,  in  the  anxiety  and  strain  of  carrying- 
out  the  plans  for  building  the  Cathedral  and  providing 
for  its  future,  in  his  sympathetic  sharing  of  all  the 
trials,  and  even  failures  of  his  clero-v,  or  in  the 
enervating  influence  of  the  damp  warm  climate  of  the 
West ;  but,  in  that  previous  exhaustion  of  every  part 
of  his  nature,  through  the  almost  unparalleled  efforts 
made  by  him  in  the  great  work,  carried  on  for  thirteen 
years,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Peter's,  Eaton  Scjuare. 

There  were,  besides,  other  exhausting  trials, 
anxieties,  and  heart-wounding  troubles,  from  time  to 
time,  connected  with  one  or  two  painful  scandals  in 
the  diocese,  the  details  of  which  need  not  be  referred 
to  ;  which,  to  a  nature  sensitive  to  a  degree,  and 
strained  between  the  two  conflicting  duties,  of  assert- 
ing discipline  and  dealing  mercifully  with  individuals. 
were  beyond  measure  trying.  Something  of  what  he 
felt  about  such  matters  may  be  read,  "between  the 
lines  "  of  words  uttered  b}-  him,  in  a  sermon  preached 
in  a  parish,  where  some  unhappy  circumstances  had 
occurred. 

"  The  history  of  the  Church  in  this  parish  has  been  an 
instance  of  God  allowini^  Satan  to  triumph  up  to  a  certain 
point.  When  some  man  in  this  churcli  first  came  to  me 
about  the  Church's  shame  at  X.,  it  seemed  that  we  could 
do  nothing — we  could  but  pray.  My  children  pra\-ed,  and 
my  servants  prayed,  and  I  got  about  eight  hundred  people  in 


294  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

the  diocese,  who  were  bound  together  in  the  Church  Society 
for  the  purpose  of  intercession,  to  pray  for  X.  Weeks  and 
months  passed,  and  no  deHverance  came ;  until  it  came 
within  an  hour  when  I  might  have  been  obHged  to  pubhsh 
the  scandal  all  through  Cornwall,  and  might  have  done 
irreparable  injury  to  the  work  of  God  ;  and  then,  from 
a  source  I  knew  nothing  of  before,  came  a  letter,  and  the 
way  was  opened  up  from  that  minute  for  all  that  happened 
after." 


There  were  times  of  partial  recovery  and  return 
to  work,  alternating  with  compulsory  departures  from 
home  and  the  employment  of  an  Episcopal  Commis- 
sary. At  length,  to  the  great  grief  of  Cornish  Church- 
people,  by  whom  their  Bishop  was  greatly  beloved, 
and  who  had  hoped  great  things  from  a  personality  so 
specially  gifted  for  the  work  of  this  particular  diocese, 
it  was  announced,  after  Easter  in  1891,  that  he  had 
felt  it  his  duty  to  resign  his  See.  On  Ascension  Day  he 
celebrated  the  Holy  Communion  for  the  last  time  at  the 
Cathedral  altar,  and  bade  farewell  to  the  Residentiary 
Chapter  and  his  Chaplains  assembled  at  Lis  Escop. 
The  following  parting  address  was  presented  by  leading 
representatives  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese: — 

"  To  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God 
"George  Howard  Wilkinson,  D.D. 

"  By  Divine  Permission 

"  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro. 

"  My  Lord  Bishop, — As  representatives  of  the  Cathedral, 
the  Diocesan  Conference,  and  various  departments  of  the 
work  of  the  Church  in  the  diocese  to  which,  eight  years  ago, 
your   lordship   dedicated,   in   whole-hearted    devotion,  every 


TRIALS  295 

power  of  body,  soul,  and  spirit ;  \vc  have  felt  that  we  might 
venture  to  express,  before  you  leave  us,  the  sense  of  deep 
regret  at  your  departure,  of  abiding  gratitude  for  your  self- 
sacrificing  work,  and  of  affection  never  stronger  than  at  this 
moment  for  your  person,  felt  throughout  Cornwall,  since  your 
intention  to  resign  the  See  of  Truro  became  known. 

"  This  is  not  the  occasion  to  place  on  record  what  the 
diocese  owes  to  its  second  Bishop,  nor  could  we  presume  to 
speak  in  its  name.  But,  on  behalf  of  the  various  organisations 
through  which  it  is  our  privilege  to  offer  service  to  God,  we 
desire  to  thank  Him  for  the  faith  which  you  have  been 
enabled  to  strengthen  in  many  hearts,  the  hope  which  you 
have  so  often  rekindled,  and  the  charity  by  which  '  \'ou  have 
maintained  and  set  forward  quietness,  love  and  peace  among 
all  men.'  The  courage  with  which  you  have  led  us,  the 
unselfishness  which  has  marked  every  action,  the  ungrudging 
care  bestowed  upon  each  detail  of  work,  and  the  delicate 
consideration  for  every  worker,  will  always  remain  among  the 
most  cherished  recollections  of  the  people  committed  to 
your  charge". 

"  To  one  great  event  that  has  marked  your  episcopate  we 
may  allude.  In  the  annals  of  the  Cornish  See  the  name  of 
Bishop  Wilkinson  will  ever  be  linked  with  the  consecration 
of  the  Cathedral  Church,  as  the  name  of  Bishop  Benson  will 
be  associated  with  its  foundation.  In  days  to  come,  as  in 
those  that  are  past,  man>-  a  worshipper  in  our  Cathedral  will 
still  thank  God  for  the  Bishops  who  taught  them  amidst  '  the 
ceaseless  supplication  for  Grace,  the  perpetual  Intercession, 
the  endless  Praise,'  to  '  stir  their  souls  from  sluggish  sloth,  to 
reach  forth  behind  the  veil  into  the  presence  chamber  of  the 
King  of  kings  and  the  Lord  of  lords — the  Presence  Chamber 
where  He  lives,  surrounded  by  the  angels  and  archangels  and 
all  the  company  of  heaven.' 

"  The  works  which  you  have  entrusted  to  us  in  the 
Cathedral  and  in  the  diocese  we  will,  with  the  help  of  the 
Lord,  Who  in   His  risen  and  ascended  life  is  'still  working 


2  96  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

with'  His  Church,  and  'confirming  the  Word  with  signs 
following,  endeavour  —  one  and  all  —  loyally  to  maintain. 
We  look  forward  to  many  opportunities  of  receiving  you, 
strengthened  anew  for  the  service  of  God  and  His  Church,  in 
a  city  and  county  where  a  real  welcome  will  ever  await 
yourself  and  those  nearest  and  dearest  to  you,  who  have  so 
completely  shared  your  hopes  and  fears,  your  sorrows  and 
your  joys.  We  assure  your  lordship  of  our  heartfelt 
sympathy  in  this  hour  of  present  trial,  and  of  our  constant 
prayers  for  every  future  blessing,  as  we  bid  you  in  the  Name 
of  the  Divine  Master,  at  whose  command  you  obeyed  the  call 
to  accept  the  charge,  which  in  ready  submission  to  His  will 
you  now  unselfishly  resign,  an  affectionate  and  respectful 
farewell. 

"  Signed,  on  behalf  of  the  clergy  and  laity  assembled  at 
Lis  Escop,  Ascension  Day,  May  7th,  1891, 

"Mount  Edgcumbe, 
John  R.  Cornish,  J.  C.  Daubuz, 

Aug.  B.  Donaldson,        R.  M.  Paul, 
Cecil  F.  J.  Bourke,        Arthur  Tremayne, 
James  H.  Moore,  Edmund  Carlyon, 

A.  R.  ToMLiNSON,  Arthur  P.  Nix." 

The  members  of  the  General  Chapter  drew  up  and 
presented  the  following  address  : — 

"  To  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God, 

"George  Howard  Wilkinson,  D.U., 

"  By  Divine  Permission 

"  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro,  and  Dean  of  the  Cathedral  Church. 

"  My  Lord  Bishop, — We,  the  Canons  Residentiary  and 
Honorary  of  your  Cathedral  Church  assembled  in  the  General 
Chapter,  ask  your  permission  to  assure  your  Lordship  of  our 
deep  regret  at  your  resignation  of  the  See  of  Truro,  of  our 
heartfelt  sympathy  with  you  in  so  searching  a  trial,  and 
of  our  abiding  gratitude  for  the  services,  which,  by  the  Grace 


TRIALS  297 

of  God,  you  have  rendered,  durint,^  the  eight  eventful  years 
of  your  episcopate,  to  the  Cathedral  and  the  diocese. 

"  It  is  largely  owing  to  the  confidence  reposed  in  you, 
to  your  energ)'  and  kindliness,  that  the  organisation  of  the 
Cathedral,  and  its  relation  to  the  parish  and  the  city  of  Truro 
have  been  arranged  so  as  to  give  every  opportunity  for 
united  worship,  and  harmonious  work  ;  to  your  sense  of 
reverence,  that  the  Cathedral,  in  the  beauty  of  its  ornaments 
and  the  dignity  of  its  service,  is  felt  to  be  a  means  through 
which  '  men's  whole  being  is  to  be  stirred  within  the  veil,  and 
to  see  the  hidden  things  which  God  has  in  store  for  those 
who  love  Him';  to  your  wise  and  courteous  presidency,  in 
your  twofold  capacity  of  Bishop  and  Dean,  that  we  have,  as 
we  trust,  secured  that  unity  in  counsel,  which  is  the  in- 
dispensable condition  of  unity  in  action. 

"  To  one  aspect  of  your  Lordship's  office  and  work  we  feel 
that  we  may,  as  the  Chapter,  especially  refer.  Your  un- 
ceasing solicitude  that  the  candidates  for  Holy  Orders  should 
be  spiritually,  as  well  as  intellectually,  prepared  for  their 
sacred  duties  ;  your  thoughtful  hospitality  during  the  Ember 
weeks;  your  manner  of  conducting  the  Ordination  itself; 
demand  the  grateful  acknowledgment  of  all  who  feel  that  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  Church  largely  depends  on  a  deepened 
sense,  among  the  clerg}^  of  the  high  dignity,  and  the  weighty 
office,  and  charge  to  which  they  have  been  called. 

"  We  could  add  much  more,  but  we  refrain.  The  lessons 
of  devotion  and  self-denial,  to  be  drawn  from  your  episcopate, 
will  not  be  forgotten.  We  pray  that  every  blessing  and  every 
opportunity  for  service  in  the  Church  of  God  may  still  be 
yours,  so  that  the  mysterious  bonds  which  link  the  members 
of  Christ  one  with  the  other,  may  even  be  strengthened 
between  us  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  when  it  is  no  longer  permitted 
to  worship  and  labour  in  bodily  presence. 

"  With  true  respect  and  dutiful  affection, 
"  We  remain,  my  Lord  Bishop, 

"  Your  Lordship's  faithful  servants. 

"  Chapter  Room,  Truro  Cathedral, 
''May  i2th,  1891." 


298  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

The  Bishop  ordered  the  following  Pastoral  Letter  to 
be  read  in  all  the  churches  of  the  diocese,  on  the 
Sunday  next  after  his  departure,  at  Morning  and 
Evening  Service. 

"  Lis  Escop, 
^^  Ascension  Day,  1891. 

"Dearly  Beloved  in  the  Lord, — I  wish  that  it  had 
been  possible  to  see  you  once  more — to  thank  you,  one  by 
one,  for  the  unfaihng  affection  which  I  have  received  from 
you — the  unfaihng  readiness  with  which  you  have  responded 
to  my  every  appeal.  The  Archdeacons,  the  Canons,  the 
Deans  Rural,  the  Parish  Priests,  the  Churchwardens  and 
Sidesmen,  the  Readers,  the  Choirs,  the  representatives  of  our 
Diocesan  Conference,  the  members  of  our  committees,  the 
men  and  women,  by  whose  work  and  prayers  and  alms  the 
Cathedral  was  reared  and  furnished  in  all  its  fair  sanctity  ; 
the  Sisters,  the  District  Visitors,  the  Teachers  of  our  colleges 
and  schools  ;  the  numbers  of  Cornish  men  and  women  who 
have  so  heartily  welcomed  their  Bishop  into  their  homes — one 
and  all,  rich  and  poor,  old  and  young,  masters  and  servants. 
I  desire  with  a  great  desire  to  see  you  once  more — once 
more  to  grasp  your  hands  and  to  bless  you  in  the  Name 
of  the  Lord. 

"  This  however  is  impossible — I  can  only  commend  you  to 
God  and  His  unfailing  love  ;  and  pray  to  Him  that  Pie  will 
give  you  abundantly,  above  all  you  can  ask  or  think,  for  Jesus 
Christ's  sake. 

"  Dearly  beloved,  hold  fast,  I  beseech  you,  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints. 

"  As  members  of  Christ  and  children  of  God  be  satisfied 
with  no  mere  external  improvement,  with  nothing  short  of 
entire  consecration  of  your  whole  being  to  Christ  your  King. 

"  Be  watchful  about  your  prayers,  and  quiet  hours  of  com- 
munion with  God.  Read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest, 
His  Holy  Word. 


TRIALS  2  09 

"  Train  up  your  children  to  value  aright,  and  look  forward 
to,  receiving;  the  great  gift  of  Confirmation. 

"  Prepare  reverently  for,  and  go  regularly  to  the  Holy 
Communion. 

"Thank  God  continually  that,  of  His  tender  love.  He 
has  given  His  only  Son  Jesus  Christ  to  suffer  death  upon  the 
Cross,  and  that  His  Precious  Blood  does  indeed  cleanse  from 
all  sin, 

"  Never  speak  or  think  lightly  of  sin.  Be  sure  that,  what- 
ever Satan  may  whisper  to  the  contrar)',  every  sin,  great  and 
small,  will  surely  find  you  out. 

"  Rejoice  always  as  those  who  are  partakers  of  a  priceless 
heritage,  whose  hearts  have  been  fired  with  a  divine  hope  of  a 
glorious  future. 

"  Love  from  the  heart  fervently  all  who  are  called  by  the 
Name  of  Christ. 

"  Help,  by  your  prayers  and  alms  and  personal  self-denying 
work,  the  increase  of  Christ's  Church  at  home  and  abroad. 

"May  the  God  of  Peace,  Who  brought  again  from  the 
dead  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  Blood 
of  the  everlasting  Covenant,  make  you  perfect  in  every  good 
work,  to  do  His  will  ;  working  in  you  that  which  is  well- 
pleasing  in  His  sight — through  Jesus  Christ,  to  Whom  be 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  dear  people.  Pray  for  us,  as  we  shall 
ever  pra\"  for  you. 

"  Your  affectionate  Father  in  God, 

"GeoRG:    H.   TrURON:" 

For  nearly  a  year  and  a  half  Bishop  Wilkinson 
remained  in  retirement,  and  in  comparatively  weak 
health.  But.  at  the  end  of  that  time,  to  the  great 
joy  of  all  his  friends  in  Cornwall  and  elsewhere,  he 
was  so  much  restored  to  bodily  and  mental  vigour 
as  to  be  able  to  undertake  preaching  and  other  work. 


30O  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

And,  at  length,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Charles  Words- 
worth, Bishop  of  St.  Andrews,  he  was  elected  to 
the  vacant  see,  and  enthroned  in  St,  Ninian's  Cathe- 
dral, Perth,  on  April  27th,  1893. 

.  On  that  occasion  Dean  Rorison  spoke  of  him 
thus  : — 

"  We  have  a  Bishop  now,  whose  name  is  known,  and  never 
mentioned  without  respect,  wherever  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  is  used  in  all  English-speaking  lands.  He  is  worthy 
to  sit  in  the  seat  of  Charles  Wordsworth  :  that  is  no  light 
saying,  for  Bishop  Charles  Wordsworth  was  a  Bishop  who 
had  the  ear  of  Scotland,  and  he  was  a  prince  in  the  Anglican 
Communion.  Our  new  Bishop  enjoys  the  unique  distinction 
of  having  been  a  Bishop  of  one  of  the  youngest  sees  in  the 
Church  of  England,  and  he  is  now  Bishop  of  the  most  ancient 
of  all  our  Scottish  sees." 

Mr.  Speir,  of  Culdees,  one  of  the  most  earnest  of 
Scottish  laymen,  also  said  : — 

"  I  remember  a  great  Free  Churchman,  when  he  and 
I  were  talking  over  the  call  that  was  giv-en  to  Dr.  Liddon 
to  the  See  of  Edinburgh,  saying  these  words  .  .  .  .  '  the 
Scottish  people  will  always  follow  the  Church  where  they 
find  the  greatest  spirituality.'  I  believe  our  Bishop  will  have 
an  attractive  power  in  him,  in  his  personal  character,  to  draw 
all  the  best  of  the  Presbyterians ;  certainly,  at  the  very  least, 
an  intense  amount  of  sympathy." 

Not  long  afterwards  he  paid  a  visit  to  Cornwall,  at 
the  same  time  that  Archbishop  Benson  was  in  the 
west.  They  met  at  Truro  Cathedral,  where  Bishop 
Wilkinson  preached,  with  all  his  old  fervour,  to  a  vast 
coni^^recration. 


TRIALS  301 

He  has  held  the  (;rcat  joy  of  seeing  his  cathedral 
in  Scotland  much  enlarged  and  beautified  ;  and  his 
numberless  Cornish  friends  continue  to  watch  his 
work  there,  with  the  keenest  interest  and  j)rayerful 
gladness.  Not  least  do  they  rejoice,  that  it  has  of 
late  been  given  to  him  to  take  a  leading  part,  by 
prayer,  and  conference,  with  all  the  great  leaders  of 
Scottish  Christianity,  to  heal  the  "  breaches  of  Zion  "  : 
and  restore  unity  to  the  divided  spiritual  and  ecclesi- 
astical fragments  of  that  oreat  and  religious  nation. 

O  C5  O 


CHAPTER   XV 

THE    THIRD   BISHOP   OF  TRURO 

ONLY  fourteen  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
foundation  of  the  Bishopric  of  Truro  and 
already  two  Bishops  had  occupied  the  see  and  left 
it.  It  was  therefore  felt  to  be  a  serious  and  important 
event,  when  the  successor  of  two  such  eminent  pre- 
lates had  to  be  selected.  The  vigorous  leadership  of 
Dr.  Benson,  and  the  example  of  a  life  devoted  to 
God  and  His  Church  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Wilkinson, 
demanded,  in  the  minds  of  Churchmen  everywhere, 
and  in  Cornwall  specially,  the  appointment  of  a  suc- 
cessor worthy  of  his  predecessors,  and  of  the  work 
they  had  created  and  developed.  Earnest  prayers 
were  offered  throughout  the  diocese,  and  in  many 
other  places,  that  God  would  direct  the  minds  of 
those,  in  whose  hands  the  choice  lay,  to  select  one 
fitted  for  the  office.  It  was  therefore  with  great 
satisfaction  that  the  following  announcement  was 
made  in  Truro  Cathedral:  "A  letter  has  been 
received  from  our  present  Bishop,  and  also  from 
the  Dean  of  Worcester,  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Gott, 
confirming  the  news  of  the  appointment  of  the  latter 
to  succeed  to  the  bishopric,  when  Bishop  Wilkinson's 

302 


.Uh  Jj>'//.  (A(^\ 


THE    THIRD   BISHOP  OF  TRURO  303 

formal  resignation  is  completed.  Our  Bishop  has 
heard  of  the  selection  of  Dr.  Gott  to  be  his  successor 
with  great  thankfulness.  Dr.  Gott  fervently  desires 
the  earnest  prayers  of  the  diocese  on  his  behalf,  that 
he  may  be  prepared  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the 
sacred  office,  which  after  much  hesitation,  he  has 
accepted." 

The  appointment  was  much  approved  everywhere. 
A  High  Church  Review  expressed  its  belief  that  he 
would  "win  the  Cornish  folk  to  the  Church  which 
their  ancestors  loved  and  fought  and  suffered  for." 
Other  papers  spoke  of  his  "well-defined  Church 
principles"  and  "very  attractive  personal  character"; 
and  said,  "the  more  he  is  known  in  Cornwall  the 
better  he  will  be  liked,  and  the  more  good  work 
will  he  be  enabled  to  do."  Another,  in  answer  to 
some  objections  against  a  High  Church  Bishop  being 
sent  to  rule  over  a  diocese  so  full  of  Dissent  as  Corn- 
wall is,  said,  with  much  truth,  "A  self-respecting 
Dissenter,  who  knows  why  he  is  such,  is  far  more 
likely,  we  think,  to  respect  a  Bishop,  who  is  not  ready, 
for  the  sake  of  appearances,  to  make  light  of  his 
Church  and  Order."  Within  the  diocese,  one  re- 
spected clergyman  who  had  seen  the  foundation  of 
the  bishopric  towards  which  he  himself  had  given 
much  assistance,  and  who  has  served  under  four 
Bishops,  wrote  in  his  parish  magazine:  "We  have 
reason  to  hope  that  he  will  be  to  the  diocese  a  true 
Father  in  God,  and  a  meet  successor  of  such  saintlv 
men  as  our  late  beloved   Bishop  and  the  Archbishop 


304  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

of  Canterbury  ;  we  oi]g"ht  to  be  thankful  to  Almighty 
God  that  Dr.  Gott  has  been  selected  to  be  Bishop  of 
Truro."  And,  after  quoting-  from  Dr.  Gott's  book,^ 
where  he  said  "System  is  no  substitute  for  personal 
dealing  with  individual  souls.  The  warm  and  loving 
touch  of  heart  to  heart  .  .  .  ministering  to  hearts 
and  not  to  cases  ...  is  the  only  life  of  a  masterly 
system,"  he  went  on  to  say  "A  man  who  will  live  up 
to  such  a  sentiment  as  this,  will  win  the  hearts  of  the 
sympathetic  Cornish  labourers,  miners,  and  fishermen, 
as  surely  as  ever  he  won  the  hearts  of  sturdy  York- 
shire mechanics." 

Another  clergyman,  deeply  interested  in  the  mission 
and  evangelistic  side  of  Church  work  in  Cornwall, 
told  his  people,  "  Our  late  Bishop  once  took  a  mission 
at  Leeds,  at  which  there  was  great  blessing,  and  he 
is,  I  know,  devoutly  thankful  that  Dr.  Gott  is  to  be 
his  successor.  I  gather  from  this  that  our  future 
Bishop  is  full  of  sympathy  with  mission  work  ;  and 
will  do  all  he  can  to  promote  those  special  efforts 
which  have  of  late  years  changed  so  much  the  aspect 
of  Church  work,  and  which  will,  I  deeply  believe,  if 
t^ratefully  and  bravely  undertaken  in  Cornwall,  entirely 
change  the  current  of  Church  life  and  Church  hopes 
in  this  diocese  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 

The  new  Bishop's  personality  was  far  from  being  of 
a  common  type  ;  very  different  from,  but  worthy  to  be 
compared  with,  that  of  his  predecessors.  The  nobly 
moulded  features,   bright  expression,   flowing  hair  of 

^   The  Parish  Priest  of  the  Towft. 


THE    THIRD   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  305 

the  first  Pjishop  of  Truro,  the  almost  Oriental  outlines 
of  the  countenance  of  the  second,  were  contrasted 
with  the  thoroughly  English  aspect  of  the  third. 
The  bright  keen  eyes,  clear  ruddy  complexion,  hair 
of  which  he  said  in  after  years,  when  he  felt  the  first 
onward  steps  of  advancing  age,  that  his  "gold  was 
becoming  silver,"  proclaimed  a  Yorkshireman. 

John  Gott,  born  at  Leeds,  was  educated  at  Win- 
chester and  Brazenose,  Oxford.  He  took  his  degree  in 
1853.  After  a  year  with  Canon  Pinder  at  Wells  Theo- 
loo-ical  Colleee,  he  was  ordained  to  the  curacy  of  Great 
Yarmouth  in  1857,  where  he  remained  till  1863;  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  time  having  charge  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church,  and  ministering  specially  to  fishermen  and 
seafaring  folk.  This  great  and  important  parish  has 
been  blessed  with  eminent  rectors,  among  whom  may 
be  named  Dr.  Hills,  afterwards  first  Bishop  of  British 
Columbia,  Canon  Venables,  and  Archdeacon  Nevill. 
The  noble  church,  which  disputes  with  St.  Michael's, 
Coventry,  the  distinction  of  being  the  largest  paro- 
chial building  in  England,  has  gathered  round  it  a 
number  of  district  and  mission  churches.  The  parish, 
however,  has  not  been  broken  up,  but  is  worked  as  a 
whole  with  certain  advantages,  and  has  formed  an  ex- 
cellent training  school  for  young  clergymen,  many  of 
whom  have  passed  from  a  curacy  at  Yarmouth  to  some 
important  sphere,  at  home  or  abroad.  Mr.  Gott  was 
appointed  X'icar  of  Braniley,  near  Leeds,  in  1863,  and 
worked  in  that  parish  for  ten  years,  among  a  popula- 
tion not  far  short  of  nine  thousand.      He  was  elected 

X 


3o6  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

Vicar  of  Leeds  in  1S73,  and  remained  at  the  head  of 
that  great  parish  for  thirteen  years.  To  be  Vicar  of 
Leeds  means,  not  only  (since  the  days  of  Dr.  Hook, 
the  great  pioneer  of  the  revival  of  parochial  work  in 
our  large  towns)  to  be  placed  in  a  position  towards  which 
the  eyes  of  Churchmen  everywhere  are  constantly 
being  turned,  and  from  which  so  many  have  passed 
like  Aday,  Woodford,  Jayne,  and  Talbot,  to  the  epis- 
copate ;  but  also  to  be  the  occupant  of  an  office,  almost 
unrivalled  for  gaining  a  unique  experience  of  pastoral 
work.  Few  towns  in  England,  or  indeed  anywhere, 
have  so  many  staunch  supporters  of  every  branch  of 
Church  work  ;  and  in  few  is  there  so  wide  a  scope  for 
the  exercise  of  a  vigorous  and  wise  ecclesiastical  rule. 
Dr.  Gott  had  much  to  assist  him  in  his  work  from  his 
family  connections.  A  church  was  built  and  endowed 
by  his  relatives  and  friends,  at  a  cost  of  ^30,000. 
But  his  own  bright  sympathetic  nature  won  him  many 
friends  among  all  classes.  The  story  of  those  thirteen 
years  cannot  here  be  told  ;  some  of  its  lessons  are 
gathered  up  and  treasured,  for  the  benefit  of  other 
labourers,  in  the  book,  The  Parish  Priest  of  the  Town, 
which,  by  its  ripeness  of  experience,  and  many- 
sidedness,  will  long  hold  its  own  as  a  handbook  for 
pastors  of  the  English  Church. 

Amongr  the  institutions  founded  or  fostered  by  Dr. 
Gott  at  Leeds,  was  the  Clergy  School,  at  one  time 
under  the  principalship  of  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Worlledge, 
afterwards  Canon  Residentiary  and  Chancellor  of 
Truro  Cathedral.      He  was,  in  this  way,  brought  into 


THE  THIRD  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  307 

contact  with  a  large  number  of  young  clergymen,  some 
of  whom  became  connected  with  his  work  elsewhere. 

In  1886  Dr.  Gott  was  appointed  Dean  of  Wor- 
cester. Coming  as  he  once  said,  "a  tired  man"  to 
the  beautiful  deanery,  and  splendid  cathedral,  of  that 
ancient  and  attractive  city  on  the  Severn,  he  spent 
five  happy  years  in  useful  and  refreshing  work. 
He  did  much  to  encourage  theological  study  by 
lectures  for  the  clergy,  and  Bible  -  reading  for  the 
laity.  One  who  knew  him  well  at  Worcester  com- 
mended him  to  Cornwall,  with  the  promise  that  "  all 
will  find,  what  everyone  who  has  the  privilege  of 
knowing  him  has  found,  that  John  Gott,  Curate, 
Vicar,  Dean,  and  Bishop,  is  '  theirs  heartily.' " 
Another,  "a  layman,"  writing  as  "a  native  of  Corn- 
wall" at  present  residing  near  Worcester,  said,  "His 
loss  will  be  bitterly  felt  here.  When  our  late  Bishop 
resigned,  a  very  strong  hope  was  expressed  that 
Dr.  Gott  might  be  his  successor  ;  but  it  was  not  to 
be.  Dr.  Gott  is  no  less  liked  and  valued  here  than 
at  Leeds,  and  that  is  saying  a  good  deal.  .  .  .  He  is 
an  excellent  preacher,  and  speaks  out  straight  and 
with  no  uncertain  sound.  He  says  plainly  what  he 
thinks."  Another  said,  "  No  diocese  has  possessed  a 
kindlier,  more  sympathetic,  more  genial-hearted  Dean. 
He  has  shown  special  concern  for  children,  with  whom 
he  is  immensely  popular.  .  .  .  Though  he  is  a  man  of 
deep  convictions,  he  is  absolutely  free  from  intoler- 
ance." On  leaving  Worcester  he  was  presented  with 
a  very    beautiful   episcopal    ring,   by   the    Chapter   of 


3oS  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

W^orcester  Cathedral  ;  and  he  preached  a  farewell 
sermon  to  a  vast  congregation  assembled  in  the  nave, 
from  the  words,  "O  God,  Thou  art  my  God."  An 
address  signed  by  the  leading  laity  of  the  diocese, 
including  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Worcestershire,  the 
Earl  of  Coventry,  was  presented  to  him,  with  warm 
expressions  of  regard  and  appreciation  of  his  work. 

The  first  two  Bishops  of  Truro  were  appointed  by 
Royal  Letters  Patent,  as  is  the  case  when  there  is  no 
capitular  body  to  elect  the  new  Diocesan.  But,  as  by 
the  Act  of  1S87  a  Chapter  was  created  at  Truro  with 
full  rights  and  privileges,  the  election  took  place, 
according  to  customs  prevalent  in  other  cathedrals,  on 
Thursday,  August  3rd,  1891.  It  was  hoped  that 
under  the  Truro  Chapter  Act  of  1887,  the  Honorary 
Canons,  as  well  as  the  Residentiary  Chapter,  would 
have  taken  part  in  the  election,  as  is  the  case  in 
cathedrals  of  the  "Old  Foundation,"  such  as  York  or 
Exeter,  where  the  Prebendaries  are  summoned  on 
these  occasions.  The  question  was  submitted  to  Mr. 
A.  B.  Kempe,  K.C.,  of  the  Inner  Temple,  Chancellor 
of  the  Dioceses  of  Newcastle,  St.  Albans,  and  South- 
well, for  counsel's  opinion,  by  a  committee  of  the 
General  Chapter ;  and  that  gentleman  decided  that 
the  procedure  at  Truro  must  follow  those  of  other 
cathedrals  of  the  "  New  Foundation,"  like  Peter- 
borough or  Ely,  where  the  Residentiary  Canons  alone 
elect.^    The  Residentiary  Chapter,  therefore,  assembled 

^  It  may  here  be  stated  that  the  late  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  (Dr. 
Benson)  expressed  regret,  in  a  private  letter  written  not  long  before  his 
death,  at  this  decision  :  it  certainly  was  contrary  to  the  intention  of  the 


THE    THIRD   BISHOP  OF  TRURO  309 

at  four  o'clock  in  the  chapter  room.  Mr.  Arthur 
Burch  attended  as  acting  Chapter  Clerk,  and  the 
High  Sheriff  of  Cornwall  (Mr.  J.  C.  Daubuz)  and  the 
Chancellor  of  the  diocese  (the  Worshipful  R.  M.  Paul) 
were  present  as  witnesses.  Mr.  Ikirch,  having  read 
the  cong(i  d'dlirc  in  which  Her  Majesty  required  "the 
Dean  and  Chapter  "  to  elect  "  such  a  person  for  their 
Bishop  and  Pastor  as  may  be  devoted  to  good  and 
useful  works,  and  faithful  to  Us  and  Our  Kingdom,"  the 
Chapter  proceeded  to  the  choir,  when  Evensong  was 
sung  to  the  close  of  the  Psalms.  They  then  returned 
to  the  chapter  room,  the  great  bell  tolling  meanwhile, 
to  notify  that  the  election  was  about  to  take  place, 
when  the  "letters  missive"  were  read;  in  which  Dr. 
Gott  was  recommended  for  election.  The  consent  of 
the  Chapter  having  been  given  for  election,  each  of  the 
Canons  declared  his  consent  singly  ;  and  the  sentence 
of  the  election  was  then  read  by  the  President  of  the 
Chapter,  the  Sub-Dean.  On  returning  to  the  choir, 
the  Sub-Dean  declared  the  election  to  the  congrega- 
tion, from  the  choir  steps,  in  the  following  words  : — 

"  Be  it  known  unto  all  men  that  we,  the  Dean  and  Chapter 
of  this  Cathedral  Church  of  Truro,  in  full  Chapter  assembled 
in  the  Chapter  Roon:i,  in  obedience  to  Her  Majesty's  licence, 
have  this  day  rightly  and  duly  elected  the  Very  Reverend 
John  Gott,  D.D.,  to  be  the  future  Bishop  and  Pastor  of  the 
Cathedral  Church,  Bishopric,  and  Diocese  of  Truro,  in  the 
room  of  the  Right  Reverend  Dr.  George  Howard  Wilkinson, 
late  Lord  Bishop  thereof" 

Draft  Statutes,  and  it  may  be  hoped  that,  not  at  Truro  only,  but  in  all 
Cathedrals  of  the  New  Foundation,  the  whole  of  the  Capitular  Body 
may  take  part  in  the  election  of  Bishops. 


3IO  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

The  service  then  proceeded  as  usual,  the  lessons 
beino-  read  by  the  Canon  Missioner  and  the  Chancellor. 
At  its  conclusion  the  Chapter  returned  to  the  chapter 
room,  where  certificates  of  the  election  were  sealed 
to  the  Queen,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the 
Bishop-elect.  Sir  John  Hassard,  of  Doctors'  Commons, 
principal  registrar  of  the  province  of  Canterbury, 
Mr.  Arthur  Burch,  registrar  of  the  diocese,  and 
Mr.  Harry  W.  Lee,  of  Westminster,  were  appointed 
Proctors,  under  the  seal  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter,  to 
present  the  certificate,  and  transact  all  other  business 
necessary  for  the  confirmation  of  the  election,  which 
took  place  at  the  Church  of  St.  Mary-le-Bow,  Cheap- 
side.  After  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  had  been 
signed,  the  Sub-Dean  concluded  the  meeting  of  the 
Chapter  with  the  Benediction. 

The  occasion  was  one  of  considerable  interest,  as 
this  was  the  first  time  that  a  Bishop  of  any  of  the 
dioceses,  founded  within  recent  years,  viz.  St.  Albans, 
Southwell,  Truro,  Liverpool,  Newcastle,  and  Wake- 
field, had  been  elected  as  the  Bishops  of  the  other 
dioceses  always  are.  The  order  observed  in  the 
proceedings  was  mainly  that  of  Exeter,  with  certain 
modifications,  for  which  the  procedures  of  Lincoln  and 
Winchester  were  consulted.  These  elections  are  in- 
creasingly felt,  both  by  Bishops  and  Chapter,  to  be 
something  more  than  a  formality  ;  and  the  ceremonial 
testifies  to  the  practice  of  early  times,  when  it  was 
thought  convenient  that  the  laity,  as  well  as  the 
clergy  of  the  Church,  should  concur  in   the  election  ; 


THE   THIRD  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  311 

that  he,  who  was  to  have  the  orovernment  of  all  in  the 
diocese,  after  his  consecration  by  the  Bishops,  should 
come  in  with  the  consent  of  all. 

Dr.  Gott  was  consecrated  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral 
on  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  and  All  Angels,  1891. 
The  ceremony  was  described  as  a  "very  imposing" 
one.  About  ten  thousand  people  were,  according  to 
one  account,  present.  Together  with  the  Bishop  of 
Truro,  were  consecrated  the  Bishops  of  Lichfield 
(Dr.  Legge),  and  Zululand  (Dr.  Carter),^  and  the 
Suffragan  Bishops  of  Coventry  and  Southwark 
(Drs.  Bowlby  and  Ycatman'-).  The  Archbishop  was 
assisted  by  the  Bishops  of  Winchester,  Rochester, 
Salisbury,  Carlisle,  Wakefield,  Worcester,  Southwell, 
Bedford,  Shrewsbury,  and  Bishops  Blyth  and  Mitchin- 
son.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Prebendary 
Gibson,  Principal  of  Wells  Theological  College,  from 
the  text  "And  ...  in  His  right  hand  seven  stars. 
.  .  .  The  stars  are  the  seven  ancjels  of  the  seven 
churches"  (Rev.  i.  16  and  20).  Referring  specially 
to  the  Bishop  of  Truro,  he  said,  "The  Church  of 
Christ  becomes  all  things  to  all  men.  To  a  Cornish- 
man  the  Bishop  must  be  a  Cornishman,  that  he  may 
bring  all  men  to  Christ.  I>e  he  a  Yorkshireman  he 
must  be  a  Yorkshireman  no  longer,  but  a  Cornishman 
among  Cornishmen."  Dr.  Gott  was  presented  to  the 
Archbishop  by  the  Bishop  of  Wakefield  (Dr.  W^alsham 
How)  and  the  Bishop  of  Southwell  (Dr.  Ridding. 
formcrK"  Head  Master  of  Winchester). 

^  .-Yftcrwiuds  Bishop  of  Pretoria.  -  Now  Veatman-IJiggs. 


312  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

On  the  festival  of  St.  Simon  and  St.  Jude  the  new 
Bishop  was  enthroned  at  Truro  Cathedral. 

Previous  to  the  service  Dr.  Gott  was  received  at 
the  Town  Hall,  Truro,  by  the  Mayor  and  Corporation 
of  the  city,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the  county  (the 
Earl  of  Mount  Edgcumbe),  the  High  Sheriff  of  the 
county  (Mr.  J.  C.  Daubuz),  and  the  Mayors  of  the 
borouo-hs  of  Cornwall.  The  Mayor  of  Truro  wel- 
corned  the  new  Bishop  to  the  city,  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant and  the  Hia-h  Sheriff  assured  him  of  the 
support  of  the  laity  of  the  county,  and  the  Arch- 
deacon of  Cornwall  promised  him  the  faithful  alle- 
giance of  the  clergy.  The  service  at  the  Cathedral 
was  described  by  a  competent  critic  as  "  the  best 
ordered  I  have  seen  at  any  great  function,  except  the 
consecration  of  Truro  Cathedral  itself"  In  the  pro- 
cession were  thirty-two  lay  readers  and  theological 
students,  sixty  assistant  curates,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  incumbents,  besides  the  Residentiary  and 
Honorary  Canons.  The  new  Bishop  was  enthroned, 
in  conformity  with  ancient  custom,  by  the  Archdeacon 
of  Canterbury  (Dr.  Eden,  Suffragan  Bishop  of  Dover), 
according  to  the  form  drawn  up  by  Archbishop  Benson 
in  the  Truro  Statutes,  a  form  pronounced  by  Dr.  Eden 
to  be  the  most  complete  and  accurate  at  present  in 
use  in  England.  After  his  enthronement,  the  Bishop 
gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  all  the  digni- 
taries, and  addressed  the  assembled  clergy  from  the 
same  text  as  that  used  by  the  preacher  at  his  conse- 
cration ;  and  concluded  with  the  words,  "  I  pray  that 


THE    THIRD   BISHOP   OF  TRURO  313 

this  vision  .  .  .  may  inspire  each  one  of  us,  and 
energize  us  to  go  forth,  and  to  live,  and  to  work,  as 
men  who  have  seen  ourselves  and  our  people  in  the 
vision  of  God.  Each  helping  and  encouraging  each 
other  by  prayer,  by  example,  by  fellowship  ;  and  may 
this  vision  inspire  me,  whom  you  in  God's  name  have 
placed  here,  as  your  brother,  as  your  father,  and  above 
all,  as  the  servant  of  the  servants  of  God." 

Dr.  Gott  was  also  duly  installed  as  Dean  of  the 
Cathedral,  by  Sub- Dean  Bourke,  after  the  Psalms  for 
the  day  had  been  chanted  ;  and  preached  to  the  great 
gathering  of  the  laity  from  the  words  "  Our  Father 
.  .  .  Thy  Kingdom  come."  He  spoke  of  the  great 
event  of  the  "  first  enthronement  of  a  Bishop  of 
Cornwall  in  our  own  Cathedral  since  the  Conquest, 
the  only  cathedral  built  in  England  proper  since  the 
Reformation."  He  dwelt  on  the  many  ways  "the 
Kingdom  "  might  be  spread  in  Cornwall,  and  ended, 
"  You  and  I  should  be  the  men  to  do  it,  because  we 
are  fellow-subjects  in  the  Kingdom  of  God — fellow- 
children  of  one  common  Father,  with  a  noble  life  to 
live,  and  a  Cireat  Kinodom  for  which  to  be  ambitious, 
and  to  increase  by  prayer,  and  work,  and  love."' 

After  the  service  the  whole  Cathedral  body,  from 
the  installant  down  to  the  youngest  chorister,  passed 
before  Dr.  Gott  separately,  and  promised  true  and 
canonical  obedience  to  him,  both  as  Bishop  and  Dean. 

In  the  evening,  the  Mayor  of  Truro,  the  High 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  the  Archdeacons  of  the  Diocese. 
and  the  Canons   Residentiarv  of  the  Cathedral  crave 


314  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

a  reception  to  about  seven  hundred  people  of  the  city 
and  county. 

Dr.  Gott,  departing  from  the  precedent  set  by  his 
two  predecessors,  did  not  reside  permanently  at  Lis 
Escop  ;  but  provided  himself  with  a  private  residence 
at  Trenvthon,  formerlv  the  home  of  Colonel  Peard, 
well  known  as  "  Garibaldi's  Englishman."  The  situa- 
tion  is  a  lovely  one,  with  a  view  of  St.  Austell  Bay, 
and  with  fine  grardens  and  orrounds. 

There  were  not  a  few,  both  of  the  clergy  and  of 
the  laitv,  who  regretted  this  chancre  of  residence  on 
the  part  of  the  Bishop  of  Truro.  There  was  a  com- 
parative simplicity  about  Lis  Escop,  a  by  no  means 
palatial  abode.  For  it  was  little  more  than  the  old 
vicarage  of  Kenwyn,  given  up  by  Canon  Vautier  with 
the  goodwill  of  the  parishioners,  and  enlarged  by  sub- 
scriptions; and  was  quite  in  keeping  with  the  newer  and 
better  conditions  of  modern  episcopacy  in  England. 

The  combination  of  the  two  offices  of  Bishop  and 
Dean,  in  one  person,  seemed  to  demand  a  residence 
near  the  Cathedral.  The  newly  selected  dwelling  did 
not  appear  to  be  more  conveniently  situated  for  the 
general  purposes  of  the  diocese,  or  for  reaching  its 
more  remote  districts.  But  the  new  Bishop  explained 
his  reasons  for  the  step  he  had  taken,  both  in  a  letter 
to  a  local  newspaper,  and  at  the  ensuing  Diocesan 
Conference  ;  when  he  stated  that,  besides  the  accom- 
modation necessary  for  due  hospitality  towards  his 
clergy  and  laity,  the  house  at  Trenython  appeared 
to  him  "from  a  general's  point  of  view,  as  the  best 


THE  THIRD  BISHOP  OF  TRURO  315 

base  of  operations  for  a  long  campaign  :  near  a  station 
on  the  main  line  where  every  train  stops,  and  the  only 
four  cross  roads,  I  think,  on  the  Cornish  lines  ;  it  is 
also  hard  by  the  boundary  between  East  and  West 
•Cornwall."  But,  whatever  opinion  may  be  entertained 
as  to  the  change  of  residence  during  the  present  Episco- 
pate, no  one  in  Cornwall  can  say  that  the  Bishop  has  not 
abundantly  fulfilled  the  promise,  made  at  that  time,  to 
throw  himself  heartily  into  the  work,  and  go  from  place 
to  place,  everywhere  making  himself  known  to  all.^ 

It  might  have  been  thought  that  one,  who  had 
spent  all  his  ministerial  life  in  large  towns,  would  have 
found  himself  in  uncongenial  surroundings  in  a  county 
like  Cornwall.  There  are  no  large  centres  of  popula- 
tion, and  the  parishes  are,  as  a  rule,  sparsely  inhabited 
and  widely  isolated.  But  the  new  Bishop  imposed 
upon  himself,  at  the  outset,  the  task  of  such  a  thorough 
visitation  of  his  diocese,  as  should  enable  him  to 
become  personally  acquainted  with  the  circumstances 
and  environment  of  each  Parish  Priest. 

Such  visits  have  been  greatly  valued,  and  have 
brought  much  refreshment  and  strength.  Few,  that 
have  not  experienced  or  observed  it,  can  realise  the 
depressing  effects  of  such  isolation  as  falls  to  the  lot 
of  the  Cornish  clergy,  in  very  many  parts  of  that 
remote  county.  Summer  visitors  at  some  porth  or 
cove,  are  charmed  by  the  quietness  of  the  scene  and 
the  simplicity  of  the  inhabitants.      But  the  parson  has 

'  It  must  be  remembered  that  Dr.  (K)tt  inherited  a  magnificent 
library,  besides  many  other  valuable  heirlooms,  which  could  only  be 
lodged  in  a  much  larger  house  than  Lis  Escop. 


3i6  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

to  live  all  the  year  round,  greatly  dependent  upon  his 
own  intellectual  resources,  with  no  neighbour  within 
easy  reach,  no  libraries  available,  no  easy  access  by 
rail  to  centres  of  activity.  His  pastoral  work  is  greatly 
increased  and  hampered  by  the  long  distances  between 
hamlet  and  vicarage  and  "church  town."  Often,  if  he 
be  not  of  Western  race,  he  finds  it  very  difficult  to 
understand  his  fiock,  and  they  him.  The  danger 
of  spiritual  degeneration  is  a  very  real  one,  under  such 
circumstances;  and  the  visit  of  some  brother  Priest, 
from  the  cathedral  city,  or  elsewhere,  brings  freshness 
and  sympathy  which  are  very  welcome.  How  much 
more  the  inspiring  presence  of  a  true  Father  in  God, 
who,  from  his  own  full  experience  of  pastoral  cares 
and  anxiety,  could  lift  away  something  of  the  burden 
of  long  isolation  and  saddening  disappointment. 

The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  knew  very  well  the 
"wonderful  loneliness"  of  the  "wild  beautiful  coast" 
of  North  Cornwall,  that  which  he  graphically  called 
"  Cornubia  Petra^a "  ;  and  it  was  a  great  part  of  the 
work  of  himself  and  his  successors  to  brighten  these 
solitudes,  as  often  as  possible,  by  their  Inspiring 
presence. 

Frequently,  in  connection  with  Bishop  Gott's  visits 
to  the  parishes  of  his  diocese,  simple  social  gatherings 
have  taken  place.  These  have  given  the  Bishop  an 
opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  humbler 
members  of  his  flock;  and  served  an  excellent  purpose, 
in  removing  something  of  the  ignorance  and  prejudice 
with  which  the  episcopal  office  is  even  now  regarded. 


THE    THIRD   JUSIIOP   OF  TRURO  317 

in  some  of  the  more  remote  parts  of  the  Duchy. 
During  the  first  few  years  of  his  episcopate,  Dr.  Gott 
was  able  to  make  a  very  thorough  visitation  of  his 
diocese  ;  in  a  less  formal,  LuL  more  effective  and 
practical,  manner  than  can  he  done  by  that  which  is 
technically  known  as  a  "Visitation." 

At  the  end  of  the  fii'st  year  of  his  episcopate,  he 
could  say  at  the  Diocesan  Conference,  "  I  have 
ministered  in  one  hundred  churches  of  the  diocese, 
and  in  many  1  have  watched  work  that  seems  to 
me  of  the  highest  and  holiest  quality.  I  have  stayed 
with  men  whose  lives  I  should  like  to  copy." 

What  was  the  manner  of  spirit  in  which  he  entered 
upon  his  work,  may  be  best  gathered  from  the  follow- 
ing pastoral,  issued  shortly  after  his  enthronment : — 

PASTORAL    OF  JOHN,    BISHOP   OF    TRURO, 
TO  THE  CHURCHES  OF  HIS  DIOCESE 

"'All  Saints'  Day,  in  the  year  of  Grace  1891. 

"  My  true  Brothers  and  Sisters  in  Christ,  and  you 
also  my  children,  dear  to  me,  for  you  are  the  children  of  my 
Father — fellow-heirs  of  the  Kingdom,  fellow-members  of 
Christ  and  His  true  Church,  blessing,  atonement,  and  holiness 
be  yours,  from  God  blessed  for  ever. 

"  I  come  to  you  in  the  Name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  the  Name  at  which  every  knee 
shall  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  aiid  things 
under  the  earth  ;  whatever  faith,  hope,  or  charit}',  I  may  bring 
you,  this  is  its  daily  source  and  power. 

"  Receive  me,  therefore,  I  pray  you  ;  receive  me  into  your 
churches,  your  homes,  your  hearts  ;  for  my  Lord  and  \-ours 
has  sent  me  to  His  ancient  Church  of  Cornwall ;  receive  me 
in  Christ,  and  Christ  in  me. 


3i8  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

"  Very  reverently  and  deeply  feeling  my  unworthiness,  let 
me  say  to  you,  that  He  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  Good 
Tidings  unto  the  poor ;  He  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the 
broken-hearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives  of  sin, 
even  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  ;  to  comfort  all  who 
mourn,  to  give  to  you  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for 
the  spirit  of  heaviness,  that  He  may  be  glorified. 

"  He  has  called  me  to  help  you  to  become  partakers  of  the 
Divine  Nature,  and  to  receive  the  true  image  and  likeness 
of  God. 

"  If  my  Lord  strengthens,  blesses,  comforts,  hallows  me,  it 
will  be  mainly  for  your  service,  and  very  much  by  your 
prayer  and  fellowship. 

"  Your  clergy,  my  brothers,  true  yoke-fellows,  my  partners, 
and  brother  slaves  of  Christ,  are  already  labouring  among 
you  with  devotion  and  self-sacrifice.  May  God  grant  me 
grace  to  help,  encourage,  and  lead  them  onward  and  upward. 

"  A  Bishop's  service  is  threefold  : — 

"  I.  To  confirm— to  strengthen  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 
and  to  lead  you  to  offer  your  hearts  and  your  lives  to  God. 

"  2.  To  ordain — to  find  and  test,  to  set  apart  and  send 
forth,  true  men  of  God,  to  live  out  lives  of  sacrifice  and 
service,  in  every  town  and  village  of  the  diocese. 

"  3.  To  bless— to  be  ready  to  touch,  with  a  hand  that  is 
held  by  his  Lord,  all  things,  all  men  who  seek  it ;  to  bless 
with  His  blessing  that  changes  us,  purifies  us,  and  unites  us 
perfectly  to  our  Lord,  filling  us  with  His  Holy  Spirit,  and 
bringing  to  us,  even  in  this  life,  an  assured  pledge  of  that 
benediction  which  He  has  prepared  for  His  elect  in  heaven. 

"  '  But  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?  '  '  My  grace  is 
sufficient  for  thee.'  '  By  myself  I  can  do  nothing,  in  Christ  I 
can  do  all  things.' 

"  I  follow  two  Bishops,  whose  lives  lift  me,  and  whose 
work  stimulates  me  ;  they  do  not  cease  to  pray  for  us.  I 
pray  you  to  pray  for  me,  to  help  me,  and  to  bless  me. 

"  I  hope  soon  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  you,  visiting 
every  church  in  Cornwall,  that  we  may  become  true  friends. 


THE  THIRD  TISHOF  OF  TRURO  319 

" '  God  is  my  witness,  Whom  I  serve  in  my  spirit  and  the 
Gospel  of  His  Son,  that  without  ceasing  I  make  mention  of 
you  in  my  prayers,  making  request  that  I  may  come  to  you, 
for  I  long  to  see  you,  that  I  may  impart  unto  you  some 
spiritual  gift,  to  the  end  that  ye  may  be  established  ;  that  is, 
that  I  may  be  comforted  together  with  you,  each  of  us  by 
the  other's  faith,  both  yours  and  mine.' 

"This  is  my  daily  prayer  for  you. 

"'I  bow  my  knees  unto  Thee,  O  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  of  Whom  every  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
named,  that  Thou  wouldest  grant  to  Thine  ancient  Church 
in  Cornwall,  according  to  the  riches  of  Thy  glory,  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  Thy  spirit  in  the  inner  man  ; 
that  Christ  may  dwell  in  our  hearts  by  faith  ;  that  ue,  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  comprehend 
with  all  saints,  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth, 
and  height ;  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge  ;  that  we  may  be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God. 
Now  unto  Him,  Who  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly, 
above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  Power 
that  worketh  in  us,  unto  Him  be  glory  in  the  Church  by 
Christ  Jesus  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.     Amen.' 

"  And  will  you  once  a  week,  on  Sunday  morning  ]:)erhaps, 
pray  this  for  me  ;  they  are  the  words  of  an  apostle  of  the 
ancient  Church  of  Britain,  and  have  come  down  to  us  in  the 
language  your  fathers  once  spoke  in  Cornwall. 

'"  May  the  Power  of  God  guide  our  Bishop,  and  the  Wight 
of  God  uphold  him  ;  may  the  Wisdom  of  God  teach  him, 
and  the  Word  of  God  give  him  speech !  Christ  be  with  him, 
and  within  him,  Christ  before  and  after  him  ;  Christ  over  and 
beneath  him,  Christ  on  his  right  and  left ;  Christ  in  the  heart 
of  every  man  who  thinks  of  him,  Christ  in  every  e}-e  that 
sees  him,  and  Christ  in  every  ear  that  hears  him.' 
"  Believe  me  ever  your  true  and  loving 

"  Bishop  and  Father  in  God, 

"Lis  Escop,  "JuIIN:  Truron  : 

"  SS.  Simon  and  Judr^s  Day, 

'^aud  the  day  of  my  Entkronemoit,  1 89 1." 


CHAPTER    XVI 

PROGJ^ESS 

THE  Primary  Visitation  of  the  Diocese  of  Truro 
by  Bishop  Benson  was  held,  at  Boscastle  July 
9th,  Launceston  July  loth,  Liskeard  July  27th,  Bod- 
min July  28th,  Helston  July  29th,  Penzance  July  30th, 
Truro  July  31st,  18S0. 

It  would  not  appear  to  have  presented  any  features 
of  special  interest. 

The  order  of  the  Visitation  was  : — The  Office  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  to  the  end  of  the  Nicene  Creed  :  a 
short  sermon  :  the  citations  of  the  clergy  read  :  the 
election  of  Rural  Deans  :  the  Bishop's  Charge  :  the 
conclusion  of  the  Communion  Service. 

The  Articles  of  Enquiry,  issued  to  the  clergy,  were 
concerned  with  (i)  services:  (2)  fabrics  of  parish 
churches  :  (3)  churchyards  :  (4)  glebe  buildings  :  (5) 
schools  :  (6)  miscellaneous  subjects. 

The  Articles  of  Enquiry,  issued  to  the  church- 
wardens,  were  of   the  usual  kind. 

By  permission  of  the  Bishop,  the  Archdeacons  held 
their  Visitations  during  the  same  year. 

The  answers  to  the  Articles  of  Enquiry  are  bound 
up  in  a  volume  kept  at  the  Bishop's  House — Trenython. 

320 


J'/WGRESS  321 

ProL^rammcs  of  a  X'isitcition  of  the  Diocese  of  Exeter, 
held  about  the  micMle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and 
of  one  held  in  1833,  are  pasted  in  the  book.  These 
Visitations  seem  to  have  occupied  six  weeks. 

The  charge  delivered  by  Dr.  Benson  at  his  Primary 
Visitation  was  not  published.  But  the  substance  of  it 
was  afterwards  used  by  him  for  his  addresses  de- 
livered at  his  Primary  Visitation  of  the  Diocese  of 
Canterbury,  which  were  published  under  the  title  of 
The  Seven  Gifts,  a  volume  full  of  deeply  interesting 
teaching  and  facts. 

In  a  note  prefixed  to  the  addresses  it  is  stated, 
"  The  form  of  these  addresses  on  the  inner  and  home 
work  of  the  Church  explains  itself.  Certain  portions, 
spoken  on  the  same  plan  in  Cornwall,  are  now  printed, 
with  affectionate  memories." 

The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  had  been  making  plans 
for  the  Second  Visitation  of  the  diocese,  when  he  was 
called  away  to  Canterbury.  The  second  Bishop  was 
prevented  first,  by  the  consecration  of  the  Cathedral, 
and  then,  by  ill  health,  from  carrying  out  his  inten- 
tions of  doing  the  same  thing  ;  and  it  was  not  until 
1896,  nearly  five  years  after  his  own  consecration,  and 
sixteen  years  after  Dr.  Benson's  Primary  Visitation, 
that  the  next  formal  Visitation  of  the  Diocese  of  Truro 
took  place. 

The  proceedings  began  with  the  Visitation  of  the 
Cathedral. 

The  Bishop  issued  a  mandate  to  the  Sub-Dean, 
Canon    Loraine   Kstridge,   to  summon   every  member 


\' 


33  2  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

of  the  Cathedral  body  to  appear  before  him  on  the 
second  day  of  June  ;  having  previously  sent  to  all 
the  members  of  the  General  Chapter  and  other 
officials,  a  paper  of  questions  going  very  fully  into 
all  the  details  of  the  Cathedral  work  and  its  worship, 
and  the  discipline  and  duties  of  every  person  con- 
nected with  it. 

On  Tuesday,  June  2nd,  the  proceedings  took  place 
as  follows : — 

Mattins  was  said  at  7.30  a.m.  The  Holy  Com- 
munion was  celebrated,  as  usual,  at  8  a.m.  At  ten 
o'clock  there  was  a  choral  celebration  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  the  Bishop,  with  his  officers,  having 
previously  been  received  at  the  west  door.  The 
Introit  was  the  hymn  Veni,  Creator  Spiriins — "  Come, 
Holy  Ghost,  our  souls  inspire."  The  Collects  were 
(i)  that  for  the  day  ;  (2)  the  second  for  Good  Friday ; 
(3)  that  for  Whit-Sunday.  The  special  Epistle  was 
I  St.  Peter  i.  3-22  ;  the  special  Gospel,  St.  John  xvii. 
All  the  ministers  and  members  of  the  Church  ap- 
peared vested  in  their  robes,  and  in  their  places  in 
the  choir.  The  service  being  ended,  the  bell  was 
rung,  and  the  Cathedral  Body  proceeded  to  the 
chapter  room  singing  the  hymn  Veni,  Sande  Spiritus 
— "Come,  Thou  Holy  Spirit,  come"  (No.  156,  Hyinns 
A.  and  M.) — in  procession.  The  Bishop  took  his 
accustomed  seat,  and  the  Chancellor  of  the  Diocese 
and  the  Bishop's  Registrar  occupied  places  at  the 
table.  The  Canons  occupied  their  stalls,  and  the 
other   persons   took   their   seats   in    due   order.     The 


PJWUKESS  323 

names  of  those  cited  to  appear  were  called  by  the 
Bishop's  Re;^istrar,  and  each  person  present  answered 
"  Here."  A  short  Office  was  then  said  by  the  Bishop, 
consisting-  of  the  Lesser  Litany,  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
and  Versicles,  Psahn  cxxxiv..  Ecce  quani  bonuvi,  and 
the  following  collects  : — 

(i)  The  Cathedral  Collect.  ^  (2)  "O  Heavenly  Father, 
strengthen  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  in  love  one  to  another  by 
drawing  us  to  an  increasing  love  of  Thyself;  keep  us  from 
all  envy  and  jealousy,  in  little  things  or  in  great,  and  teach  us 
to  rejoice  in  seeing  Thy  work  done  by  others  rather  than  b>- 
ourselves  ;  and,  finally,  we  pray  Thee,  grant  us  grace  so  faith- 
fully to  serve  Thee,  with  one  heart  and  soul,  in  this  life,  that 
the  brotherhood  which  has  begun  on  earth  may  be  perfected 
in  heaven ;  through  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen"  (3)  "O  Lord  Jesu  Christ,  Who  saidst  unto  Thine 
Apostles,  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  My  Peace  I  give  unto  you  ; 
Regard  not  our  sins,  but  the  faith  of  Thy  Church,  and  grant 
us  that  peace  and  unity  which  are  agreeable  to  Thy  holy 
will ;  Who  livest  and  reignest  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  one  God,  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen!'  (4)  "O  eternal 
Lord  God,  Who  boldest  all  souls  in  life  ;  We  beseech  Thee  to 
shed  forth  upon  Thy  whole  Church,  in  Paradise  and  on  earth, 
the  bright  beams  of  Thy  light  and  heavenly  comfort ;  and 
grant  that  we,  following  the  good  examples  of  those  who 
served  Thee  here  and  are  at  rest,  particularly  the  founders 
and  benefactors  of  this  See  and  Cathedral,  for  whose  memory 
we  continually  give  thanks  unto  Thee,  may,  with  them,  at 
length  enter  into  Thine  unending  joy ;  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.     AnienT 

After  which  all  totjk  their  seats,  and  the  Bishop  de- 
livered his  Charge.  The  Charge  being  ended,  the 
Bishop  directed  the  Registrar  to  inciiiirc  (^i  the  senior 

^  See  p.  268. 


324  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

chorister,  In  the  name  of  the  rest,  if  any  of  them  had 
any  complaints  to  make.  The  Precentor  and  Choir- 
master, together  with  the  master  of  the  school  to 
whose  charge  the  education  of  the  boys  is,  at  present, 
entrusted,  were  also  asked  if  they  had  any  complaint 
to  make  of  the  conduct  of  any  of  the  choristers.  The 
complaint  was  made,  with  no  little  appearance  of  im- 
portance, by  the  senior  chorister  of  an  insufficient 
supply  of  drinking  water  in  the  vestry.  The  choristers 
were  then  dismissed.  Similarly,  the  cholrmen  and 
vergers  were  interrogated,  and  their  only  complaint, 
that  they  were  unable  to  hear  the  sermons  from 
their  places  In  the  choir,  was  noted,  and  they  were 
then  dismissed.  The  same  was  done  in  the  case  of 
the  Priest  Vicars.  The  subordinate  ministers  and 
members  of  the  Church  having  been  dismissed,  the 
Bishop  remained  in  Council  with  the  General  Chapter. 
Questions  which  concerned  the  whole  body  of  Canons, 
were  first  considered,  and  then  those  referring  to  the 
services,  discipline,  and  revenues  of  the  Cathedral 
Church.  The  proceedings  were  concluded  shortly 
before  four  o'clock,  at  which  hour  Evensong  was 
said  In  the  choir.  Anything  requiring  reformation  or 
correction,  discovered  by  the  Bishop  was  to  be  dealt 
with  by  a  monition  on  the  subject  issued  to  the 
Chapter,  who  were  to  be  allowed  three  months  to  take 
order  as  to  such  reformation  or  correction,  and  to 
report  thereupon  to  the  Bishop.  If  such  order  were 
not  taken,  the  Bishop  was  to  take  steps  to  correct 
any  defects  left  unreformed. 


PROGRESS  325 

Visitation  of  the  Diocese. 

The  Bishop's  Charge  as  a  whole  was,  when  j)ub- 
lished,  entitled  The  Ideals  of  a  Parish;  but  the 
Charge  delivered  at  the  Cathedral  formed  an  intro- 
duction to  the  rest.  It  was  preceded  by  "A  Bishop's 
exhortation  to  his  elder  clergy " ;  which  was  the 
substance  of  two  special  addresses,  delivered  on 
June  I  St,  at  a  devotional  gathering  of  the  General 
Chapter  held  on  the  day  before  the  Visitation  ;  and 
in  it  he  set  forth  the  vocation,  duties,  and  reward  of 
the  priestly  and  canonical  offices.  The  subject  of 
the  Charge  to  the  Cathedral  body  was  "The  beauty 
of  holiness."  The  following  extract  gives  some  idea 
of  the  Icadino-  thoughts  of  the  whole  : — 

"This  house  is  the  picture  of  the  Church  in  the  beauty  of 
holiness  ;  here  we  both  celebrate  and  become  a  Communion 
of  Saints. 

"  God  gave  beauty  to  art  by  the  Greek,  He  gave  beauty  to 
government  by  the  Roman,  He  gives  beauty  to  life  by  the 
Christian. 

"  Holiness  is  the  beauty  of  God  Himself,  it  is  the  only 
beauty  of  His  Bride  which  is  the  Church,  and  the  true 
beauty  of  each  Christian  heart  and  life ;  it  is  our  likeness 
of  our  Lord,  it  is  our  claim  to  be  His  Church,  it  is  our 
witness  before  men  Whose  we  are  and  Whom  we  serve.  The 
wealth  of  the  Church  lies  in  its  loving  alms-deeds ;  the 
strength  of  the  Church  lies  in  its  living  faith  ;  the  beauty 
of  the  Church  lies  in  its  holiness;  and  the  saintliness  of 
the  whole  lies  in  the  personal  holiness  of  every  old  man 
and  maiden,  young  man  and  child,  each  radiating  and  com- 
municating his  sacred  fire  to  the  Church. 


326  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

"  Therefore  m\-  charge  to  the  members  of  the  Cathedral 
is  :  'Be  ye  holy,  for  the  Lord '  of  this  house  '  is  holy.'  We 
are  the  living  Cathedral,  living  stones  of  the  life-giving 
Church,  and  '  Holiness  becometh  His  house  for  ever.'  They 
tell  us  that  the  architect  said,  as  the  vision  of  our  Cathedral 
rose  gradually  before  him,  '  I  will  build  a  cathedral  which 
shall  force  every  one  who  enters  it  to  bend  his  knees.'  It 
was  a  great  ideal,  and  accounts  for  the  emotion  that  stirs  our 
souls  as  we  thoughtfully  pass  through  its  doors."  ^ 

He  spoke  of  "  the  three  gates  to  the  way  of 
holiness"  (i)  the  Holy  Bible,  (2)  Holy  Communion, 
(3)  Holy  Orders :  and  concluded  a  most  helpful 
Charge  thus  : — 

o 

"  Your  office  of  Canon  was  never  more  needed  than  it  is 
to-day — for  it  is  yours  to  lift  men's  ideal  of  holiness,  to 
increase  the  beauty  of  the  Church,  and  to  bring  into  men's 
lives  that  holy  discipline  which  is  the  secret  of  the  rule 
of  God."  •'- 

The  following  was  the  plan  of  the  whole  Charge  : — 

I.  The  ideal  of  Christian  life  -  holiness.  (Delivered  at 
the  Cathedral.) 

H.  The  ideal  of  the  Parish  Church.  (At  Penzance.) 
"It  is  the  conscious  presence  of  the  Trinity  in  the  midst 
of  the  village." 

III.  The  ideal  of  the  Parish  Priest.  (At  Helston.)  "  He 
is  the  man  of  God  among  us,  the  ambassador  of  our  heavenly 
kingdom,  the  messenger,  watchman,  steward  of  the  Lord, 
who  must  give  an  account  of  every  parishioner." 

IV.  The  ideal  of  the  Sacraments.  (At  Truro.)  "  They 
turn  all  our  water  into  wine  and  ourselves  into  Christ." 

1  The  Ideals  of  a  Parish.  A  Charge  delivered  by  John,  Lord  Bishop 
of  Truro.     1896.     S.P.C.K.,  pp.  35,  36. 

-  Ibid.,  p.  55. 


PROGRESS  327 

V.  The  ideal  of  Church  work.  (At  Liskeard.)  '"Son, 
go  work  to-da)'  in  My  vineyard '  is  said,  not  to  clergy  only, 
but  to  every  child  of  God." 

VI.  The  ideal  of  the  Christian  home.  (At  Bodmin.) 
"It  is  the  birthplace,  the  nursery,  and  the  loving  shelter 
of  every  family  of  God." 

VII.  The  Parish  is  part  of  a  greater  ideal.  (At  Laun- 
ccston.)  "  For  the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness 
thereof." 

In  a  summary  of  the  Articles  of  Enquiry  v^'hich 
accompanied  the  Charge,  and  which  were  very  full 
and  searching,  the  Bishop  was  able  to  report  the 
following  progress  "  in  a  decreasing  population  "  : — 

1892.  1895. 

Confirmation  candidates      .          .        1,482  1,643 

Baptised  .  ...       4,835  4,772^ 

In  Sunday  Schools  .         .      19,001  19,842 

In  l^ible  Classes       .  .         .       3,021  3,939 

The  estimate  of  the  numbers  of  the  communicants 
could  not  be  accurately  made,  because  only  hve- 
elevenths  of  the-  clergy  had  kept  a  roll  of  communi- 
cants, and  marked  their  attendance  with  regularity. 
But  it  was  believed  that,  the  great  majority  of  those 
confirmed  during  the  past  five  years  were  persevering 
communicants. 

The  I)ishop  printed  a  very  interesting  religious 
census  taken  in  1676  in  Cornwall,  "by  command  of 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,"  by  which  it  appeared 
that  there  were  in  the  Cornish  rural  deiuieries  at  that 

•  The  decrease  of  sixty-three  was  accounted  for  by  "  the  diminution 
of  the  population.-' 


32S  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

time  6/  "  Papists,"  842  "  Nonconformists,  "  and  65,81  i 
"  Conformists,"  ^ 

In  the  Charge  much  was  said  of  the  great  import- 
ance and  value  of  the  Church  work  of  the  laity,  and 
reference  made  to  its  various  and  manitold  depart- 
ments. But  perhaps  the  most  striking  sentences  that 
dealt  with  this  part  of  the  Church's  ministry  were  the 
following  : — 

"  There  remain  two  other  Church-workers  whom  I  have  not 
mentioned,  and  if  their  service  is  less  visible  and  less  or- 
ganised, it  is  none  the  less  necessary  and  acceptable  to  God. 

"  For  there  is  among  us  a  multitude  whom  no  man  can 
number,  though  our  Lord  counts  them  as  His  own,  and 
calleth  them  all  by  their  names.  These  are  they  who  visit 
the  sick,  and  raise  the  fallen,  and  convince  the  doubtful,  and 
awake  the  sleeping,  and  put  their  own  life  into  the  careless, 
throughout  every  hamlet  of  the  diocese.  They  enter  in, 
whenever  their  Lord  opens  the  door  of  a  neighbour's  heart ; 
they  knock  at  many  a  door  that  seems  bolted  with  steel,  they 
do  what  they  can.  Their  work  may  be  miscellaneous  and 
rather  nondescript ;  but  their  heart  is  in  it,  their  Lord  accepts 
it,  and  its  fruits  will  appear  to  the  whole  world  at  large. 

"  And  there  is  many  a  saintly  man  and  \Voman,  who  can  do 
none  of  these  things.  Some  have  no  time,  and  some  have 
no  courage  to  begin,  and  some  have  left  all  in  despair  ;  some 
are  bedridden,  or  at  least  confined  to  their  house  ;  and  yet 
we  cannot  afford  to  lose  their  help,  for  they  pray  for  us  who 
work,  and  for  those  for  whom  we  work.  Theirs  is  the  priest- 
hood of  intercession  ;  these  also  as  Christians  hope  to  inter- 
cede for  the  world,  and  I  have  felt  long  and  often,  when  some 
Power  greater  than  my  own  has  kept  me  from  falling,  that, 
from  the  bedroom  of  one  who  is  ill,  or  the  heart  of  a  child 
who  pleads  to  God  for  me,  strength  descends  upon  your 
Bishop  and  his  clergy,  strength  to  serve  and  to  conquer."- 

'  See  Appendix  II.  '"  Ideals  0/ a  Parish,  pp.  141,  142. 


PROGRESS  329 

Among  other  interesting  facts  the  Bishop  stated  : — 

"  In  the  last  ten  years  that  I  am  able  to  account  for,  you 
have  ofiered  to  God  f(jr  His  Church  within  the  diocese 
;^626,0OO,  and  the  sums  of  each  year  show  a  constancy  of 
growth."^ 

Dr.  Gott's  Second  Visitation  was  held  in  1901,  hve 
years  after  the  Primary  one.  On  this  occasion  the 
Cathedral  was  not  visited. 

The  plan  of  the  Charge  was  divided  under  heads  : — 

I.  The  Church  in  General. 

II.  Visitation  Inquiries. 

III.  The  Energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

IV.  Lay  Priesthood, 

In   the   first  subject  the   Bishop  laid  stress  on  the 

divisions    of    Christendom,    and    the    weakness    that 

results  from  them.      Pie  invited  his  clergy  and  laity 

"  to  put  fresh  fire  into  the  prayers  for  unity,  reunion  with 
Greece  and  Rome,  reunion  with  the  many  societies  of  Non- 
conformity at  home  ;  and,  above  all,  union  and  brotherly 
love  within  the  Church.  We  require  the  faith  and  love  that 
men  like  Father  John,  the  Russian,  would  give  us ;  we  want 
the  sheer  self-devotion  of  Lacordaire  the  French  priest,  and 
of  Montalembert  the  French  layman  ;  we  require  the  clear 
insight  of  spiritual  things  of  Milligan  the  Presbyterian,  and 
of  Dale  the  Congregational ist.'"- 

The  Bishop  referred  to  the  great  war  in  South 
Africa  and  its  effect  on  "  national  character  "  ;  to  the 
report  that  Lord   Roberts  liad  given,  "of  the  tender- 

'    I  hid.,  p.  21. 

-  The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the  Priesthood  of  the  Laity.  A 
Charge  delivered  by  John  Golt,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Truro,  at  his  Second 
\'isitation,  July,  1901,  p.  7. 


330  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

ness  of  the  English  soldier " ;  and  expressed  his 
belief,  that  this,  and  other  instances  of  noble  traits 
in  the  English  nation,  in  spite  of  many  terrible 
drawbacks  and  sins,  were  "  the  form  and  spirit  of 
Christianity  that  is  current  among  Englishmen,"  and 
he  paid  fitting  homage  to  the  character  and  life  "of 
our  last  and  greatest  Queen," 

He  also  dealt  in  his  Charge  with  the  difficult  ques- 
tions of  the  day,  connected  with  the  practice  of 
"  Reservation,"  and  the  use  of  private  Confession,  in 
a  wise,  conciliatory,  but  thoroughly  English,  spirit,  and 
with  unswerving  loyalty  to  the  teaching  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Praver. 

From  the  answ^ers  returned  to  his  Visitation  in- 
quiries, he  was  enabled  to  announce  some  interesting 
particulars  of  the  state  of  the  diocese:  out  of  1,194 
Sunday-school  teachers  92  per  cent,  were  communi- 
cants ;  a  roll  of  communicants  was  kept  by  105  out  of 
220  incumbents  ;  "  family  prayer  was  almost  universal 
amonpf  the  educated  classes  of  the  diocese,  in  the 
homes  of  squires  and  professional  men,  but  rare 
among  the  middle  class  and  almost  unknown  in  the 
homes  of  those  who  live  on  a  weekly  wage."  There 
were  still  seventy  parishes  without  catechising,  and 
out  of  the  Church  elementary  day  schools,  twenty 
where  no  religious  instruction  was  given  by  the  Parish 
Priest. 

On  the  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  said  there 
was  everywhere  a  yearning  after,  and  a  belief,  in  the 
indwelling  power  of  the  Spirit : 


J'R  OGRESS  331 

"  I  do  not  mean  so  much  that  our  Lord  has  withheld 
hallowing  knowledge  from  our  fathers  which  He  is  giving  to 
us  by  a  new  revelation,  but  I  have  strongly  in  my  mind  that 
ancient  revelations  are  yielding  fresh  meanings  to  fresh  minds. 
It  seems  that  this  thought  is  fermenting  in  many  men:  e.g.  a 
theological  book  has  come  out  this  year  by  the  Master  of 
Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge,  which  ends  with  these  words :  '  I 
believe  that  the  fuller  and  more  practical  recognition  of  the 
immediate  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  prompting  and  actu- 
ating men,  or  striving  with  them,  will  be  a  distinguishing 
feature  in  the  coming  time,  and  the  conviction  of  the  inter- 
communion of  souls  with  the  Spirit  which  is  Divine,  will 
possess  itself  even  more  and  more  amply  of  the  minds  of 
men.  The  recognition  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
not  only  brings  us  nearer  to  God  in  our  own  selves,  but  it 
keeps  alive  in  us,  what  is  a  most  vital  element  in  Christian 
society,  our  hoh'  reverence  for  man  as  man.  Every  human 
being  is,  or  ma\-  become,  a  sanctuary  in  which  the  Spirit  of 
God  shall  abide.  We  cannot  help  looking  around  us  with  a 
worthier  respect — shunning  all  hate,  impurity,  and  scorn — if 
we  regard  ourselves  and  all  around  us  as  possibly  containing 
the  germ  of  an  infinity  to  what  is  Divine,  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  may  quicken  into  growth'  {The  Risen  Master,  pp.  461, 
462).  Bishop  Westcott  writes  :  '  Little  by  little  the  Spirit  is 
bringing  home  the  uttermost  realities  of  being,  bringing 
home,  that  is,  Christ  and  the  things  of  Christ  to  each  man 
and  to  all  men.  He  is  bringing  to  light  new  truths  which 
may  minister  to  the  knowledge  of  Him  who  is  the  truth. 
He  is  ever  fashioning  for  our  use,  as  we  gain  power  to  use 
them,  new  forms  of  thought,  new  modes  of  worship,  new 
spheres  of  action'  {The  Historic  Faith,  p.  108).  My  brother 
of  Rochester  has  lately  written  to  his  diocese  for  the  same 
purp(->se."^ 

And  ai^ain  : — 

"Writers  both  in  Scotland  and  England  {e.g.  Dr.  Milligan 
'    \'isitation  Char^i^c,  1 901,  pp.  47-9- 


332  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

and  Dr.  Moberly)  have  been  teaching  us  to.  tov  ITceiVaTo? 
' Ayiou,  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which,  perhaps,  were 
not  generally  realised  before.  I  mean  that  the  inspired 
names,  '  the  Spirit  of  Christ,'  '  the  Spirit  of  Jesus,'  have 
received  a  deeper  meaning,  awakened  a  holier  understanding, 
and  become  in  our  thoughts  a  more  powerful  help  than  they 
were,  in  the  character  of  men  that  were  before  us.  He 
Whom  we  adore  as  '  Holy  Spirit,'  Whom  we  call  to  our 
aid  as  '  Paraclete,'  Who  possesses  us,  and  Whom  in  some 
real  sense  we  possess  ;  He  is  to  us  much  more  than  the 
Spirit,  Who  '  moved  upon  the  face  of  the  waters,'  the  Creative 
Spirit,  Creator  Sphitus,  more  than  the  Holy  Spirit  Who 
inspired  prophets  and  their  people  before  Christ.  To  us  He 
is  the  Holy  Spirit,  b}'  Whom  Christ  our  Lord  was  conceived, 
and  the  meaning  of  this  grows  more  real  to  us,  conditioning 
the  ver\'  body  of  every  Christian,  and  enabling  our  flesh, 
yours  and  mine,  to  have  fellowship  with  the  Spirit  of  Christ ; 
and  already  to  have,  so  far  as  each  of  us  gives  himself  to  it, 
a  spiritual  body,  not  yet  free  from  sickness  and  sin,  but  over- 
powering these,  consecrating  sickness  till  it  becomes  a  cross, 
and  consecrating  sin  till  it  becomes  the  love  of  the  greatly 
forgiven." 

But,  while  the  Bishop  urged  upon  the  clergy  and 
laity  the  need  of  realising  the  presence  and  v^^ork  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  he  was  careful  to  guard  himself  and 
them  from  any  misunderstanding. 

"  Brethren,  I  have  no  new  means  of  grace  —  of  course 
I  have  not ;  but  new  insight  into  the  Great  Unseen  is  given 
to  men,  more  and  more :  new  sense  of  God's  work,  the 
drawing  near  of  the  end  of  all  things,  that  is,  their  fulfilment 
and  perfection.  But  there  can  be  no  new  organisation  of 
the  Church,  no  new  Sacraments,  still  less  can  there  be  any 
disuse  of  those  means  of  grace  that  we  have  received  from 
the  Holy  Spirit.     It  is  in  the  better  and  fresher  use  of  our 


FKOGKESS  333 

hereditary  helps,  in  their  use  more  faithful  and  spiritual,  in 
a  heartier  love  and   a  gladder  hope,  that  the  Spirit   grows 

within  us."  ^ 


That  there  is  a  real  danger,  at  the  present  day,  from 
other  directions,  the  Bishop  was  careful  to  point  out  : 
"the  danger  of  a  spiritual  person  supposing  himself 
to  be  infallible,"  the  danger  of  an  insidious  growth  of 
"the  spirit  of  pride."  and  the  consequent  loss  of  "the 
grace  of  humility";  and,  lastly,  the  danger  sometimes 
lurking  in  the  teaching  of  "  perfectionism,"  the  "  temp- 
tation to  the  spiritual  person  "  to  claim  and  act  upon 
the  "assurance  that  sin  is  eradicated,  that  it  has  lost 
its  power,  and  cannot  return  to  one  who  has  once 
been  filled  with  the  Spirit."  The  only  safeguard  is 
"godly  fear,"  "a  gift  of  the  Spirit,  even  the  seal 
that  secures  His  presence  and  growth  within  us."- 

The  Bishop  in  his  Charge  had  spoken  of  the  great 
South  African  War,  as  he  did  also,  from  time  to  time, 
at  diocesan  conferences  and  similar  gatherings.  Corn- 
wall, like  the  rest  of  the  Empire,  felt  the  strain  and 
stress  of  the  grave  anxiety ;  first  of  the  terrible 
"  week  of  disasters,"  and,  afterwards,  of  the  long 
period  of  exhausting  efforts  to  bring  peace  to  South 
Africa.  The  Duke  of  Cornwall's  Light  Infantry, 
which  has  its  headquarters  at  Bodmin,  has  not  of 
late  years  contained  a  very  large  proportion  of  native 
Cornishmen,  who  appear  to  choose  the  Navy  rather 
than   the  Army,  when   they  oftVr   themselves   for  the 

'  Visitation  Change,  1901,  p.  60.  "-  pp.  64,  65. 


334  THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 

service  of  their  country.^  But  the  regiment  had,  not 
long  before,  become  well  known  by  the  march  it  had 
made  throughout  the  county.  On  Trinity  Sunday, 
May  28th,  1899,  the  second  battalion  encamped  at 
Truro,  and  attended  a  special  service  in  company 
with  the  local  volunteers  at  the  Cathedral,  in  the 
afternoon,  when  the  Bishop  addressed  them."  When 
the  regiment  was  ordered  abroad,  the  Bishop  and  the 
Lord  Lieutenant  had  together  bidden  farewell,  on 
November  4th,  1899,  at  Devonport,  to  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  second  battalion,  the  Bishop  giving 
them  his  blessino-  and  a  motto  for  them  to  remember. 
"  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee."  The  movements  of 
the  "  Duke's,"  as  they  were  familiarly  called,  were 
closely  watched  by  their  many  well-wishers  in  Corn- 
wall ;  and  the  county  was  proud  of  their  bravery  at 
the  assault  on  the  Boer  entrenchments  at  Paardeberg. 
But  the  achievement  cost  many  valuable  lives,  among 
which  were  those  of  Colonel  Aid  worth,  and  other 
officers  and  men.  Another  gallant  son  of  Cornwall, 
Major  Hatherley  Moor,  R.A.,  son  of  Canon  Moor 
(at  that  time  Vicar  of  St.  Clement),  commanding 
the  contingent  from  West  Australia,  after  many  acts 
of  conspicuous  skill  and  bravery,  fell  on  the  field  of 
honour  at  Palmietfontein.  Early  in  the  war  another 
brave  Cornishman,  Major-General  Sir  William  Penn 
Symons,    was    mortally    wounded,   after   a    successful 

'  Yet  among  the  archers  who  won  the  battles  of  Crecy,  Poictiers,  and 
Agincourt,  the  proportion  of  Cornishnien  is  said  to  have  been  very  large. 

''■  The  late  Colonel  Aldworth,  who  fell  at  Paardeberg,  said  after  the 
service,  it  was  the  best  address  given  to  soldiers  he  had  ever  heard. 


J'JWGKESS  335 

action  at  Glencoe,  and  has  been  commemorated  in  his 
parish  church  at  Botus  Fleming  by  a  beautiful  reredos 
and  other  monuments.  A  continjj^ent  of  Truro  volun- 
teers, under  Captain  Jackson  and  Lieutenant  Smith, 
joined  the  Cornish  regiment,  and  did  good  service  for 
more  than  a  year  in  South  Africa.  The  \^icar  of 
Bodmin,  the  Rev.  H.  K.  Southwell  (now  Hon.  Canon 
of  Truro),  for  ten  months  acted  as  Chaplain  to  the 
Forces  with  great  acceptance  ;  and  the  Vicar  of  Looe, 
the  Rev.  A.  L.  Browne,  went  to  the  front  in  the  same 
capacity.  The  matron  of  the  Royal  Cornwall  In- 
firmary at  Truro,  Miss  A.  B.  Trew,  belonging  to  the 
Army  Nursing  Service  Reserve,  answered  the  call  of 
duty,  and  worked  with  so  much  assiduity  and  success, 
that,  on  her  return,  she  received  from  the  hands  of  the 
King  the  decoration  of  the  Royal  Red  Cross.  For 
months,  every  Friday  afternoon,  a  large  number  of 
persons  met  in  Truro  Cathedral  for  earnest  supplica- 
tion, in  behalf  of  individuals,  and  of  all  our  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  others  engaged  in  the  war,  in  every 
kind  of  capacity  ;  and  a  long  list  of  names  of  those 
prayed  for  was  affixed  to  the  notice-board  ;  and  the 
same  sort  of  service  was  held  all  ox'cr  the  diocese. 

From  the  foreign  service  of  our  soldiers  and  sailors, 
it  is  natural  to  pass  to  the  foreign  missions  of  the 
Church,  and  the  share  that  the  Diocese  of  Truro  has 
in  that  noble  work.  It  is  natural  that  the  county  of 
Henry  Martyn,  and  the  city  of  Truro  where  he  was 
born,  in  whose  Grammar  School  he  was  educated,  and 
in    whose    Cathedral    baptistery    his    memory    is    en- 


336  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

shrined,  should  produce  labourers,  men  and  women, 
for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen.  Not  a  few  have 
oiven  themselves  for  this  olorious  work,  and  some  are 
still  labouring  faithfully,  far  away  from  their  dear 
Cornwall.  Robert  Kestell  Cornish,  first  Bishop  of 
Madagascar,  born  at  Kenwyn  ;  Gilbert  White  (Curate 
of  Helston),  first  Bishop  of  Carpentaria  ;  F.  E,  Carter 
(Canon  Missioner  of  Truro),  Dean  of  Grahamstown  ; 
L.  Cholmondeley  (Curate  of  Kenwyn),  of  St.  Andrew's, 
Tokyo  ;  B.  E.  Holmes  (Curate  of  St.  Mary's,  Truro, 
and  Priest  Vicar  of  the  Cathedral),  Rector  of  King 
Williamstown  and  Rural  Dean  ;  D.  Ellison  (Curate 
of  Bodmin),  of  the  South  African  Railway  Mission  ; 
C.  Bice,  of  the  Melanesian  Mission  ;  Miss  Thornton 
(daughter  of  Canon  F.  V.  Thornton),  of  St.  Hilda's, 
Tokyo  ;  Miss  Rodd  (daughter  of  Canon  Rodd),  of 
the  Church  of  England  Zenana  Mission;  Sister  Louisa 
Jane,  of  Bloemfontein  (daughter  of  Mr.  J.  Barrett,  of 
Truro),  are  some  of  those,  who,  living  and  departed, 
have  eone  forth  from  the  Cornish  Church  into  the 
foreign  mission  field. ^ 

Of  home  mission  work  Bishop  Gott  once  said,  in 
his  address  to  the  Diocesan  Conference,  1892  :  "Our 
subscriptions  to  home  missions  are,  I  believe,  the 
best  in  England."  This  must  mean,  in  proportion 
to  the  population  and  resources  at  the  disposal  of 
the  Church  in  Cornwall.  But  if  Cornish  Church- 
people,   and    especially   Cornish   women, ^   have    been 

1  A  more  complete  list  is  given  in  Appendix  VII. 

2  Mention  ought  to  be  made  of  the  late  Miss  Shearme,  of  Strattor, 


PROGRESS  337 

and  still  arc  liberal  in  their  support  of  the  home 
missions  of  the  Church,  it  is  largely  owing  to  the 
generous  manner  in  which  the  London  Committee 
have  treated  the  diocese  in  their  distribution  of 
grants,  and  to  the  complete  identification  of  the 
Diocesan  Committee  with  the  aims  and  work  of  the 
parent  society. 

One  thing  never  fails  to  strike  a  visitor  to  Cornwall 
from  '•  up  the  country,"  and  that  is,  the  almost  univer- 
sally good  condition  of  the  fabrics  of  the  churches, 
and  the  care  bestowed  upon  them.  This,  in  a  county 
where  the  disinteeratino-  force  of  moisture  and  storm 
are  powerful  and  constant,  is  not  a  little  remarkable. 
It  is  scarcely  possible  to  find,  anywhere  in  the  diocese, 
a  single  ruinous  church,  or  any  that  are  in  serious 
disrepair.  Most  of  them  are  in  excellent  order. 
Restoration  has  sometimes  been  injudicious,  and 
occasionally  even  disastrous  ;  but  that  was  in  earlier 
days.^  Now^  a  wise  conservative  spirit  is  prevalent ; 
and  architects  like  Mr.  G.  Fellowes  Prynne  and  Mr. 
E.  Sedding,  can  be  thoroughly  trusted  with  the  work 
of  making  ancient  buildings  fit  for  worship  in  the 
present  age,  without  destroying  their  historical  or 
archaeological  interest.  It  is  not  only  a  pleasure  to 
visit    such    large    and    important    churches    as    St. 

who,  among  almost  countless  good  works,  was  for  many  years  a  zealous 
supporter  of  the  A.C.S. 

1  Yet  some  of  the  early  "  restorers  "  were  very  self-denying  persons. 
It  is  related  that  the  Rev.  J.  Fisher,  Rector  of  Roche  1819-34,  renovated 
his  church  and  rebuilt  his  rectory,  raising  a  large  portion  of  the  expenses 
out  of  his  income,  by  living  upon  fourpencc  a  day. 
Z 


338  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Germans,  St.  Petroc's  Bodmin.  St.  Mary  Magda- 
lene's Launceston,  St.  Finbar's  Fowey,  St.  Austell, 
and  Probus,  but  to  come  unexpectedly^  close  to  the 
north  coast,  or  near  the  borders  of  the  moorland, 
upon  beautiful  village  churches  most  carefully  reno- 
vated, with  all  ancient  features  preserved,  and  noble 
screens  and  rood  lofts,  once  more  occupying  the 
places  intended  for  them.  Even  now,  as  these  words 
are  being  written,  one  of  the  most  interesting  of 
Cornish  churches  that  has  suffered  from  long  neglect 
as  well  as  rough  usage,  St.  Crantoc,  has  just  received 
most  lovinof  and  tender  restoration.  The  church  has  a 
long  and  fascinating  history.  Dr.  Benson  delighted 
in  the  building  and  its  past. 

"It  lies  in  a  desolate  corner  of  the  north  coast,  sheltered 
from  the  main  blast  by  a  large  '  tovvan '  of  sand,  but  scourged 
by  every  wind.  It  is  skirted  on  the  north  by  the  long,  narrow 
deep  blue  creek  of  the  Gannel.  The  little  compact  tower, 
with  battlements  and  machicolations,  keeps  up  the  tradition 
of  pirate  attacks,  even  if  it  was  not  actually  built  to  resist 
them.  The  nave  has  a  lower  roof  than  the  choir,  and  is 
aisleless,  while  the  choir  has  not  only  aisles  but  transepts. 
It  is  on  a  higher  floor  than  the  nave;  the  base  of  the  old 
screen  and  the  deformed  stumps  of  its  moulded  shafts,  and 
the  crumbling  relics  of  it  in  the  first  choir  arch  on  either 
hand,  are  the  sole  monuments  of  its  capitular  establishment 
of  Dean,  eight  Canons  and  eight  Vicars,  which  flourished  '  in 
the  days  in  which  Edward  the  Confessor  was  alive  and 
dead';  and  flourished  on  until  Henry  VIII.  dissolved  it 
(if  he  did),  and  James  I.,  more  inexcusably,  bestowed  all  its 
lands  and  rights  on  Phelips,  and  some  other  extinct  laymen, 
leaving  them  only  bound  to  find  the  merest  pittance  for  the 


PROGRESS  339 

Vicars  of  Crantock,  and  of  the  church  then   dependent  on 
it,  St.  Columb  Minor."  ' 

ConsidcrinLT  all  thai  has  been  done  f(jr  church 
buildino-  in  Cornwall,  it  is  not  surprising  that,  when 
the  third  Ijishop  of  Truro  first  came  into  the  diocese, 
he  said  : — 

"  I  wish  specially  to  praise  certain  things.  .  .  .  The  sacred 
enterprise  which  has  restored  to  their  strength  and  their 
beauty  nearly  all  the  parish  churches  of  the  county.  When 
I  left  the  Cathedral  behind  me,  and  penetrated  into  lonely 
villages  far  from  the  railway,  I  expected  to  find  that  the  alms 
of  the  diocese  had  been  absorbed  by  the  great  central  effort 
at  Truro  ;  but  I  found  they  had  spread  to  every  remotest 
corner  ;  and  Chacewater  on  one  side,  and  Poundstock  on  the 
other,  both  of  them  already  in  the  architect's  hands,  are 
among  the  few  that  remain  of  the  neglected  and  unworthy 
churches  of  Cornwall,  a  true  s}-mbol,  I  trust,  of  the  spiritual 
restoration,  by  which  the  churches  are  restoring  and  hallowing 
our  people."  - 

Since  1877,  the  Incorporated  Church  Building 
Society  has  made  more  than  eighty  grants,  amounting 
to  a  sum  between  ^4,000  and  ^5,000.^  During  that 
period,  ten  new  churches  have  been  erected,  fifty  have 
been  restored  or  rebuilt,  and  at  least  twenty- five 
mission  chapels  raised  in  every  part  of  the  diocese. 
Nothing  struck  the  first  Bishop  of  Truro  more,  than 
the  need  of  planting  in  outlying  hamlets,  convenient 
mission  chapels  or  mission  rooms,  to  meet  the  needs  of 

'  Diary,  .-Xpril  19th,  1S79. 
-  Address  at  Diocesan  Conference,  1892. 

■'  The  sums  raised  to  meet  these  grants  have  not  been  ascertained, 
but  the  total  must  be  very  large. 


340  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

those  who  (as  is  so  much   the  case  In   Cornwall)  live 
far  away  from  the  parish  church. 

"  I  think  that  no  county  can  have  such  instances  of 
original  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  Church  as  regards  the 
situations  of  its  buildings.  At  X.  we  have  a  church  a  mile  and 
a  half  from  Y.,  which,  having  been  always  large  and  having 
now  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants,  has  no  church  nearer.  At  Z. 
the  church  is  on  a  hill-top,  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  village. 
There  are  seven  hamlets  ;  not  one  of  which  had,  till  lately,  any 
kind  of  service  or  help  towards  service,  and  there  are  seven 
thousand  people  in  the  parish."  ^ 

The  first  Bishop  of  Truro  was,  as  might  have  been 
anticipated  and  as  has  been  stated  above,  a  keen  sup- 
porter of  religious  education  in  elementary  schools. 
In  Cornwall,  after  the  passing  of  the  Act  of  1870, 
there  had  been  prevalent,  in  some  places,  a  feeling  of 
despair,  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  some  of  the 
Church  day  schools.  Dr.  Benson  and  his  successors 
have  used  all  their  influence  to  check  this  tendency, 
with  no  little  success.  In  a  "starveling  county,"  as  a 
leading  layman  once  called  it,  it  is  greatly  to  the  credit 
of  Churchmen  that  the  day  schools  of  the  Church 
have  been,  and  are  still  being,  maintained.  In  1881 
the  population  of  Cornwall  was  333,358,  and  there 
were  then  124  Church  schools  teaching  11,858  chil- 
dren, 29  other  voluntary  schools  teaching  3,226 
children,    and     153    Board    schools    teaching    18,402 

^  Happily  in  most  of  these  and  in  similar  cases,  the  difficulty  has 
been  met,  and  mission  churches  built  and  regularly  served.  The  late 
Mr.  Michael  Williams,  of  Gnaton  Hall,  Devon,  built  a  beautiful  little 
mission  church  near  Newquay,  which  he  served  himself,  whenever  he 
was  in  Cornwall. 


PROGRESS  341 

children.  In  1891  the  population  had  fallen  to  the 
number  of  325,031,  and  there  were  13,943  children 
in  127  Church  schools,  31  other  voluntary  schools 
instructing-  4,493  children,  and  184  Board  schools 
teaching  26,847.  ^^^^^  struggle  is  arduous  and  in 
some  respects  discouraging ;  but,  in  many  of  the 
principal  towns,  great  efforts  are  made  to  maintain 
the  Church  schools.  Within  the  last  ten  years  in 
Truro,  St.  Mary's  Schools  have  been  entirely  re- 
built ;^  a  new  boys'  school  has  been  erected  in 
St.  Paul's  parish  ;  the  practising  schools  of  the  Train- 
ing College,  those  of  St.  George's,  and  St.  John's 
parishes,  have  received  very  considerable  enlargement 
and  improvement.  The  Diocesan  Training  College 
for  Mistresses  has  been  greatly  extended,  and  now 
educates  sixty  students.  At  Camborne  and  Penzance 
large  and  well-equipped  schools  have  been  rebuilt. 
Recently,  vigorous  efforts  have  been  made  to 
strengthen  the  hands  of  those  who  wish  to  see 
justice  done  to  voluntary  schools  everywhere,  and 
important  meetings  have  been  held  in  the  larger 
centres,  to  support  the  resolutions  approved  by  the 
Joint  Committee  of  the  Convocations  of  Canterbury 
and  York  in  1901. 

'  The  Rev.  C.  F.  J.  Bourke,  Sub-Dean  and  Rector  of  Truro  (now 
Archdeacon  of  Buckingham),  contributed  towards  this  object  a  sum  of 
/500,  a  portion  of  a  parting  gift  from  his  parishioners  at  St.  Giles', 
Reading,  1S89. 


THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


DIOCESE   OF   TRURO 


I.— CONFIRMATION   CANDIDATES. 


Year. 

Parochial. 

Extra  Parochial. 

Total. 

1877             .           . 

1887 

1897 

1901 

697 

820 

1,541 
1,421 

104 
191 

243 

45' 

80  [ 
1,011 
1,784 
1,466 

II.— COMPARATIVE   TABLE 


Year. 

No.  of                 Sunday  School 
Communicants.               Children. 

Communicant 
Classes. 

Bible           r.    .,  , 
Classes.         guilds. 

1894     .      . 
190I      .      . 

11,374                  19,033 
13,803                   18,281 

1,423 
1,550 

3,050          2,159 
2,555          2,285 

Year. 

Temperance          1           District 
Societies.             j          Visitors. 

Sunday  School                   /-'i,„:„ 
Teachers.               j         <^''°"^^- 

1894     .      .                  3,492 
1901      .      .                  5,085 

642 

458 

2,068            ;      4,137 
1,810            1      3,845 

Year. 

Other 
Helpers. 

Sidesmen. 

Church  Parochial 
Councils. 

Bell 
Ringers. 

1894     .      . 
1901      .      . 

678 
464 

571 
738 

408 
525 

979 
883 

'  II. M.S.    Ganges  in  former  years  supplied  at  least  200  candidates. 


PROGRESS 


343 


III.— SUM. MA  kV 


OF   CHURCH    EXPENDITURE    RETURNS 
FOR   TEN    YEARS 


Year. 

No.  of 
Parishes. 

Returns. 

Parochial. 

Diocesan. 

General. 

Totals. 

£. 

£.     , 

£ 

jC 

1884     . 

249' 

219 

44,370 

3,167- 

2,872 

50,409 

18S5     . 

249' 

216 

39,046 

3,216- 

3,121 

45,383 

1886     . 

249I 

210 

35,962 

3.5'.S-'« 

3.35J7 

42,X64 

1887     . 

249' 

209 

41,661 

5,656^^ 

3,391 

50,703 

1888     . 

249' 

219 

43.712 

I2,038-V 

3.461 

59,211 

1889     . 

250' 

234 

44,725 

3,358 

3.245 

51.328 

1890     . 

250' 

217 

47,368 

4,355 

3.067 

54,790 

1891      . 

250^ 

240 

45,086 

6,846 

4,029 

55,961 

1892     . 

250* 

245 

45,931 

8,761 

4,750 

59.442 

'893      • 

250* 

249 

47,152 

7,948 

4,249 

59,349 

;{:435,oi3 

;^58,86o- 

;^35,572 

^^529. 445'' 

IV.— COMPARATIVE    TABLE    OF    VOLUNTARY    CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO   CHURCH   WORK^ 


Year. 

Parochial. 

Church  Societies 

(General  and 

Diocesan). 

Other 
Objects. 

Church  and 

School 

(Fabrics,  etc.)- 

Total. 

1894     . 
1901      . 

31.269 
26,668 

5,822 
6,037 

£ 

1,058 
1,700 

£ 
32,894 
34,380 

£ 
71.043 
68,787 

v.— DIVINE   SERVICE 


Weekly  Celebration  of  Holy  Communion 
and  Daily  Service. 


1878 


I.  Parishes  in  which  there  was 
weekly  celebration  of  Holy  Com 
munion  and  daily  service 

II.  Parishes  in  which  there  is 
weekly  celebration  of  Holy  Com 
munion,  but  not  daily  service 

III.  Parishes  in  which  there  is 
daily  service,  but  not  weekly  cele 
bration  of  Holy  Communion  . 


27 


60 

45 
6 


54 


143 


49 


*  Include  all  parishes  with  churchwardens,  or  assessed  for  their  own  poor  rate ; 
also  all  ecclesiastical  districts. 

-  These  totals  down  to  1SS5  (inclusive)  take  no  account  of  some  .>{,'97.78o 
raised  for  the  Cathedral. 

■'  Including  {a)  ;^ii6  ;  (/')  ^2,229  ;  («.)  ^^8,282,  for  the  Cathedral  Maintenance 
Fund. 

■•  After  1893  the  form  of  return,  as  published  in  the  Official  Year  Hook,  was 
adopted. 


CHAPTER   XVII 

LAST  EFFORTS  AND   ULTIMATE  SUCCESS 

FOR  nine  years  after  the  consecration  of  the 
Cathedral,  no  effort  was  made  to  continue  the 
building,  nor  even  to  collect  money  for  any  eventuality 
connected  with  its  continuation.  It  was  felt  that  to 
have  raised  ^70,000  for  the  endowment  of  the 
bishopric,  and  nearly  ^120,000  for  the  erection  and 
adornment  of  the  Cathedral,  was  an  effort  that  might 
very  well  satisfy  Cornish  Churchmen,  for  at  least 
a  generation.  There  were  very  many  things  of 
parochial  and  diocesan  interest  requiring  immediate 
attention,  and  the  Building  Fund  was  not  put  forward 
by  those  in  authority.  The  increase  of  the  endow- 
ments of  the  poorer  livings,  the  necessity  of  raising 
considerable  sums  for  religious  education,  appeared  to 
be  objects  demanding  large  and  generous  contribu- 
tions. But,  nevertheless,  from  time  to  time  offerings 
and  orifts  were  made  to  the  Buildinsf  Fund  of  the 
Cathedral,  in  the  hope  that  some  day,  through  perhaps 
far  distant,  might  see  the  renewal  of  attempts  to  build 
a  complete  Cathedral.  Out  of  Miss  Pedler's  bequest, 
alluded  to  in  a  previous  chapter,  ^1,500  had  been 
assigned    to    the    Building    Fund  ;     and    Canon    Wise 

344 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    345 

of  Ladock,  already  a  munificent  benefactor  of  the 
Cathedral,  some  years  before  his  death  made  the 
noble  gift  of  £^,000  towards  the  erection  of  the  nave. 
Dr.  Benson,  who  was  delighted  at  this  splendid 
offering,  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  treasurer  of 
the  building  fund  ;  with  characteristic  foresight  he 
alludes  to  the  need  for  endowment. 

"Addington  Park,  Croydon, 

"4///  October,  1894. 
"  My  dear  Mr.  Nix,— Thank  you  very  much  for  giving 
me  this  magnificent  news — what  a  princely  old  Canon  !  I 
suppose  it  is  the  greatest  gift  the  Cathedral  has  had.  I  wish 
now  someone  would  give  i^"  10,000  to  the  Chapter.  I  want  to 
see  their  endowment  grow. 

"  It  was  delightful  to  meet  you  and  pick  up  all  the  old 
threads.  "  Sincerely  yours, 

"  E.   CANTUAR : " 

It  was  quite  clear  that  Archbishop  Benson's  opinion 
concerninu-  the  orenerositv  of  Churchmen  in  the  West 
had  proved  to  be  true.  "  In  building  your  Cathedral," 
someone  once  said  to  him,  "you  have  drained  Cornwall 
of  money."     "  Yes,"  he  answered,  "  but  not  of  zeal." 

xAnd  so  it  was  that,  in  the  autumn  of  1 896,  the  sum 
of  no  less  than  ^13,000  was  already  in  the  hands  of 
the  treasurer  of  the  Building  Committee.  Then  there 
came  the  sudden  event  at  Hawarden,  which  some 
might  call  a  catastrophe,  but  to  others  was  more  like  a 
translation,  and  the  removal  of  the  great  Primate  and 
first  Bishop  of  Truro. 

An  important  meeting  was  called,  not  many  weeks 


346  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

after  the  funeral  of  Archbishop  Benson,  and  there  were 
present  at  the  Church  House,  Dean's  Yard,  a  large 
number  of  the  Bishops  and  leading  laymen.  Church- 
men in  Cornwall  were  represented  by  Archdeacon 
Cornish  and  Canon  Thynne  ;  and  friends  of  the  Arch- 
bishop in  Cornwall,  and  warm  supporters  of  the 
Cathedral,  anxiously  waited  to  know  the  issue.  The 
following  telegram  was  sent  by  Canon  Thynne  : — 

'^  Laus  Deo.  Benson  Memorial,  effigy  Canterbury  Cathe- 
dral and  Truro  Cathedral  continuation." 

Archdeacon  Cornish  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"  Church  House, 

"  November  ^th,  2.30, 

"...  We  have  had  a  wonderful  meeting.  The  issue 
swayed  to  and  fro,  but  finally  it  was  decided  to  strike  for  an 
effigy  in  Canterbury,  and  some  definite  part  of  Truro 
Cathedral  according  to  funds.  The  Archbishop  (Dr.  Temple) 
and  the  ]3ishop  of  Salisbury  helped  us  greatly,  and  I  thanked 
them  afterwards  and  Lord  Cross  and  others.     Laus  Deo!' 

A  large  meeting  was  called,  in  London,  under  the 
presidency  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  ;  and  a  committee, 
includinof  some  of  the  most  eminent  men  in  Church 
and  State,  was  formed  to  gather  funds  for  the  two- 
fold object  decided  upon. 

For  various  reasons,  which  need  not  be  discussed 
here,  the  results  of  this  movement  in  London  were 
comparatively  disappointing.  Not  more  than  about 
^5,000  was  collected  through   this  agency,  of  which 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    347 

about  ^"2,000  was  i^nven  to  Truro  Cathedral,  and  the 
remainder  expended  on  the;  hcautiful  recumbent  effigy 
at  Canterbury. 

In  the  opinion  of  many,  it  was  probably  a  serious 
mistake,  on  the  [)art  of  those  who  were  responsible  for 
the  movement,  to  put  the  monument  first,  and  Truro 
Cathedral  second. 

Contributors  to  the  local  memorial  at  Canterbury 
would  naturally  only  offer  a  comparatively  small  sum  ; 
but,  if  the  Cathedral  had  been  made  the  prominent 
object,  larger  offerings  would  have  been  at  once 
made. 

It  became  evident  that,  if  the  nave,  or  any  consider- 
able part  of  it,  was  to  be  built  as  a  memorial  to  its 
great  founder.  Cornish  Churchmen  would  have  to 
bear  the  main  burden  of  the  effort.  At  the  Diocesan 
Conference  of  1896  a  resolution  was  passed,  based  on 
the  expectation  of  a  considerable  sum  being  raised  in 
London  and  elsewhere,  that  an  effort  should  be  made 
to  proceed  with  the  building ;  and,  later  in  the  year, 
an  important  meeting  was  held  at  which  it  was  an- 
nounced that  considerable  sums,  including  ^2,000 
from  Lord  Robartes,  ^1,000  from  Lord  Mount 
Edgcumbe,  and  also  from  the  Bishop,  had  been 
collected  in  Cornwall.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
following  year,  the  Women  of  Cornwall's  Association 
was  revived,  and  meetings  held  in  different  parts 
of  the  county,  at  which  the  Bishop,  and  members  of 
the  Residentiary  Chapter  and  others,  gave  addresses. 

On  JNIay  20th,  1897,  the  seventeenth  anniversary  of 


34S  THE   13  IS  HO  PR  I C   OF  TRURO 

the  laying  of  the  foundation-stone  of  the  Cathedral,  a 
commencement  was  made  by  the  laying  of  the  founda- 
tions of  the  whole  nave  and  western  towers. 

In  the  following  year,  nearly  ,/!^30,ooo  had  been 
received,  and  the  committee  determined  to  build  the 
nave  and  west  front.  The  work  began  on  May  29th, 
1 899,  after  an  inaugural  service,  at  which  the  Bishop 
officiated,  and  a  large  number  of  the  clergy  and  laity 
of  the  diocese  were  present. 

The  work  progressed  under  the  superintendence  of 
?klr.  F.  L.  Pearson,  who,  on  the  death  of  his  father  on 
December  iith,  1897,  was  chosen  by  the  committee 
to  carry  out  the  original  plans  for  the  nave.  The 
contract  was  carried  out  by  Messrs.  Wilcock,  of 
Wolverhampton,  and  an  excellent  clerk  of  the  works 
was  chosen,  Mr.  Edward  Price. 

Many  generous  donations  were  sent,  and  chief 
among  them  the  sum  of  ^5,000  from  "a  Cornish- 
man,"  who  has  successfully  preserved  the  secret  of 
his  anonymous  generosity.  But,  in  spite  of  all  the 
zealous  efforts  that  had  been  made,  it  seemed  probable 
that  the  committee  would  have  to  stop  short  of  a 
complete  fulfilment  of  its  desire  to  see  the  nave 
finished.  There  was  still  a  deficiency  of  more  than 
^3,000  towards  the  erection  of  the  western  towers 
to  such  a  height  as  would  prevent  an  unsightly 
temporary  structure,  marring  the  effect  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  west  front.  The  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee. Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe,  with  his  accustomed 
zeal,  wrote  a  letter  to  the    Times,  stating   the  facts  of 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    349 

the  case  and  askini;-  for  help.      His  letter  concluded 
with  tlu:  following'  words  : — 

"  I  shall  be  happy  to  give  another  i^ioo,  and  another  i^200 
more  on  the  completion  of  the  larger  contract,  if  adopted, 
when  the  Lord  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  who  earnestly  supports 
this  appeal  will  also  give  another  ;^ioo.  And  I  venture  to 
repeat  the  earnest  hope  of  the  Committee,  that  all  who  are 
likely  ever  to  help  us  will  do  so  now.  I  think  it  would 
be  safe  to  promise,  that,  if  this  work  can  be  achieved,  the 
Ikiikling  Committee  will  make  no  further  appeal  to  the 
present  generation." 

This  letter  bore  fruit  in  a  larore  increase  of  dona- 
t.ions,  among  which  was  one  from  the  Prince  of  Wales 
(His  present  Majesty,  the  Kino-)  who,  from  the  first. 
has  taken  a  lively  interest  in  Truro  Cathedral ;  and. 
before  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century,  the  required 
amount,  ^40,000,  was  given  or  promised. 

This  was  a  great  achievement.  It  is  scarcely 
possible  to  give  any  record  of  how  all  this  good 
work  was  accomplished  ;  nor  is  it  easy  to  realise 
that,  in  a  county  so  depleted  of  wealth,  such  a 
successful  result  should  have  been  attained  at  all. 
But  there  were  two  great  impulses  that  moved 
Cornish  Churchmen  at  the  time,  one  personal  and 
immediate — their  deep  affection  for  the  great  first 
Bishop  of  their  revived  see,  together  with  a  desire 
to  commemorate  worthily  his  work  among  them — 
and  the  other  more  far-reaching  and  corporate — 
the  awakened  sense  of  diocesan  life,  and  a  keen 
determination    to   emphasize    and    embody   it   vividl\- 


350  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

in  a  completed  cathedral.  For  those  who  were  per- 
mitted to  take  an  active  part  in  all  the  meetings, 
committees,  and  other  organisations  that  helped  to 
secure  the  fulfilment  of  these  expectations,  there  will 
always  remain  the  recollection  of  a  strong  and  irre- 
sistible current  of  feeling,  moving  the  hearts  and  wills 
of  men  and  women  in  this  direction.  In  the  presence 
of  much  that,  at  the  time,  seemed  to  offer  nothing 
but  obstacles  and  hindrances,  or  even,  on  occasions, 
presaged  disappointment,  perilously  near  to  disaster, 
there  never  was  lost  the  living  hope  that  the  Cathedral 
would  be  finished,  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  welfare 
of  His  Holy  Church. 

The  forces  that  inspired  and  sustained  this  great 
effort  were,  besides  those  enumerated,  a  strong  realisa- 
tion of  the  Divine  origin  and  character  of  the  Church: 
a  sense  of  the  great  importance  of  Catholic  unity,  of 
which  a  noble  church,  and  still  more  a  great  cathedral, 
is  an  unmistakable  symbol.  Moreover,  the  great 
awakening  among  English  Church-people  to  the  claims 
that  orderly  and  reverent  worship  has  upon  them ; 
the  recognition  of  the  Divine  Majesty  and  the  Divine 
Presence,  that  is  embodied  in,  and  implied  by,  a 
splendid  sanctuary,  have,  year  after  year,  during  the 
period  since  the  teaching  of  the  great  Catholic  revival 
began,  been  changing  the  whole  aspect  of  the  churches 
and  cathedrals  of  England  and  Wales.  And,  in  Corn- 
wall, the  sense  of  opposition  to  all  this  on  the  part 
of  so  many  outside  the  Church's  pale,  made  the  feeling 
all    the   more    intense,  and   the  desire   for   restoration 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS     351 

of  sacramental   teaching  and  dignified  worship  more 
ardent  than,  perhaps,  was  the  case  anywhere  else. 

And  so,  with  much  prayer  and  sacrifice,  long  labour 
and  generous  effort,  Cornish  Churchmen  have  suc- 
ceeded in  realising  a  great  ideal,  such  as  has  been 
worthily  depicted  by  one  of  the  most  eloquent  of 
preachers,  and  most  devoted  of  England's  greatest 
Churchmen  : — 

"It  has  been  said  of  the  Reformation  that,  whatever  else 
it  achiev^ed  or  swept  away,  it  sounded  the  death-knell  of 
Christian  art.  In  such  a  criticism  there  is  truth  so  far  as 
this :  the  Reformation  involved  a  conflict  of  principles 
between,  on  the  one  hand.  Churches  conscious  of  the  right  to 
a  self-government,  controlled  only  by  their  allegiance  to 
the  sacred  Scriptures  and  to  the  traditions  of  undivided 
Christendom,  and,  on  the  other,  an  illegitimate  and  encroach- 
ing central  authority.  It  was  natural  that,  at  the  time, 
and  for  long  after,  this  conflict  of  principles  should  with- 
draw men's  attention,  from  the  outward  mien  and  expres- 
sion of  religion,  to  the  practical  interest  at  stake.  The 
man  who  believes  that  he  is  struggling  for  his  liberty  or 
for  his  life,  does  not  stop  in  the  heat  of  the  conflict  to 
smooth  his  hair ;  although  it  does  not  follow  that  this 
omission  commits  him  to  a  lifelong  habit  of  untidiness. 
Certainly,  in  the  centuries  that  preceded  the  Reformation, 
the  religious  use  of  art  had  been  the  scene  and  pretext  of 
some  conspicuous  abuses  ;  and  the  reaction,  which  reached 
its  limit  in  the  destructive  fanaticism  of  the  Puritan  period, 
was  perhaps  more  natural  than  we,  at  this  time,  can  easily 
understand.  Art,  after  all,  is  but  the  drapery  of  religion  : 
religion  can  use  art,  she  can  profit  by  it,  but  she  can  dispense 
with  it,  if  need  be  ;  the  life  of  religion  resides  in  those 
activities  of  thought  and  will,  concentrated  upon  the  Being 
of  beings,  and   upon   that  which    He  has  revealed,  whereby 


352  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

man  is  enabled  to  attain  the  true  goal  of  his  destiny.  Yet 
it  is  paradoxical  to  suppose  that,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  or 
at  any  other  period,  the  Church  intended  to  promote  a  final 
divorce  between  religion  and  art.  Should  the  Church  object 
to  the  service  of  art,  whether  it  be  painting,  or  sculpture,  or 
architecture,  as  an  instrument  for  propagating  and  illustrating 
religious  truth,  while  she  retains  a  Bible  in  which  the  highest 
poetry  is  the  consecrated  handmaid  of  the  inspiration  of 
David  and  of  Isaiah,  she  would  be  altogether  inconsistent. 
Poetry,  like  painting,  may  of  course,  usurp  the  honours  of 
that  truth  to  which  it  ministers.  But  the  scholar  who  should 
forget  the  spiritual  teaching  of  the  evangelical  prophet  in 
admiration  of  his  matchless  poetry,  would  not  really  furnish 
an  argument  for  omitting  the  most  beautiful  book  of  the  Old 
Testament  from  the  public  services  of  the  Church. 

"To  the  criticism  in  question,  and  as  a  whole,  St.  Paul's  is 
a  magnificent  rejoinder;  it  is,  indeed,  the  only  splendid 
cathedral  that  has  been  erected  in  England  or  in  Europe 
since  the  Reformation." 

A  note  is  here  added  to  the  following  effect : — 

"  Had  the  Cathedral  of  Truro  been  built  when  the  sermon 
was  preached,  it  would  have  obliged  the  preacher  to  express 
himself  more  guardedly."  .  .  .  and  the  preacher  proceeded — 

"It  has  been  said  reproachfully  of  the  modern  Church  of 
England,  that  she  has  inherited  cathedrals  which  she  knows 
not  how  to  use.  In  the  case  of  St.  Paul's,  the  epigram  might 
have  had  a  touch  of  additional  severity,  since  she  has  actually 
built  it.  .  .  . 

"Yes,  St.  Paul's  is,  indeed,  a  'city  set  on  a  hill';  it  is 
a  material  representation  of  the  moral  position  of  the  Church 
of  Christ.  It  is  eminent  by  its  position  ;  eminent  by  its 
history  ;  eminent  by  its  outward  beauty ;  eminent,  it  must 
be  added,  in  its  failure,  in  too  many  ways,  practically  to 
realise  what  is  due  to  its  position,  but  conspicuously  is  it 
eminent  by   its  wholesale    internal    neglect   and   desolation. 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTLUATE   SUCCESS 


JO  J 


And  we,  the  clergy  of  this  Cathedral,  of  all  orders,  under 
our  Dean,  acting,  as  we  do,  with  one  mind  and  heart  in 
furthering  the  work,  confidently  entreat  you  to  help  us.  It 
is  your  matter,  brethren,  after  all,  rather  than  ours.  We  are 
but  the  willing  instrument  of  an  effort  which  you  must  make, 
if  it  is  to  be  made  at  all.  Like  all  corporations,  we  possess 
great  powers  of  obstruction  ;  but  we  can  do  little  to  construct 
without  aid  from  without.  Revenues  which  were  once  at  our 
disposal  have  been  largely  surrendered  to  other  hands,  that 
they  may  be  distributed  far  and  wide  throughout  the  country; 
and  we,  who  for  a  short  while  have  this  great  fabric  in  our 
charge,  can  onl\-  appeal,  as  we  mean  persistently  to  appeal, 
to  the  generous  instincts  and  Christian  enthusiasm  of  our 
fellow-citizens  on  behalf  of  its  obvious  requirements.  Yet  it 
is  not  we,  but  }-our  Cathedral  Church  itself,  which  pleads  with 
you.  We,  its  ministers  of  the  hour,  appear,  one  after  another 
in  quick  succession,  each  doing  his  work,  speaking  his  mes- 
sage, and  then  passing  to  his  account.  But  the  great  Church 
remains,  an  image,  in  the  realm  of  sense  and  time,  of  the 
eternal  realities  ;  as  were  the  hills  which  stood  about  Jeru- 
salem. It  remains,  with  its  outline  of  matchless  beauty,  with 
its  reproachful  poverty  of  detail,  appealed  to,  yet  condemned 
by  the  religious  aspirations,  while  face  to  face  with  the  bound- 
less wealth  of  London.  It  is  for  you  to  say  whether  this 
shall  be  so  hereafter ;  whether  one  more  generation  shall  be 
permitted  to  pass  away  leaving  St.  Paul's,  as  it  is,  to  a 
successor.  It  is  for  you  to  decide  whether,  by  your  present 
efforts,  and  b}'  your  persevering  interest,  a  most  important 
step  is  or  is  not  taken,  in  our  day,  towards  making  this 
Church  worth}-,  to  some  extent,  of  its  great  position,  at 
the  heart  of  the  metropolis  of  England  and  of  English 
Christendom."  ^ 

No   one    expected   any   further  addition,    than   the 
completion  of  the  nave,  would  be  made  to  the  build- 

'  Christmastidc  Sermons.     By  H.  P.  Liddon.     XX\',  St.  Paul's  and 
London,  pp.  414  seq.     Preached  in   1S71   on  behalf  of  the  Cathedral 
Decoration  Fund:  republished  in  1891. 
2   A 


354  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

ing  of  Truro  Cathedral  for  many  years  to  come. 
But,  when  on  January  22nd,  1901,  the  great  Queen 
passed  away,  and  men  and  women  everywhere  were 
asking  themselves,  what  form  a  memorial  of  her  life 
and  reign  should  take,  Mrs.  Arthur  Tremayne  of 
Carclew,  the  secretary  of  the  Cornish  Women's  Asso- 
ciation, struck  a  note  that  met  with  immediate 
response.  She  suggested,  in  a  letter  to  the  county 
papers,  that  the  memorial  to  Queen  Victoria  in  Corn- 
wall should  be  the  building  of  the  central  tower  of 
the  Cathedral,  to  be  called  the  "Victoria  Tower." 
Several  contributions  had  been  sent  and  others 
promised,  when  it  was  announced  that  a  single 
individual  was  prepared  to  give  the  sum  required 
for  the  buildincj  of  the  central  tower.  For  some 
weeks  no  name  was  divulged,  but  at  a  meeting  held 
in  March,  1901,  the  Bishop  announced  that  Mr.  James 
Hawke  Dennis,  formerly  of  Redruth,  and  now  of 
Grenehurst  Park,  Surrey,  was  ready  to  bear  the 
whole  cost.  The  original  estimate,  given  some  years 
before,  was  ^10,000,  but  alterations  in  the  price  of 
labour  had  raised  this  to  nearly  ^15,000.  Mr.  Dennis 
was  not  deterred,  on  this  account,  from  carrying  out  his 
intention,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1901  the  first  steps 
were  taken. 

It  would  be  scarcely  possible,  or  even  desirable,  to 
conclude  this  record  of  most  interesting  Church  work 
in  a  diocese  full  of  historical  and  even  romantic  asso- 
ciations, and  among  a  people  of  attractive  and  unique 
characteristics,  without  adding  some  remarks  on  the 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    355 

prospects  of  ;i  l;iru;c  and  fuller  measure  of  success  in 
the  days  that  are  to  come. 

If  education  is  removing,  one  after  another,  some 
of  the  quaint  and  fascinating  peculiarities  of  old 
Cornish  life,  it  is,  at  the  same  time,  destroying  some 
ancient  prejudices,  and  hindrances  to  full  intellectual 
and  spiritual  development.  Churchmen  who  believe 
that  in  the  Anglican  Communion  there  has  been  pre- 
served, in  all  essential  things,  the  best  and  truest  tra- 
ditions of  primitive  worship  and  doctrine,  will  look 
hopefully  on  the  future  of  the  Church  of  Christ  among 
a  Cornish  people,  still  religious,  but  hereafter  to  be  set 
free  from  any  of  the  narrowness  born,  of  ignorance; 
lovers  of  spiritual  things,  without  superstition  or 
fanaticism. 

But  there  are,  and  will  be,  for  some  time  to  come, 
difficulties  arising  from  local  conditions  and  environ- 
ment. 

It  is  not  a  mere  prejudice  of  the  stranger  from  "  up 
the  country  "  to  think,  that  the  mild  soft  air  of  the 
Cornish  peninsula  tends  to  a  less  vigorous  activity  in 
work,  and  a  relaxed  standard  of  moral  and  religious 
effort,  both  in  the  individual  and  the  community. 

Many  will  sympathise  with  the  following  words  of 
Bishop  Wilkinson,  spoken  at  the  last  Diocesan  Con- 
ference over  which  he  presided  in  1890. 

"Why  is  it?  Why  is  it  that  we  do  not  gird  up  the  loins 
of  our  mind  with  a  steady  resolve  that,  God  helping  us,  we 
will,  in  very  deed,  develop  our  every  faculty  of  body,  soul  and 


356  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

spirit,  and  will  offer  it  up  as  a  living  sacrifice  to  Him  Who 
died  and  rose  again?  Why  is  it?  Is  it  the  effect  of  our 
climate — with  its  soft  caressing  air? 

"  '  In  the  afternoon  they  came  unto  a  land, 
In  which  it  seemed  always  afternoon. 
All  round  the  coast  the  languid  air  did  swoon, 
Breathing  like  one  that  hath  a  weary  dream, 
And  like  a  downward  smoke  the  slender  stream 
Along  the  cliff  to  fall  and  pause  and  fall  did  seem.' 

"  Is  it  so  ?  Is  there  entering  into  any  of  our  souls  the 
subtle  temptation  to  think,  that  it  is  no  use,  that  there  is 
no  hope  of  mending  ourselves,  that  it  is  no  use  to  war  with 
evil  ?  Is  it  so  .''  And  are  we  on  this  account  beginning  to 
dawdle  our  life  away  in  the  restlessness  of  busy  idleness  ?  Is 
it  so  ?  Are  we  tempted  to  substitute  for  active  self-denying 
work,  the  formation  of  some  new  society,  the  development  of 
some  fresh  organisation,  which  shall  issue  in  the  old  line  of 
high-sounding  phrases,  and  well-framed  resolutions,  and  new 
committees,  to  be  followed  by  apparent  success,  and  gradual 
decline,  and  final  extinction  ?  Is  it  so?  Is  this  the  result  of 
our  Western  climate?  I  cannot  tell.  It  matters  not — only 
in  God's  Name,  let  us  have  done  with  it,  once  and  for  ever — 
this  dull,  heavy,  hopeless,  afternoon  existence.  Let  us  wrestle 
with  the  God  of  our  salvation,  till  He  fills  us  with  some  of  the 
joy  and  peace,  the  rich  new  wine  of  the  new  covenant,  and 
enables  us  to  abound  in  hope  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  '  The  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in 
believing,  that  ye  may  abound  in  hope  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.' " 

Unless  the  most  thoughtful  Churchmen  of  our  day 
misread  greatly  the  signs  of  the  times,  there  is  aw^ait- 
ing  the  Church  everywhere,  and  perhaps  not  least  of 
all  the  Church  in  Cornwall,  a  very  serious  time  of 
conflict  and  difficulty.      Many  great  political  events, 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS     ssi 

at  home  and  abroad,  have  diverted,  for  a  time, 
attempts  already  made  on  the  Church's  position  and 
property  :  on  her  rii^ht  to  teach  her  own  children 
"the  faith  once  for  all  delivered  to  the  saints";  on 
her  right  to  minister  to  her  own  poor  in  workhouses  ; 
and  lay  her  own  dead  in  consecrated  ground.  It  is  no 
mere  militant  spirit  that  animates  lovers  of  the  Church 
to  defend  her  with  every  legitimate  weapon.  The 
drawings  too^ether  of  other  reliuious  bodies  into  federa- 
tions  and  councils  of  so-called  "Free  Churches,"  would 
be  welcomed  by  everyone  who  longs  and  prays  for 
the  restoration  of  "  unity  visible  and  invisible,"  among 
"all  who  name  the  Name  of  Christ  "  ;  but,  so  long  as 
these  alliances  are  sometimes  ominously  spoken  of  as 
directed  against  the  "  Established"  Church  (so-called), 
and  against  its  teaching  concerning  the  Word  and 
Sacraments,  handed  down  in  the  One  Holy  Catholic 
Apostolic  Church,  it  cannot  be  wondered  that,  in 
Cornwall,  "Church  defence"  must  largely  engage  the 
attention  of  Church-people,  and  find  ample  space  in 
their  deliberations  at  conferences  and  synods. 

But  all  devout  Churchmen  must  take  care  that  it 
be  Church  defence  carried  on  in  the  spirit  which 
Bishop  Wilkinson  expressed,  in  words  spoken  at  the 
Diocesan  Conference  of  1885  : — 

"  We  dare  not  despair  ;  because  God  is  with  us.  We  dare 
not  even  despond  ;  because  of  the  marvellous  way  in  which 
the  presence  of  God  has  been  manifested  in  behalf  of  the 
Church  of  England  during  the  last  fifty  years.  We  dare  not 
presume,  we  dare  not  relax  our  efforts ;  because  we  are  not 


358  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

entering  on  any  isolated  warfare,  not  girding  on  our  armour 
for  any  single  battle — to  be  quickl}-  begun  and  quickly 
ended. 

"  In  resolving  to  defend  our  Church,  we  are  preparing  to 
take  our  part  in  a  lifelong  resistance  against  a  carefully 
defined  and  carefully  prepared  system  of  attack  (jueOoSelai), 
organised  b}'  an  unseen  yet  potent  kingdom  ;  a  system  of 
attack,  the  force  of  which  is  being  felt  along  the  whole  line 
of  the  civilised  world — an  attack,  which,  in  other  countries 
at  any  rate,  is  being  directed  not  merely  against  the  Church 
of  Christ,  and  the  Sacraments  of  Christ,  but  against  the 
Word  of  God,  and  the  truth  of  the  Incarnation.  Our  wrest- 
ling (as  we  heard  this  morning)  is  not  against  flesh  and 
blood,  not  against  our  brethren  :  God  forbid — we  have  no 
quarrel  with  them.  We  are  fighting — though  they  know  it 
not — in  their  behalf,  and  in  behalf  of  their  children.  Our 
wrestling  is  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  the 
principalities,  against  the  powers — against  the  world  rulers 
of  this  darkness.  We  are  going  to  fight,  and  in  God's  Name 
to  triumph  over,  that  master  spirit  of  deceit,  who,  as  we 
believe,  is  using  as  his  unconscious  instruments  the  strong 
forces  of  this  nineteenth  century — even  him  by  whom  the 
Christ  was  crucified,  by  whom  the  Church,  which  is  the  Body 
of  Christ,  has  been  wounded  in  each  succeeding  age,  and 
who  is  pledged  never  to  cease  from  the  deadly  struggle,  till 
the  day  of  her  Lord's  appearing." 

There  are  some  dansfers  from  within.  Amono- 
these  must  be  mentioned  an  almost  exaggerated  and 
over- elaborated  organisation.  In  some  ecclesiastical 
minds  the  formation  of  committees,  the  drawing  up 
of  reports,  the  sending  in  of  returns,  hold  an  alto- 
gether exaggerated  place.  That  these  are  useful  and 
necessary  cannot  be  denied ;  but  it  is  possible  for 
them  to  accumulate,   to  such  an   extent  as  to  choke 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    359 

work,  cUid  exhaust  the  workers.  Above  all,  there  is 
the  dan'j['er  of  such  thincrs  beinci"  recfarded  as  ends  in 
themselves  rather  than  means.  The  Diocese  of  Truro 
is  as  well  organised  as  any  in  England,  perhaps  better 
than  most ;  irs  peril  lies  in  the  possession  of  a  very 
complete  machinery,  working  mechanically,  with 
meagre   results  and   barren  show  of  activity. 

Another  danger,  not  so  easily  remedied,  lies  in  the 
isolation  of  so  many  of  the  clergy,  and  in  the  poverty 
of  their  endowments.  Depression  produced  by  soli- 
tude, and  fostered  by  sordid  cares,  cannot  but  end 
in  disaster  to  priest  and  people.  How  shall  the  peril 
be  averted,  and  the  remedy  applied  ?  Shall  it  be 
through  the  return  to  ancient  methods,  the  grouping 
of  small  parishes,  the  revival  of  collegiate  churches, 
as  at  St.  Buryan,  Endellion,  Crantoc,  and  Glasney  ? 
Or,  through  some  large  and  generous  benefactions  to 
re-endow^  impoverished  benefices,  or  supplement  their 
ever  diminishing  revenues  ? 

The  desirability  of  returning  to  some  such  plan,  as 
the  one  suggested  above,  has  been  well  expressed  by 
Canon  Mason,  who  knows  perfectly  the  needs  ot 
Cornwall. 

"  There  is  more  than  one  good  large  district,  at  the  present 
moment,  where  it  seems  as  if,  because  of  the  loneliness  and 
the  poverty-,  the  work  of  the  Church  cannot  be  carried  on 
any  longer  upon  a  strictly  parochial  system,  and  where  the 
only  possibility  is  to  form  men  into  bands  residing  perma- 
nently, or  for  fixed  periods,  at  some  common  centre,  and 
working  a  group  of  parishes  together  in  common.  It  was 
the  way  in  which  man}-  of  those  districts  were  managed  in 


36o  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

mediaeval  times,  when  the  whole  countn-  was  dotted,  not 
only  with  monasteries,  but  with  collegiate  churches,  to  which 
were  attached  a  dean  or  archpriest,  and  four  or  five  or  more 
prebendaries,  doing  their  best  for  a  stretch  of  country 
round  them.  We  shall  probably  come  back  to  that  method 
in  some  places  before  long."  ^ 

One  vital  element  of  success,  in  making  Church 
work  permanently  strong  in  Cornwall,  is  sympathy 
between  priest  and  people.  It  cannot  be  said  that 
this  has  been  achieved  everywhere  in  the  diocese,  nor 
can  this  be  a  matter  of  surprise.  It  is  far  from  easy 
for  an  outsider  to  understand,  even  to  a  limited  extent, 
the  mind  of  the  Cornish  man  or  woman.  Men  "  from 
up  the  country "  readily  enter  into  the  poetry  of 
Cornish  history  and  antiquities,  the  romance  of  its 
early  Church  and  primitive  saints  ;  they  are  enraptured 
with  the  loveliness  of  its  scenery  ;  but  how  many  of 
them  really  understand  the  people,  or  do  justice  to 
their  special  characteristics?  It  is  so  easy  to  fasten 
upon  obvious  blots  and  defects,  and  to  pass  by,  or 
forget,  the  real,  and  even  unique,  merits  of  its  popula- 
tion. If  in  Cornwall  (though  similar  things  are  found 
in  other  places)  the  standard  of  morals  in  one  direction 
is  disappointing,  the  sobriety  of  its  people  is  distinctly 
far  above  the  average.  Enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of 
temperance,  during  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  has 
been  unmistakable  throughout  the  county. 

The  people  are  very  lovable,  and  ready  to  love  and  to 
be  loved.     There  has  been  very  great  affectionateness 

'    TJic  Ministry  of  Conversion,  p.  157. 


LAST  EFFORTS  AND    ULTIMATE   SUCCESS    361 

of  disposition  displayed  towards  those  who  have  taken 
pains  to  know  them,  and  to  become  devoted  to  their 
welfare ;  a  loving  response  to  personal  work  done 
among  them  by  some  parochial  clergynien,  who  were 
not  of  Cornish  birth,  which  could  scarcely  be  matched 
anywhere  else.  It  has  been  remarked  of  some  clergy- 
men, who,  while  they  were  at  work  in  the  diocese  of 
Truro,  chafed  under  their  difhculties  and  apparent 
want  of  success,  and  continually  sighed  for  some  other 
sphere  of  work  ;  that,  after  their  removal,  it  was  not 
so  very  long  before  they  w^ere  as  anxious  to  return,  to 
all  the  trials  and  troubles  of  Church  work  in  Cornwall, 
as  they  had  previously  been  desirous  of  escaping  from 
them. 

There  is  sure  to  be  lack  of  success,  if  some  allow- 
ance is  not  made  for  the  idiosyncrasies  of  the  race  ; 
if  there  is  failure  to  appreciate  its  peculiar  religious 
instincts,  and  even  its  spiritual  tastes.  The  clergyman 
who  declines,  for  instance,  to  countenance  anything 
like  prayer-meetings  among  his  people,  (such  as  have 
been  for  many  years  carried  on  in  certain  parishes  by 
working  men  among  themselves  who  were  loyal 
Churchmen  and  regular  communicants),  will  probably 
be  unconsciously  quenching  fervour,  and  letting  some 
of  his  best  members  slip  away  from  his  inliuence. 
To  adopt  a  style  of  preaching  frigid  and  didactic,  to 
read  sermons  full  of  formal  or  pedantic  mannerisms, 
will  certainly  be  the  wrong  way  of  catching  the  atten- 
tion of  those,  who  relish  a  lively,  or  even  a  somewhat 
noisy,  style  of  address.      It  is  sometimes  said  that  in 


362  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Cornwcill  work  of  all  kinds  tends  to  get  slack,  and 
Cornish  people  soon  get  tired  of  effort,  and  take  up 
novel  plans  and  follow  new  guides,  with  a  sort  of 
light-hearted  fickleness.  There  may  be  an  element 
of  truth  in  these  charges,  but  there  must  be  neverthe- 
less a  great  under-stratum  of  robustness  at  the  bottom 
of  the  character  of  Cornishmen,  to  account  for  the 
success  of  so  many  of  them  in  mining  operations  all 
over  the  world.  It  has  been  said  that,  wherever  there 
is  a  mine,  you  will  find  a  Cornishman  at  the  top  and 
at  the  bottom  of  it.  Surely  enough  has  been  said  to 
prove,  that  there  are  noble  traits  and  sterling  good 
qualities  in  the  race,  that  may,  by  wise  and  loving 
master  -  builders  of  God's  Church,  be  fashioned,  as 
"great  and  costly  stones,"  into  the  spiritual  fabric, 
and  lend  a  strength  and  beauty  to  the  "  City  of  God  " 
that  could  perhaps  not  be  supplied  from  any  other 
quarter. 


APPENDICES 


APPENDIX   I 
DIOCESE   OF  TRURO 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ANCIENT  BISHOPRIC   IN  CORNWALL 

Contributed  to  the  Truro  Diocesan  Kalendar  (on  request)  by  the  Rev.  William 
Stubbs,  Regius  Professor  of  Modern  Plistory,  Oxford,  and  Canon  of  St.  Paul's 
(afterwards  successively  Bishop  oi  Chester  and  Oxford). 

THE  history  of  the  early  Church  in  Cornwall  is  very 
obscure.  Considerations  of  race,  of  geographical 
relations  and  historical  probability,  would  lead  us  to  connect 
it  with  Ireland,  Brittany,  and  Wales  ;  and  such  is  the  general 
inference  from  the  legends  of  the  saints  of  the  four  regions  : 
Irish  hermits  found  homes  in  Cornwall  ;  the  sons  of  Cornish 
l^rinces  appear  among  the  Breton  saints ;  a  Cornish  king 
becomes  a  monk  at  St.  David's ;  and  in  some  cases  the  dedi- 
cations of  churches  point  to  a  common  early  history. 

The  existence  of  Roman  Christian  inscriptions  in  Corn- 
wall may  imply  that  Christian  truth  was  within  the  reach 
of  Cornish  men  as  early  as  the  fourth  century.  The  ancient 
tradition  of  St.  German's  refers  the  conversion  of  the  people 
to  a  saint  of  that  name  sent  by  Pope  Gregory  the  Great ; 
but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  St.  German  in  question 
was  the  famous  Bishop  of  Auxerre,  who  lived  a  century  and 
a  half  before  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  and  paid  two  visits  to 
Britain  to  confute  the  Pelagian  heresy.  The  tradition,  then, 
would  rather  point  to  the  fact  that  there  was  already  a 
Christian  Church  in  Cornwall  which  had  become  infected 
with  Pclagianism.  If  this  be  granted,  it  may  be  inferred 
— without    reference    to    the    merely    legendary   histories    of 

3<35 


366  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

martyrs  and  hermits,  such  as  St.  Melor,  or  Melior,  who  is 
said  to  have  suffered  in  Cornwall  in  A.D.  411,  and  Saints 
Fingar,  Piala,  and  others,  companions  of  St.  Patrick,  who 
were  martyred  about  A.D.  450 — that  Cornwall  had  become 
to  a  great  extent  Christianised  before  the  Romans  left 
Britain. 

At  or  about  A.D.  450,  occurred  the  great  migration  from 
Britain  to  Armorica,  which  gave  to  the  latter  country  the 
name  of  Britannia  Minor,  or  Brittany.  This  was  one  result 
of  the  Saxon  invasion  of  Britain  ;  the  fugitives  were  British 
Christians,  and  the  affinity  of  the  Cornish  and  Breton 
languages  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the  emigrants  were 
from  that  part  of  Britain  which  was  pressed  by  the  invaders 
engaged  in  founding  the  West  Saxon  state  ;  that  is,  from 
Hampshire,  Dorsetshire,  and  Devonshire.  Cornwall  and 
Western  Devonshire,  known  by  the  name  of  Damnonia, 
retained  their  independence  under  British  princes,  and  their 
Christianity,  in  much  the  same  form  as  it  had  possessed  when 
the  departure  of  the  Romans  broke  the  communication 
between  the  British  Churches  and  Western  Christendom. 
In  the  time  of  Gildas  the  prince  of  Damnonia  was  named 
Constantine  or  Custeint.  He  became  a  monk  at  St.  David's 
in  A.D.  589.  Gerein  or  Gerran,  according  to  the  legend,  was 
prince  when  St.  Teilo  in  A.D.  596  returned  from  Armorica. 
About  A.D.  705  St.  Aldhelm,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Sherborne, 
wrote  to  another  Gerein,  Geruntius,  or  Gereint,  prince  of 
Damnonia,  urging  him  to  adopt  the  custom  of  keeping 
Easter  approved  by  the  rest  of  the  Churches  of  the  West. 
The  parts  of  Damnonia  which  were  subject  to  Wessex 
accepted  the  change,  but  the  Cornishmen  retained  their 
independence,  and  probably  their  custom  upon  the  point  in 
question. 

During  this  period  we  have  no  historical  list  of  Cornish 
bishops.  But  we  know  from  the  fact  that  British  bishops, 
who  could  scarcely  have  come  from  any  otiier  region, 
assisted  in  the  consecration  of   St.   Chad   in  a.d.   664,  that 


APPENDIX  I  367 

the  Churches  had  proper  superintendence,  and  legend  has 
preserved  some  few  names  of  bishops,  as  St.  Rumon,  the 
patron  of  Tavistock,  St.  Conoglas,  who  was  buried  at  Glaston- 
bury, St.  rieran,  St.  Carantoc,  St.  Withinoc,  St.  Barnic, 
St.  Elidius,  and  St.  Hildren,  whose  names  are  preserved  in 
Cornish  Kalendars,  but  who  may  have  equally  belonged  to 
Ireland  or  Ikittany. 

In  the  year  813  ICgbert,  the  king  of  Wessex,  overran 
Cornwall,  but  did  not  formerly  annex  it,  as  he  seems  to  have 
annexed  Devonshire,  to  the  West  Saxon  kingdom  ;  for  a 
king  of  Cornwall,  Dumgarth,  is  found  as  late  as  the  year 
875.  Athelstan  finally  reduced  Cornwall  to  subjection  in 
the  year  926,  and  the  Cornish  Church  must  now  have  become 
isolated.  Egbert  and  the  West  Saxon  kings  were  in  the 
closest  alliance  with  the  See  of  Canterbury,  and  prudence, 
as  well  as  the  hope  of  maintaining  an  ecclesiastical  system, 
must  have  led  the  Cornish  church  to  submit  to  the  See  of 
Augustine.  There  is  at  Canterbury  a  copy  of  a  letter 
written  by  Kenstec,  or  Kenstet,  bishop-elect  of  the  Cornish 
people,  in  which  he  professes  his  obedience  to  the  Church 
of  Canterbury,  and  declares  his  faith  to  Ceolnoth,  Arch- 
bishop of  Cantcrbur}-,  A.D.  833-70.  This  may  have  been 
drawn  up  soon  after  Egbert's  visit  to  Cornwall.  King 
Alfred  had  property  in  Cornwall,  in  Triconshire,  or  Trigg, 
which  is  mentioned  in  his  will.  The  spiritual  superinten- 
dence of  these  domains  and  his  dependencies  in  Devonshire 
he  placed  in  the  hands  of  Asser,  a  Briton  of  St.  David's, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Sherborne.  The  influence  of  Asser  in 
Cornwall  may  have  either  strengthened  or  supplanted  that 
of  the  earlier  episcopate.  In  the  year  909  Edward  the 
Elder  founded  a  bishopric  for  Devonshire,  with  its  see  at 
Crediton,  and  annexed  to  it  three  towns  in  Cornwall,  Paw- 
ton,  Callington,  and  Lawhitton,  to  be  missionary  centres 
from  which  Eadulf,  the  newly  appointed  bishop,  might 
annually  visit  the  Cornish  people  who  still  persistetl  in  their 
opposition    to    the    English    and    Roman    discipline.       The 


368  THE   BISHOPRIC    OF  TRURO 

mission  of  Eadulf  and  the  arms  of  Athelstan  finally  in- 
corporated the  Cornish  with  the  English  Church.  Conan, 
the  native  Cornish  bishop,  appears  as  a  member  of  Athel- 
stan's  witenagemot  from  A.D.  931,  and  Cornwall  was  thence- 
forward an  English  diocese. 

The  names  of  Conan's  successors  are  fairly  well  ascer- 
tained. A  bishop  named  Comoere  was  contemporary  with 
King  Edgar,  as  was  also  Wulfsige,  who  must  have  been  an 
Englishman,  and  whose  name  is  attached  to  charters  from 
A.D.  967-80.  His  successors  were  Ealdred,  from  A.D.  993  to 
about  1002,  and  Burhwold  who  flourished  in  1018.  Living, 
the  nephew  of  Burhwold,  and  abbot  of  Tavistock,  became 
Bishop  of  Crediton  in  1027,  and  of  Worcester  in  1038,  and, 
on  Burhwold's  death,  held  Cornwall  with  Crediton.  Under 
Leofric,  the  successor  of  Living,  who  became  Bishop  of 
Crediton  and  Cornwall  in  1046,  the  see  of  the  now  united 
dioceses  was  fixed  at  Exeter. 

It  is  not  now  known  where  the  see  was  originally  fixed. 
In  the  Irish  and  Welsh  Churches  the  system  of  territorial 
dioceses  was  very  imperfectly  developed  ;  in  the  West  Saxon 
Churches,  until  the  very  eve  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  the 
dioceses  coincided  with  the  shires,  in  other  words,  in  the 
Celtic  period  the  bishops  were  bishops  of  churches,  with 
dioceses  very  uncertainly  defined  ;  in  the  West  Saxon  times 
they  were  bishops  of  dioceses,  the  sees  of  which  were  not 
permanently  fixed.  The  Bishop  of  Wiltshire  and  Berkshire, 
for  instance,  fixed  his  see  for  the  one  county  at  Sunning, 
and  for  the  other  at  Ramsbury,  having  a  cathedral  at 
neither.  Somewhat  later  Dorset,  with  its  See  of  Sher- 
borne, was  annexed,  and  after  an  attempt  to  fix  the  sec 
at  Malmesbury,  it  was  finally  settled  at  Salisbury.  Some- 
thing of  the  kind  may  have  taken  place  in  Cornwall  and 
Devon. 

The  see  of  Bishop  Kenstec,  in  the  ninth  century,  was 
fixed  in  the  monastery  called  Dinnurrin,  possibly  Dingerein, 
the   city  of   King   Gerein,  now  Gerrans  or  St.  Gerran's.      If 


AprENJ)ix  r  369 

this  was  the  regular  seat  of  the  bishopric,  it  had  very  soon 
to  give  way  either  to  St.  Germans  or  to  Bodmin. 

1.  St.  Germans  was  the  see  of  Bishop  Burhwold,  and 
there  also  the  historian,  Florence  of  Worcester,  places  the 
episcopal  see  of  Cornwall.  St.  Germans  is  believed  to  have 
borne  the  earlier  name  of  Lanaledh,  and  might  also  be 
Dinniirrin,  for  the  name  is  very  indistinctly  written  in  the 
Canterbury  MS.,  and  in  fact  it  requires  little  more  strain 
on  the  letter  of  the  MS.  to  connect  it  with  Germanus  than 
with  Gerein. 

2.  The  church  of  St.  Petrock  at  Bodmin  was  a  frequent 
residence  of  the  Cornish  bishops.  There  were  granted  the 
manumissions  of  serfs,  the  best-ascertained  of  their  acts. 
St.  Petrock,  co-ordinately  with  St.  German,  was  a  patron 
saint  of  Cornwall ;  and  William  of  Malmesbury,  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  West  Saxon  traditions,  was  unable  to 
decide  at  which  of  the  two  places  the  bishops  had  sat. 
St.  Petrock's-stow  was  destroyed  by  the  Danes  in  a.d.  981, 
and  possibly  the  see  was  then  transferred  to  St.  Germans. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  these  two  churches  had  equal 
claims  to  be  the  see  of  the  bishop  under  the  West  Saxon 
rule  of  diocesan  episcopacy,  or  that  it  was  transferred  from 
one  to  the  other,  in  consequence  of  the  ravages  of  the 
Danes,  just  as  the  See  of  Leicester  was  transferred  to 
Dorchester.  Earlier,  native  bishops  may  have  ruled,  each 
from  his  own  monastery,  and  Kenstec  have  been  bishop  at 
St.  Gerran's. 

Under  the  bishops  of  Exeter,  Cornwall  was  formed  into 
an  archdeaconry,  probably  before  the  close  of  the  eleventh 
century.  It  was  reconstituted  as  a  diocese  with  its  see  at 
Truro,  in  the  year  1876,  by  the  Act  39  &:  40  Victoria,  c.  54, 
and  the  first  bishop,  Dr.  Edward  White  Benson,  was  conse- 
crated at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  on  the  Festival  of  St.  Mark, 
1877,  ~^y  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the  assisting 
Bishops  of  London,  Winchester.  Hereford,  Lincoln,  Salisbury, 
Exeter,  Ely,  and  the  Suffragan  Bishops  of  Nottingham  and 
Dover. 

2   B 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Kenstec  (Dinurrin)  . 
Conan  (St.  Germans) 
Daniel  (St.  Germans) 
Comoere  (Bodmin)  . 


^isljops  of  (Korntoall 

c.     865      Wulfsige  (Bodmin)    .  .     967 

.     931   I  Ealdred  (Bodmin)     .  .     993 

.     955  I  Aethelred          .         .  .1001 

c.     960      Burhwold  (St.  Germans)  .    1018 


Eadulf     . 
Aethelgeard 
Elfwold    . 
Sideman  . 


Lyfing 


^isljops  of  CreiJiton 

909  Elfric 

934  Elfwold    . 

953  Eadnoth  . 
•     973 

^islrops  of  Cornlin-tU  aitD  (Cr!:iiiton 
1027  !  Leofric 


977 


Leofric 

Osbern 

William  Warelwast 

Robert  Chichester 

Robert  Warelwast 

Bartholomew    . 

John  Fitz-duke 

Henry  Marshall 

Simon  de  Apulia 

William  Briwere  or  Bruere 

Richard  Blondy 

Walter  Bronescombe 

Peter  Quivil 

Thomas  de  Bytton 

Walter  de  Stapledon 

James  Barkley  . 

John  de  Grandisson 

Thomas  de  Brantyngham 

Edmund  Stafford 

John  Catterick 


isljopa 

1046 
1073 
1 107 
1138 
1155 


1 161 
1186 
1 194 
1214 

1224 

1245 
1258 
1280 
1292 
1308 

1327 

1327 
1370 

1395 
1419 


1046 


of  6.tctcr 

Edmund  Lacy 

1420 

George  Nevylle 

1458 

John  Bothe 

1465 

Peter  Courtenay 

1478 

Richard  Fox     . 

1487 

Oliver  King 

1493 

Richard  Redmayne  . 

1495 

John  Arundell 

1502 

Hugh  Oldham  . 

1504 

John  Veysey     . 

1519 

Miles  Coverdale 

1551 

John  Veysey  (restored) 

1553 

James  Turberville 

^555 

William  Alley  . 

1560 

William  Bradbridge  .         i 

571-2 

John  Woolton  . 

1578 

Gevase  Babington     . 

1595 

William  Cotton 

1598 

Valentine  Cary 

1621 

Joseph  Hall 

1627 

'■ 

APPENDIX  I 

371 

gisljop 

5  of  (6i"ttcr — continued 

Ralph  Brownrigg 

1642 

John  Ross 

1778 

John  Gauden    . 

1660 

William  Buller 

1792 

Seth  Ward 

1662 

Henry  Reginald  Courtenay 

1797 

Anthony  Sparrow 

1667 

John  Fisher 

1S03 

Thomas  Laniplugh    . 

1676 

George  Pelham 

1807 

Jonathan  Trelawny  . 

1688 

William  Carey 

1820 

Ofspring  Blackall 

1707 

Christopher  Bethell  . 

1830 

Launcelot  Blackburn 

1716 

Henry  Phillpotts 

1831 

Stephen  Weston 

1724 

Frederick  Temple     . 

1869 

Nicholas  Clagett 

1742 

George  Lavington 

1746 

Frederick  Keppel 

in 

1763 

^isbops  of  Cruro 

Edward  White  Benson  .   1877 

George  Howard  Wilkinson  .   18S3 
John  Gott   .  .1891 


APPENDIX    II 


RELIGIOUS   CENSUS,    1676^ 


ARCHDEACONRY   OF   CORNWALL,    1672 
Decanatus  Easte 


, 

—  Number  of- 

, 

Conformists 

Papists     Nonconformists 

Quithiock         .             .         -315 

..         —         ...         19 

Sheriock 

629 

— 

— 

Landilphe 

200 

— - 

— 

Linkinhorne 

517 

— 

— 

Calstock 

483 

— 

3 

Stokeclimsland 

617 

— 

17 

Northill 

250 

— - 

Pillaton 

106 

— 



St.  Mellyn 

209 

— 

— 

St.  Dominick  . 

265 

— 

— 

Anthony 

500 

— 

5 

St.  Johns 

114 

— 

— 

Lawhannick 

270 

— 

— 

Minhinniott     . 

575 

— 

13 

Southill  et  Kellington 

403 

— 

5 

Boterfleming    . 

150 

— 

Rame 

304 

— 

.. 

Maker 

700 

— 

4 

St.  Stephens     . 

632 

— 

..       25 

St.  Ive 

100 

— 

— 

Total 

7339 

— 

..       91 

Printed  in  the  Primary  Vis 

itation 

Charge  of 

3ishop  John  G 

ott,  D.D.,  May, 

1896,  and  reproduced  here  by  his  kind  permission. 

372 


APPENDIX  II 


Ml 


Decanatus  West 


, Number  of- 

, 

Conformists           Papists     Nonconformists 

Duloc               .             .         .     357       ...       —       ...        lo 

St.  Raine 

114         ...         — 

6 

St.  Veype 

300         ...         — 

2 

Lantglosse 

•      541         •••         — 

2 

Lansalloes 

280         ...         — 

I 

Landreath 

400          ..         — 

1 

Mavall 

250         ...         — 

19 

St.  Nyot 

1000         ...         — 

— 

Pelint 

330         ■■■         — 

6 

St.  Martins 

720         ...         — 

•        33 

Liskeard 

.    1418         ...            I 

...       79 

Talland 

400         ...         — 

I  r 

St.  Cleeve 

430         ...         — 

2 

St.  Pinnock 

160         ...         — 

2 

Warleggan 

.         90         ...         — 

4 

Cardenham 

.      460         ...           7 

4 

Total 

7250       ...          8 

..      182 

Decanatus  Trigg-AIajor 

Altemon           .              .         .412        ...       —       ...       — 

Werrington 

255        •••       — 

— 

Mary  Weeke 

250       ...       — 

— 

Boyton 

150       ...       — 

— 

Egloskerry 

100       ...       — 

— 

Stratton 

800       ...       — 

7 

St.  Stephens 

437        •••        — 

6 

Tresmeere 

60        ...       — 

— 

Landast 

80        ...        — 

— 

Davidstovve 

145        ...        — 

— 

St.  Giles 

no        ...        — 

— 

Jacobstow 

200        ...        — 

— 

Marhamchurch 

169        ...        — 

— 

Otterham 

630        ...        — 

— 

Lancells 

.350        ...        — 



374 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Decan.\tus  Trigg-Major— ^^«//;«/'^^/ 


Conformists           Papists 

Nfonconformists 

St.  Cleather      .              .         .       73       ...          6 

— 

Lanceston 

2000       ...       — 

13 

Tremaine 

63        ...       - 

— 

Poughill 

300       ...       — 

II 

Kilkehampton 

500       ...       — 

— 

St.  Thomas 

300       ...       — 

— 

St.  Julyott 

123       ...       — 

— 

Moorewinstowe 

400       ...       — 

— 

Whitstone 

250       ...       — 

3 

Tremglosse 

106       ...          4 

— 

North  Petherwyn 

300       ...       — 

— 

Poundstock 

250       ...       — 

— 

North  Tamerton 

360       ...       — 

— 

Total 

9173       ...        10 

40 

Decanatus  Trigg-Minor 

Lanteglosse      .             .         .     334       ..        — 

5 

Advent 

112        ...       — 

— 

Bodmyn 

1200        ...       • — 

— 

St.  Tudye 

200       ...       — 

7 

St.  Teath 

400       ...       — 

3 

Lesneuth 

77        •••       — 

— 

Tintagell 

354       ••• 

2 

Michaelstovve 

129       ...       — 

4 

St.  Brewar 

•     320       ...       — 

2 

St.  Minver 

550       ■••       — 

16 

Forrabury 

.       63       ...       - 

—      . 

Minster 

144       ...       — 

6 

Trevalga 

78       ...       - 

I 

Endelhan 

•     530       ...       — 

12 

BUsland 

.300       ...       — 

5 

St.  Mabyn 

.     150       ...       — 

II 

St.  Kevve 

500       ...       — 

II 

Helland 

126       ...       — 

5 

Total 

•  5567       •••       — 

...       90 

APPENDIX  II 


375 


Decanatus  Powder 


-Number  of- 


Roch  . 
Fowcy 

Tywardreath     . 

St.  Sampsare   . 

Lostwithiell 

Lanilivery 

Truroe 

St.  Tue 

Corneley 

St.  Austell 

St.  Blazey 

Filley 

St.  Dennis 

Gorron 

St.  Just 

St.  Michael  Cashaire 

Veryan 

Merther 

St.  Mewan 

St.  Stephens     . 

Ruanlanihorne 

Cubye 

St.  Allen 

Megavissey 

Ladock 

St.  Michael  Penkivel 

Probus 

Kenwyn 

Kea 

Fevek 

Creed 

Clemente 

St.  Erme 

Lamorran 


Conformists 
240 

487 
176 
300 
340 
700 
1000 

67 

1000 

230 

190 

80 

500 
40 
600 
1 10 
120 
560 
100 
300 

300 
300 
172 
500 
140 

250 

340 

200 

140 

90 


Papists     Nonconformists 
4 
35 


6 

I 

10 

3 
21 

4 
2 
6 


Total     10,909 


4 
6 
I 

8 
6 
2 
2 

12 

10 

5 

150 


376 


THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Decanatus   Pyder 


-Number  of- 


Conforniists 


Papists     Nonconformist? 


Withiell 

Padstowe 

Lanevett 

CoUumbe  Major 

INIawgan 

Colan 

Collumbe  Minor 

St.  Wenn 

Newlyn 

Cubert 

St.  Ennoder 


Phillack 

Guithian 

St.  Just 

St.  Hillary 

Camburne 

Zennor 

St.  Earth 

Peranuthnoe 

Ludgvan 

Guiniver 

Redruth 

Ninlelant 

St.  Ives 

Sancreet 

Tynidnack 

Illuggan 

Pawle 

Madderne 

Crovvan 


.   500 

2 

10 

.300 

— 

— 

900 

I 

I 

.   310    .. 

17 

— 

140 

— 

— 

.   700 

— 

— 

•   239 

— 

— 

400 

9 

5 

240 

— 

— 

400 

— 

11 

T 

otal  .4311 

29 

33 

.c 

ANATUS  PeNNITP 

I 

.  140 

— 

2 

•  130 

— 

II 

•  733   •• 

— 

18 

.  488   .. 

— 

18 

.540 

— 

2 

•  203 

— 

— 

.300 

— 

— 

.    .   S3   .. 

— 

3 

.430 

— 

— 

.300 

— 

2 

700 

— 

2 

■  250 

— 

— 

600 

— 

— 

.  165   .. 

— 

— 

no 

— 

— 

•    550     •• 

— 

— 

700 

— 

3 

100 

— 

I 

.  400 

— 

9 

1 

otal  .  6922 

— 

71 

APPENDIX  JI 


377 


Decanatus  Kerrier 


1 

—  Nuiiiljcr  0 

f . 

Conformists 

Papists 

Nonconformists 

G\vinna[)p 

.      800 

— 

7 

Ruan  Minor    . 

100 

— 

I 

Sithney 

•      300 

— 

6 

St.  Keverne 

•       150 

— 

6 

Manaccan 

220 

— 

— 

Girmoe 

130         . 

— 

4 

Anthony 

.       140 

— 

I 

Mawnan 

216         . 

— 

— 

Cury 

210 

— 

— 

St.  Martins 

190 

— 

2 

Gunwalloe 

105 

— 

2 

Constenton 

640 

— 

8 

Breagne 

700 

— 

5 

Grade 

100 

— 

Landewednack 

146 

— 

2 

Ruan  Major     . 

S5         • 

— 

— 

Mullyn 

257 

— 

— 

Perranarwortliall 

2  12 

— . 

4 

Gwendvar 

500 



5 

Snithians 

338           .. 

— 

I 

Helston 

500 

I 

6 

Mawgan 

340           .. 

— 

3 

Total 


6379 


63 


Peculiars  of  Exeter  Dean  and  Chapter 


St.  Winnaw 

340 

Brodock 

120 

Boconnock 

130 

Perran  in  ye  Sand.s 

800 

St.  Agnes 

400 

Total 


1790 


378 


THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Peculiars  of  Bishops  in  Cornwall 

I Number  of- 


Leyant 

Lavvhitton 

St.  Pethernyn  . 

Trewen 

St.  Germans     . 

Landrake 

St.  Erney 

Egloshaile 

St.  Breocke 

Padstowe 

St.  Issy 

St.  Iwall 

Little  Petweke 

St.  Meryn 

St.  Ervan 

Gerran 

Mylor 

Mabe 

Anthony 

Gluivas  Penryntown 

Budocke 

Fallmouth 


Conformists 

375 
215 
372 
67 
900 


340 
470 
500 
320 
172 
60 

245 
220 

440 
275 

100 
1000 

TOO 


otal 


6171 


Peculiars  of  Bishop  in  Cornwall  — 
„  Exeter  Dean  and  Chapter  — 
Kerrier 
Pennith 
Pyder  . 
Powder 
Trigg-Minor 
Trigg-Major 
West 
East 


Total 


Papists 


Nonconformists 
I 


50 


67 


10 
13 


4 
I 
2 

I 
20 
12 


117 

117 

5 

63 

71 

33 

150 
90 
40 

182 
91 


Excerpta  ex  MS.  penes  Bibliothecam  Gulielmi   Salt  defuncti  in 
Stafford.  HERBERT   REYNOLDS 

January  2j,   iSg6. 


APPENDIX    III 

LIST  OF  THE   RECTORS   OF  TRURO^ 

1264.  Dominus  de  Belsal,  Sub-diaconus.  Instituted  to  the  Church 
of  St.  Mary  of  Tryeru,  by  Bp.  Bronescombe. 

1278.  Dominus  Nicholaus  de  Castello,  Capellanus.  Instituted  to 
the  Church  or  Chapel  of  St.  Mary  of  Triueru,  by  Bp.  Brones- 
combe, at  Teynton,  on  Monday  next  after  Epiphany. 

No  date.     Dominus  Elyas,  Rector  in  1283. 

1339.  Dominus  Galfridus  in  Venella  de  Tadelawe,  Presbiter. 
Instituted  to  the  Church  of  Treureu,  by  Bp.  Grandisson, 
at  Clist,  on  Aug.  22.     Patron,  Thos.  Prideaux. 

1349.  Dominus  Radulphus  de  Polwyl,  Presbiter.  Instituted  to 
the  Church  of  Truru,  by  Bp.  Grandisson,  at  CHst,  on 
Sep.   20.     Patron,  John  of  Mountnyrom. 

1362.  Johannes  de  Trewythenek,  Clericus.  Instituted  to  the 
Church  of  Trufru,  by  Bp.  Grandisson,  at  Chudleigh,  on 
Sep.  15.     Patron,  Robert  Prideaux,  of  Nyweham. 

No  date.     Thomas  Wille.       Died  Rector. 

141 2.  Nicholas  Treberveth.  Instituted  to  the  Church  of  the 
Blessed  jMary  of  Treureu,  on  March  18.  Patron,  Robert 
Hull.     Died  Rector. 

1450.  Dominus  Simon  Kestell,  Capellanus.  Instituted  to  the 
Church  of  Truru,  by  Bp.  Lacy,  at  Chudleigh,  on  May  12. 
Patron,  Henry  Bodrugan.     Died  Rector. 

1461-2.  Dominus  Reginaldus  Thomas,  Capellanus.  Instituted  to 
the  Church  of  the  Blessed  Mary  of  Truru,  by  Bp.  Neville's 
Vicar,  at  Exeter,  March  10.     Died  Rector. 

^  Compiled  by  the  Rev.  Prel).  Hingeston-Randolph  for  the  Cornish  See  atni 
Cathedral. 

379 


3 So  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

1499.     Dominus   Thomas    Baslegh,    Presbiter.      Instituted   to   the 

Church  of  Truru,  by  Bp.  Redmayne's  Vicar,  on  Sep.  10. 

Peter  Eggecomb,  patron.     Resigned. 
1 5 13.     Dominus  Thomas   Colcott,  Capellanus.     Instituted  to  the 

Church  of   Trewro,  by  Bp.  Oldham's  Vicar,  on    Sep.    i. 

Died  Rector. 
"1522.     Dominus   John    Overowe,    Capellanus.      Instituted   to   the 

Church  of  Trewroo,  by  Bp.  Vesey's  Vicar,   on  Apr.    12. 

Resigned. 
1533.     INIagister  Walter  Burgayne,     Instituted  by  surrogate  of  Bp. 

Vesey's  Vicar-General,  on  May  10,  to  the  Church  of  Truro. 

Resigned. 
1 54 1.     Thomas  Ffuyche,  Clericus.      Instituted  by  Bp.  Vesey,   on 

Sep.  I,  to  the  Church  of  Truroo.     Patron,  Richard  Edge- 
combe.    Resigned. 
1546.     Dominus  Nicholas  Wenmouthe,  Priest.     Instituted  by  Bp. 

Vesey's  Vicar-General,  on  Dec.  20,  to  the  Church  of  Truroo. 
1558.     Dominus  Richardus  Ffosse,  Clericus,  Collated  (by  lapse)  by 

Bishop  Turbervile  to  the  Church  of  Truro,  May  12. 
1558.     William  Dawson  {Inslituiion  not  recorded).     Died  Rector. 
1624.     George  Phippen.     Instituted  by  Bp.  Cary,  at  London,  on 

Dec.   17,  to  the  Church  of  Truroe.     Patron,  Hugh  Bos- 

cavven.     {^Apparently  he  was  deprived  by  the  Puritans^ 
No  date.     Josias  Hall.     Died  Rector. 
1666-7.     Samuel    Thomas.      Patron,    Richard    Edgecomb.      Died 

Rector.     Instituted  March  22. 

1692.  Robert  Bovvbeare.      Instituted  March  25.      Patron,  Pearse 

Edgcumbe.     Ceded. 

1693.  Simon  Pagett.     Instituted  Nov.  8. 

171 1.     Joseph  Jane,   b.a.     Instituted  by  Bp.    Blackall   (by  lapse). 

Died  Rector.     Instituted  May  29. 
1746.     St.   John   Eliot,   b.a.     Collated   (by  lapse)   June   3.     {Also 

Rector  of  Ladock.)     Died  Rector. 
I  761.     Charles  Pye,  b.a.     Instituted  July  9.     Patron,  George,  Lord 

Edgcumbe.     Died  Rector. 
1803.     Thomas  Carlyon,  m.a.     Instituted  May  3.      Patron,  Right 

Hon.  Richard,  Earl  of  Mount  Edgcumbe.     {Also  Vicar  of 

Probus.)     Died  Rector. 


APPENDIX  III  381 

1826.  Thomas  Stackhousc  Carlyon,  m.a.  Instituted  July  10. 
Ceded. 

1833.  Edward  Dix,  m.a.  Instituted  Dec.  12.  Oded.  {After- 
guards   Vicar  of  Newly n.) 

1839.  William  ^Voodis  Harvey,  m.a.  Instituted  March  i.  {Pre- 
bendary of  Exeter.)  Patron,  the  same  Earl.  ( Whilt 
Rector.,  hifftse/f  becafiie  Patron. )     Resigned. 

i860.  Edmund  George  Harvey,  1!.a.  Instituted  July  7.  Ceded. 
{Afterwards  Vicar  of  Mullion.) 

1865.     Henry  Bawden  BuUocke,  m.a.     Instituted  June  i.     Ceded. 

1875.  Clement  Fox  Harvey,  m.a.  Instituted  Apr.  30.  {Honorary 
Canon  of  Truro.)    Ceded.     {Afterwards  Vicar  of  Probus.) 

1885.  James  Henry  Moore,  m.a.  Collated  Oct.  7  by  the  Patron, 
George,  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro.  {Hofiorary  Canon  and 
first  Sub- Dean  of  Truro  Cathedral^     Ceded. 

1889.  Cecil  Frederick  Joseph  Bourke,  m.a.  Collated  May  7  bv 
the  Patron,  George,  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro.  {Honorary 
Canon  and  Sub-Dean  of  Truro  Cathedral.)     Ceded. 

1896.  Loraine  Estridge,  m.a.     Collated   Jan.   30   by  the    Patron, 

John,  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro.    {Hon.  Canon  and  Sub-Dean 
of  Truro   Cathedral.)     Ceded. 

1897.  Frederic  Evelyn  Gardiner,  m.a.     Collated  Aug.    13  by  the 

Patron,  John,  Lord  Bishop  of  Truro.     {Honorary  Canoti 
attd  Sub-Dean  of  Truro  Cathedral.) 


APPENDIX    IV 

CATHEDRAL  OFFICES  AND  THEIR  OCCUPANTS 

Edward  White  Benson,  d.d.      .  ...  187 7-1 883 

George  Howard  Wilkinson,  d.d.  .  .         .  1 883-1 891 

John  Gott,  D.D.  .  .  .  .         .  i8;i 

5can 

George  Howard  Wilkinson,  d.d.  .  .         .  1887-1891 

John  Gott,  D.D.  .  .  .  .  1891 

|)r£££ntor 

Augustus  Blair  Donaldson,  m.a.  .  .         .  1885 

(KljanrcUor 

George  Herbert  Whitaker,  M.A.i  .  .         .  1885-1887 

Arthur  John  Worlledge,  M.A.     .  ...  1887 

iltissioner 

Arthur  James  Mason,  ]\i. A.         .  ...  1878-1884 

Francis  Edward  Carter,  ai.a.     .  ...  1884-1895 

Benedict  George  Hoskyns,  m.a,  .  .         .  1 895-1 902 

Gerald  Aviator  Sampson,  m.a.     .  ...  1902 

James  Henry  Moore,  m.a.         .  ...  1887-1888 

Cecil  Frederic  Joseph  Bourke,  m.a.  .  .         .  1889-1S95 

Loraine  Estridge,  m.a.  .  ...  1896-1897 

Frederic  Evelyn  Gardiner,  m.a.  .  .         .  1897 

1  Canon  Whitakcr  was  Honorary  Chancellor  from  1S7S  to  1885. 
382 


APPENDIX  IV 


383 


(I  rcasurcr 
Arthur  Christopher  'i'hynne,  m.a. 

Arrljiicitrou  of  (CornUiall 
William  John  Phillpotts,  m.a.    . 
John  Rundle  Cornish,  m.a. 

S^rrbticaron  of  ^oiimin 
Reginald  Hobhouse,  m.a. 
Henry  lioussemayne  Du  Boulay,  m.a. 

^rcsiticnt  of  Ijonorarn  ®anons 
Thomas  Phillpotts,  m.a. 
James  Henry  Moore,  m.a. 

yjoiiorrtrn  QDiiuons 
St.  Coroitin        .     Richard  Martin,  m.a. 

Thomas  Hullah,  .m.a. 
St.  German  Richard  Vautier,  m.a. 

St.  Piran  .         .     Saltren  Rogers,  jm.a.    . 
Si.  Carantoc       .     Clement  Fox  Harvey,  m.a. 
St.  Biiriefia         .     John  Rundle  Cornish,  m.a. 
-5"/.  In         .         .     George  Herbert  Whitaker,  ini.a. 

Joseph  Sidney  Tyacke,  m.a. 
St.  Uni      .         .     Thomas  Borlase  Coulson,  m.a. 

Frederick  James  Bone,  m.a. 
St.  Braeca  .     George  Martin,  d.d.    . 

Francis  Vansittart  Thornton,  m.a. 

Edward  Townend,  m.a. 

Henry  Kemble  Southwell,  m.a. 
St.  Germoc         .     Richard  Hugh  Keats  Buck,  b.a. 

John  Balmer  Jones,  m.a. 

John  Stephen  Flynn,  b.d. 

Augustus  Vansittart  Thornton,  m.a 
St.  Petroc  .         .     George  Howard  Wilkinson,  m.a. 

Henry  Scott  Holland,  m.a. 

Arthur  James  Mason,  m.a. 

George  Herbert  Whitaker,  m.a. 


1877 


1845-1888 
1888 


1878-189: 
1892 


1879-1890 
1890 


1878 
1888 
1878 
1878 
1878 
1878 
1878- 
1885 
i88o- 

1S95 
i88o- 
1882- 
1895- 
1901 
i8Si- 
1894- 
1901- 
1902 
1878 
1S83 
1884 
1S94 


-1885 

-1895 

-1882 
•1895 
-1901 

■1892 
■1901 

-1902 

-1883 
-1884 
-1893 


3^4 


THE   BISHOPRIC    OF  TRURO 


Honorarn  Cattons — continued 

St.  Constant'uie  .     William  Pester  Chappel,  m.a. 

Brian  Christopherson,  m.a. 
St.  Paul    .         .     Paul  Bush,  i\i.a. 
St.  Samson  .     Henry  Houssemayne  DuBoulay,  m.a 

St.  Cybi     .         .     Arthur  James  Mason,  m.a. 

Francis  Edward  Carter,  m.a.    . 

Benedict  George  Hoskyns,  m.a. 

Gerald  A^ictor  Sampson,  m.a. 
St.  Nedan  .     Allen  Page  Moor,  m.a. 

St.  Teilo     .         .     James  Henry  Moore,  :\i.a. 
St.  Adivenna      .     George  Herbert  Whitaker,  m.a. 

William  Frederick  Everest,  b.a. 
St.  Columb  .     Richard  Farquhar  Wise,  m.a. 

Stamford  Raffles  Flint,  m.a.     . 
St.  Winivalloe    .     Vernon  Harcourt  Aldham,  m.a. 
St.  Meriadoc       .     Cecil  Frederick  Joseph  Bourke,  m.a 

Loraine  Estridge,  m.a. 

Frederic  Evelyn  Gardiner,  m.a. 
St.  Aldheljti         .     Thomas  Phillpotts,  m.a. 

Joseph  Hammond,  b.a.,  ll.p,. 

Thomas  Jackson  Nunns,  m.a. 
St.  Neot     .         .     Arthur  Christopher  Thynne,  m.a. 
St.  Rumon  .     Henry  Tremayne  Rodd,  b.a. 

Charles  Edward  Hammond,  m.a. 
St.  Conafi .         .     Edward  Shuttleworth,  m.a. 

Frederick  Hockin,  m.a. 

Richard  James  Martyn,  m.a.   . 


1900 

1882 

1882 

1878 

1885 

1895 

1902 

1883 

1885 

1887 

1890 

1879. 

1896 

1889 

1889- 

1896- 

1897 

1878- 

1892- 

1902 

1877 

1890 

1894 

1878- 

1883- 

1902 


1900 


1884 

1895 
1902 


1896 


1896 
1897 

1890 
1902 


-1893 

1883 
1902 


(Kljanciilor  of  tljc  Qi'J^csc 
William  John  Phillpotts,  m.a.    .  ...      1877-ii 

Robert  Macleane  Paul,  m.a.      .  ...      1888 


ilcgistrar  of   tljc  ^toccsc 
William  Arnold  Walpole  Keppel,  b.a.       .  .         .      187 7-1  < 

Arthur  Burch  .  .  .  .         .      1888 


APPENDIX  IV 


385 


George  Henry  Somerset  Wal[)ole,  b.a.' 

ITicc-CbniuclIor 
Hubert  Oakes  Fearnley  Whittingstall,  m.a. 
Charles  Henry  Robinson,  m.a. 
Henry  Richard  Jennings,  m.a. 


1886-1890 
1890-1893 
1895-1900 


Patriot 

James  John  Agar-Ellis,  u.a.       .  ...  1887-1888 

Thomas  Fisher  Maddrell,  m.a.  .              .         .  1 888-1 891 

Henry  Frederick  Wilkinson       .  ...  1891-1892 

Edward  Ormerod,  n.A.  ...  1 893-1 896 

Philip  Upstone,  m.a.                   .  ...  1897-1899 

priest  i^irar 

Carey  Dickinson,  u.\.                .  ...  1879-1882 

Thomas  Fisher  Maddrell,  m.a.  .              .         .  18S8-1896 

Philip  Upstone,  m.a.                   .  ...  1897-1899 

William  Henry  Arthur  Cullin,  m.a.  .              .          .  1899-1902 

|3nc5t  ITkar  anti  Curate  of  ^t.  ittarn's 

George  Henry  Somerset  Walpole,  b.a.^  .              .         .  18 78-1 880 

Bernard  Edgar  Holmes,  m.a.    .  ...  1888-1S89 

Arthur  Mirrielees  Cazalet,  b.a.  .  .             .         .  1 888- 1 898 

Edward  Harry  Shore,  b.a.          .  ...  1S9S-1900 

Howard  Willmore  Sedgwick,  b.a.  .              .  1900 

KjonontrtT  ^ritst  ITicar 

Charles  Arthur  Le  Geyt,  i;.a.    .  ...  1S94-1896 

piorcsan  Hfnspcctor  of   ^cljools 

George  James  Athill,  m.a.  ...  1877-1883 

John  Brown,  m.a.'-  ...  1883-1885 

Richard  Henry  Harris,  m.a.      .  ...  18S5-1SS6 

Edward  Francis  Taylor,  m.a.     .  .              .      '    .  18S7 


^  Now  .m.a.  and  D.v. 
2  C 


-  Now  the  Rev.  John  Gardner-Brown. 


-.86 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


IJrcbcntijTrks  of  (BntidaDu.i     lS7!l-inO'> 

King's  or  Bodmin  .     Francis  Edward  Carter,  m.a.         .  1 880-1 885 

Arthur  Lindsay  Palmes,  m.a.        .  1885 

Trehaverock  .         .     Frederick  Bell,  i;.a.  .         .  1873-1890 

Reginald  Heber  Treffry,  m.a.       .  1890 

Marnefs        .         .     John  James  Glencross  Every,  k.a.  1876 


^ub-Crcasurcr 


Thomas  Henry  Hodge 


1877 


©rganist  anti  ©bntnitaGtcr 

George  Robertson  Sinclair  - 
Mark  James  Monk,  Mus.  Doc. 


1881-1889 
i8go 


The  Prebends  appear  to  have  l)een  founded,  in  the  first  instance,  a.d.  1266. 
Mr.  Sinclair  received  the  Lambeth  degree  of  Mus.  Doc.  on  July  24th,  1899. 


APPENDIX   V 

SCHEME  OF  SUBJECTS  FOR    THE  STAINED    WINDOWS 
IN  TRURO   CATHEDRAL 

The  scheme  of  subjects  for  the  above,  which  has  been 
carefully  prepared,  and  which  it  is  hoped  will  some  day 
be  carried  out  in  its  completeness,  is  designed  to  illustrate 
the  dealings  of  God  with  man  from  the  beginning  of  creation 
until  the  consummation  of  all  things,  through  His  Eternal 
Word  and  Holy  Spirit,  manifested  in  the  lives  and  characters 
of  all  His  servants,  both  of  the  Old  and  New  Covenant. 
The  series  begins  with  the 

Mcst  MiniiDlit 
where,   in  the   rose,   will    be   depicted  the  symbol  of  the  Creator 
Spirit,  and  in  the  four  lights  the  Creation  and  the  Fall. 

1.  The  Creation  of  Light,  Herbs  and  Trees,  Sun  and  Moon. 

2.  Whales,  Fowl,  Beasts. 

3.  Creadon  of  Adam,  the  Naming  of  the  Creatures,  the  Forma- 
tion of  Eve. 

4.  The  Temptation  of  Eve,  the  Judgment  on  Fallen  Man,  the 
Expulsion  from  Eden. 

At  the  sides,  St.  Michael  and  St.  Gabriel,  the  Archangel  leaders 
of  the  Heavenly  Hosts,  ministering  to  the  race  of  men. 

The  series  is  continued  in  the  (Clcrtatorn  where,  in  the  thirty- 
two  lights  of  the  Nave,  will  be  seen  — 

Adam  and  Eve.  Abel  and  Enoch. 

Noah  and  Shem.  Melchisedek  and  Abraham. 

Sarah  and  Isaac.  Rebekah  and  Jacob. 

Leah  and  Judah.  Rachel  and  Joseph. 

Moses  and  Miriam.  Aaron  and  Phinehas. 

Joshua  and  Rahab.  Deborah  and  Barak. 

Gideon  and  Jephthah.  Samson  and  Eli. 

Ruth  and  Samuel.  Elijah  and  Elisha. 

387 


i88 


THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


In  the  Transepts — 
Souih 
David  and  Solomon. 
Hezekiah  and  Eliakim. 
Josiah  and  Zerubbabel. 
Nehemiah  and  Esther. 


N'orth 
Ahiathar  and  Zadok. 
Jehoiada  and  Zechariah  his  son. 
Azariah  and  Hilkiah. 
Joshua  (son  of  Josedech)  and 

Ezra. 
Simon  (son  of  Onias)  and 

Judas  Maccabaeus. 

tljc  (Kljoxr 

The  four  greater  Prophets.       The  twelve  lesser  Prophets. 


South-east  Transept 
Baruch  and  Tobit. 
Susanna  and  the  Mother 
of  the  Seven  Martyrs. 


North-east  Transept 

Job  and  Agur. 
Author  of  "Wisdom,"  and 
Jesus  son  of  Sirach. 


ll£tro-(KIjoir 

Simeon  and  Anna.  Zacharias  and  Elizabeth.     • 

©rgan  (Kljambcr 

Jubal.  Asaph. 

The  Great  Rose  Window  ^  of  the 

llortlj  f^ranscpt 

forms  the  link  between  the  Church's  life  in  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, and  represents  the  genealogy  of  the  Second  Adam,  the 
Incarnate  Son  of  God,  depicted  as  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  (in 
the  centre),   sprung  from  the  first  Adam,  according  to  the  flesh, 

through 

1.  Adam,  Seth,  Enoch,  Noah. 

2.  Shem,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob. 

3.  Judah,  Salmon,  Boaz,  Jesse. 

4.  David,  Solomon,  Asa,  Jehoshaphat. 

5.  Joash,  Hezekiah,  Manasseh,  Josiah. 

6.  Salathiel,  Zerubbabel,  Matthat,  Joachim. 


^  These  are  already  inserted. 


APPENDIX  V  389 

In   the   Lancets  below  are  depicted  the  women  mentioned  in 
the  Genealogy — 

1.  Eve.  4.    Rahab. 

2.  Sarah.  5.    Ruth. 

3.  Tamar.  6.    Bathsheba. 

This  series  is  now  continued  in  the  Great  \Vindow  of  the 
|lortb-£nst  S^ranscpt 

where,  in  the  four  upper  lights,  are  given  : — 

I.     TYPES    OF    THE    INCARNATION 

Burning  Bush,  Gideon's   Fleece,  Elisha  stretching  himself  on  the 
child,  Jacob's  Ladder. 

2.     TYPES    OF   THE    ATONEMENT 

Sacrifice  of  Isaac,  Passover,  Brazen  Serpent,  Smitten  Rock. 

3.     TYPES    OF   THE    RESURRECTION 

Daniel  coming  out  of  the  den  of  lions,  Jonah,  Joseph,  Samson  and 
Gates  of  Gaza. 

4.     TYPES    OF   THE    ASCENSION 

Elijah,  Entry  of  Ark  into  Jerusalem,  David's  return  after  slaughter 
of  Goliath,  The  Great  Day  of  Atonement. 

In  the  lower  lights  are  : — 

I.     TYPES    OF    THE    CHURCH 

Formation  of  Eve,  Aaron's  Rod,  Moses  laying  his  hands  on  Joshua. 

2.     TYPES    OF    HOLY    BAPTIS.M 

Noah's  Ark,  Coming  up  from  the  Red  Sea,  Naaman  in  Jordan. 

3.     TYPES    OF   THE    HOLY    EUCHARIST 

Melchizedek,  The  Manna,  The  Grapes  of  Eschol. 

4.     TYPES    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

The  Sceptre  held  out  to  Esther,  The  Seven-branched  Candlestick, 
The  Building  of  the  Temple. 

The  centre  and  climax  of  the  whole  series  is  in 

S>ljc  ©rent  (Bast  uottiiDoUT  ^ 
where  is  represented  the  fulfilment  of  all  these  types  in  the  Person 
and  work  of  the  Incarnate  Son  of  God,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

^  These  are  already  inserted. 


390  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

III  the  three  Loiver  Lights 
are  represented  three  great  mysteries — The  Incarnation,  the  Passion, 
the  Resurrection,  manifesting  our  Lord  in  His  Humihation,  passing 
onwards  by  the  transition  of  the  Resurrection  Life  to  His  Glory. 

On  the  left— 

1.  The  Annunciation. 

2.  The  Visitation. 

3.  The  Annunciation  to  the  Shepherds. 

4.  The  Adoration  of  the  Magi. 
///  the  centre — 

1.  The  Last  Supper. 

2.  The  Agony. 

3.  The  Ecce  Homo. 

4.  The  Crucifixion. 
On  the  right — 

1.  The  Dead  Christ  on  His  Mother's  knees. 

2.  The  Burial. 

3.  The  Women  at  the  Sepulchre. 

4.  The  Resurrection. 

In  the  three  Upper  Lights 
The  Lord  in  glory,  surrounded  by  "Angels  and  Archangels  and  all 
the  company  of  Heaven,"  and  Saints  gathered  from  among  men  of 
either  covenant,  and  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  tongues,  before 
the  Throne  and  before  the  Lamb.  The  fulfilment  of  St.  Paul's  words 
in  Philippians  ii.  5-12. 

In  the  Central  Light 

is  seen  above,  the  Glorified  Redeemer ;  at  His  feet,  three  mighty 
Archangels ;  below,  the  Blessed  Mother  of  the  Incarnate  Son  of 
God,  with  the  Holy  Innocents ;  and  in  the  lowest  compartment,  the 
Adoration  of  the  Lamb  — Revelation  v. 

/;/  the  Northern  Light 
are  the  patriarchs  from  Adam  to  Jacob,  below  them  Angels,  and 
then  six  Apostles  with  St.  Paul ;  again  come  Angels,  and  further 
still  a  company  of  Martyrs,  most  of  whom  are  chosen  as  having 
Cornish  Churches  dedicated  to  them  —  St.  Denys,  St.  Blaise, 
St.  Alphege,  St.  Alban,  St.  Faith,  St.  Agnes,  St.  JuUtta,  St.  Mar- 
garet— and  in  the  lowest  compartment,  the  Glory  of  the  Word  of 
God  as  depicted  in  Revelation  xix.  11. 


APPENDIX    V  391 

In  the  Southern  Light 
Above  arc  the  Prophets  from  Moses  to  St.  John  the  Baptist,  then 
Angels,  and  below  six  Apostles  with  St.  Barnabas  ;  then  again  more 
Angels,  and  further  still  the  four  Greek  and  four  Latin  Doctors  of 
the  Church  ;  in  the  lowest  compartment,  the  Angel  showing  St.  John 
the  visions. 

In  the  Cireat  Window  of  the 

^outlj-cnst  Oi^ranscpt  ^ 

are  seen  events  of  the  thirty-three  years'  life  and  ministry — 

1.  The  Appearance  of  the  Angel  to  the  Shepherds,  the  Adoration 
of  the  Magi. 

2.  The  Flight  into  Egypt,  the  Finding  in  the  Temple,  the  Home 
in  Nazareth,  the  Baptism. 

3.  The  Temptation,  the  first  Miracle,  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount, 
the  Transfiguration. 

The  link  between  the  Person  and  work  of  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church  and  the  Saints  of  the  New  Testament  is  given  in  the 
window  of  the 

(in-cat  .^outlj  (EransEpt^ 

where,  in  the  rose,  is  depicted  the  Mystery  of  Pentecost,  the  Descent 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  Apostles ;  all  of  whom  are  represented 
in  the  twelve  compartments,  with  their  respective  emblems. 

In  the  three  lights  below  are  depicted  various  manifestations  of  the 
working  of  that  Divine  Spirit  in  the  various  great  crises  of  the  Church's 
history,  through  which  it  has  been  guided  by  the  abiding  presence  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  since  His  first  descent  on  the  day  of  Pentecost. 

1.  The  work  of  Stephen,  the  Baptism  of  Cornelius,  St.  Paul 
at  Athens. 

2.  The  Council  of  Jerusalem,  the  Council  of  Nice,  and  figures  of 
great  leaders  of  the  Councils  of  the  Church— St.  James,  St.  Cyprian, 
and  St.  Athanasius. 

3.  St.  Lawrence  displaying  the  poor  as  being  the  treasures  of  the 
Church,  the  Conversion  of  Constantine,  St.  Augustine  preaching  at 
Canterbury. 

The  whole  of  the  windows  in  the  aisles  is  devoted  to  a  great 
series  of  Saints  and  worthies  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  of  the 
English  Branch  of  it,  ranging  from  the  earliest  days  since  Pentecost 
down  to  the  present  day. 

^  These  are  already  inserted. 


392  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

^t  tijc  (Bnti  of  tljE  Unrtl)  ^is\t^ 
is  seen  St.  Stephen,  the  first  Deacon  and  Proto-Martyr. 

St.  John  the  Divine,  two  types  of  saintly  character — the  one  of 
eager  zealous  work,  the  other  of  patient  waiting  contemplation,  both 
sanctified  by  suffering,  martyrdom,  and  confessorship ;  two  eminent 
manifestations  of  the  Life  of  the  Incarnate  God,  the  Glorified 
Redeemer,  "glorified  in  His  saints." 

Below  the  figure  of  St.  Stephen  are  the  scenes  of  his  testimony 
before  the  Sanhedrin  and  his  death. 

Below  that  of  St.  John  are  the  scenes  of  his  leading  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary  from  Calvary,  and  of  his  teaching  in  his  old  age  at 
Ephesus. 

In  the  Retro-Choir 

are  depicted  Apostles,  or  companions  and  contemporaries  of  the 
same,  mentioned  in  the  Apostolic  writings. 

On  the  South  Side 
Light  Scene 

[  St.  Peter  \ 

^  I-  -|  St.  James  the  Great  r  Our  Lord's  Charge  to  St.  Peter. 

I  St.  :\Iark  J 

[  St.  Tames  the  Less  1  c-*.   t                  ■  •       c^  -n     i       ^ 

1       I        ; ,     ,  St.  lames  receiving  St.  Paul  and 

^  2.  -  St.  Matthew  \      .,,   -d        u 

K^,,  bt.  Barnabas. 

V  St.  Ihomas  ) 

On  the  North  Side 

Light  Scene 

{  St.  Paul  \ 

^  I-  -j  St.  Luke  I  The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul. 

I  St.  Mary  Magdalene  i 

j  St.  Timothy  \ 

^  2.  •  St.  Denys  r  The  Ordination  of  Timothy. 

'  Onesimus  i 

The  series  is  continued  with  Apostolic  Saints  and  Martyrs  from 
the  close  of  the  first  century,  with  typical  martyrs,  missionaries, 
doctors,  confessors  of  East  and  West,  Britain,  England,  and  Cornwall, 
carrying  us  through  primitive  times,  the  days  of  Celtic  Christianity, 

^  These  are  already  inserted. 


APPENDIX  V 


1^)1 


the  conversion  of  the  English,  the  mediaeval  ages  of  the  Church, 
the  Reformation  period ;  representing  the  missionary  labours  of 
modern  times,  the  worthies  of  the  later  English*  Church,  poets, 
apologists,  evangelists,  missionaries,  pastors,  concluding  with  the 
figure  of  Edward  White  Benson,  first  Bishop  of  the  restored  See, 
the  founder  of  the  Cathedral.     Taking  them  in  order  we  have  in 

flortb  '^itic  of  tbc  ^iolc 

{  St.  Clement 

I-  "i  St.  Ignatius 

I  St.  Polycarp 


r  St.  Pantx'nus 
^  2.  A  St.  Justin  Martyr 

I  St.  Irenteus 

[  St.  Cyprian 
^  3-  "j  St.  Perpetua  and  her  babe 

V  St.  Lawrence 

[  St.  Alban 
^  4-  \  St.  Catharine 

I  St.  Pancras 

rSt.  Helen 
^  5-  \  Origen 

I  St.  Jerome 

(St.  Athanasius 
St.  Basil 
St.  Chrysostom 

r  St.  Monica 
^  7-  -|  St.  Ambrose 

I  St.  Austin 

[  St.  Benedict 
^  8.  \  St.  Anthony 

I  St.  Scholastica 

[  St.  Piran 
^  9-  "i  St.  German 

i  St.  Petroc 

j"  St.  Gregory 
lo-  -  St.  Martin 

I  St.  Patrick 


Scene 

St.    Clement   instructed    by   St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul. 

St.  Pantsenus  embarking  on  his 
Mission  to  India. 


Beheading  of  St.  Cyprian. 


St.  Alban  before  the  judge. 


The  Invention  of  the  Cross. 


Athanasius  returning  from  exile. 


1 


The  penance  of  Theodosius. 
.1 

j  St.  Benet  founding  his  monastery 
,-  in  the  Temple  of  Apollo  at 
.'       Monte  Cassino. 

The  '^Mleluia"  battle. 


j  St.  Gregory  and  the  English  boys. 
'  These  are  already  inserted. 


394 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


In  the  North   Transept — Saints  of  England. 

Light  Scene 

St.  George  ] 

St.  Joseph  of  Arimathrea        |  St.  George  and  the  Dragon.^ 
St.  Augustine  of  CanterburyJ 


In  the  Nave — The  following  series 

Light 
{  Theodore  of  Tarsus  \ 

\  St.  Wilfrid 
I  St.  Aidan 


r  The  Venerable  Bede 

2-  -J  St.  John  Damascene 
I  Alcuin 

{  St.  Boniface 

3-  \  St.  Columban 


St.  Methodius 
i  Charles  the  Great 

Alfred 
I  St.  Olave 
r  St.  Edward  the  Confessor 


5-  \  Bishop  Kenstec 
I  Bishop  Leofric 
r  St.  Bernard 
6.  \  St.  Francis 
I  St.  Dominic 
r  St.  Anselm 
7- 1  Duns  Scotus 

I  St.  Thomas  Aquinas 
r  Stephen  Langton 
8.  -|  Edward  I. 
I  Grosstete 
Dante 
Giotto 

Innocent  III. 
j'  St.  Louis 
lo-  \  Joan  of  Arc 

I  Katherine  of  Siena 


Scene 
Council  at  Hatfield.^ 


t  Bede  dying,  dictating  the  trans- 
I       lation  of  St.  John's  Gospel.^ 

St.  Boniface  cutting  down  the 
oak. 

Coronation  of  Charles. 

Edward  and  his  Queen  enthron- 
ing Leofric,  first  Bishop  of 
Exeter.  1 

St.   Bernard  preaching  the 
Crusade.^ 


St.  Anselm  confronting  William 
the  Red  King. 

Signing  of  Magna  Charta. 
Dante's  meeting  with  Virgil. 
Death  of  St.  Louis. 


1  These  are  already  inserted  or  promised. 


APPENDIX    V 


395 


Light 
j  Jolin  Hus 
1 1-  'I  Savonarola 

I  Thomas  a  Kcmpis 


r  Colet 

12.  -    K 


I  Erasmus 

I  Thomas  More 

j  \\yclif 

13-  'i  Coverdale 

I  Archbishop  Cranmer 
{  Hooker 

14-  \  Bishop  Andrewes 

I  Bacon 
I  Charles  I. 

15-  -^  George  Herbert 
I  Sir  John  Eliot 

r  Margaret  Godolphin 
i6.  \  Bishop  Trelawny 

I  Sir  Bevil  Grenville 

j'  Bishop  Butler 
17-  -  Newton 

I  Handel 

[  Henry  Martyn 
1 8.  \  Keble 

'  Maurice 

r  John  Wesley 
19-  \  Charles  Wesley 

I  Samuel  Walker,  of  Truro 


Scene 

I.  Thomas   a    Kempis    meditating 
I      in  the  field. 

I.  Colet  and  the  children    of   St. 
I       Paul's  School. 


1 


Martyrdom  of  Cranmer. 


Hooker  rockins;  the  cradle. 


-  The  death  of  Charles  I. 


I.  Margaret  Godolphin  leaving  the 
I       court  of  Charles  H. 

I.  Butler    presenting    the   Analogy 
I       to  Queen  Caroline. 

,-  Martyn  among  the  Moulvies. 


Wesley  preaching  in    Gwennap 
Pit.i 


Opposite  tljt  .^outlj  Jjorcb 

r  Oueen     Victoria     attended  1  ^,,      ,   ,  .,         c;   - 
'o  -       ,  ,-       •     r  |- The  Jubilee,  1S97 

I.      by  two  historic  figures      )  ■' 

The    first   Bishop  of  Truro' 

(holding  a  model  of   the 


I       Cathedral),    attended    by 


■  Foundation  of  Truro  Cathedral.^ 


Faith  and  Hope 
Jl'esf  Ends  of  AisAs—St.  Michael  and  St.  Gabriel. 
In  the  Vestibule  of  the  IJaptistery  are  three  lights  illustrating  the 
life  of   St.  John   the   Baptist,  with  figures  of    himself,  Noah,  and 
'  These  are  already  inserted  or  promised. 


396  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Elijah  (Old  Testament  types  of  his  person  and  work),  and  scenes, 
as  follows — 

1.  Zacharias  and  the  Angel.  4.    Baptising  our  Lord. 

2.  Naming  of  the  Child.  5.    Rebuking  Herod. 

3.  Preaching  in  the  Wilderness.  6.    Beheaded  in  Prison. 

Erected  in  memory  of  Henry  Martyn,  contains,  in  the  Vestibule, 
three  lights,  which  illustrate  the  above  scenes  from  the  life  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist.  The  four  lights  of  the  apse  contain  the 
figures  of  four  native  Cornish  saints  and  missionaries — St.  Paul, 
St.  Cybi,  St.  Constantine,  and  St.  Winnow.  Beneath  are  scenes 
from  the  life  of  Henry  Martyn — 

1.  Martyn  at  School  at  Truro.       6.  Translating  the  Scriptures. 

2.  Praying  at  Lamorran  Creek.        7.   Disputing  with  Persian 

3.  Sailing  from  P^almouth.  doctors. 

4.  First  sight  of  heathen  wor-       8.  Burial  by  the  Armenians  at 

ship.  Tokat. 

5.  Preaching  at  Cawnpore. 

This  long  and  comprehensive  series  has  been  designed  in 
the  hope  that  some  day  the  windows  of  the  Cathedral  of 
Cornwall  may  contain,  in  noble  form  and  colour,  a  consecu- 
tive outline  of  the  Church's  history,  and  serve  not  only  to 
give  rich  colouring  and  brightness  to  a  completed  building, 
but  as  a  perpetual  means  of  instruction  to  God's  people,  and 
a  memorial  of  God's  Saints,  whose  lives  and  heroic  achieve- 
ments are  the  perpetual  witness  through  the  ages  of  the 
presence,  in  His  Church,  of  the  Eternal  Son,  in  the  power 
of  "  the  Spirit,  dividing  to  every  man  severally  as  He  will." 
It  will  have  the  further  advantage  of  suggesting  subjects  to 
future  donors  of  memorial  windows.  In  many  of  our  older 
cathedrals,  to  say  nothing  of  parish  churches,  the  windows 
are  often  disfigured,  not  only  by  inferior  glass,  but  incongru- 
ous subjects  ;  while  in  other  cases,  where  the  material  and 
execution  are  good,  there  is  a  total  lack  of  sequence  of 
thought,  and  an  absence  of  clear  and  definite  meaning  in  the 
glass  that  has,  perhaps,  cost  very  large  sums  of  monc}^ 


APPENDIX  V  397 


HEXRY    MARTYX 

This  devoted  and  accomplished  servant  of  God  and  of  His  Church 
was  born  at  Truro,  February  i8th,  1781.  He  was  the  third  son  of 
John  Martyn,  miner,  of  Gwennap,  who,  by  his  industry  and  enter- 
prise, raised  himself  in  the  social  scale,  and  became  clerk  to  a 
merchant  of  Truro.  His  son  Henry  was  born  in  a  house  situated 
on  the  spot  where  the  Miners'  Bank  now  stands.  At  the  age  of 
seven  he  was  sent  to  Truro  Grammar  School,  under  the  head  master 
of  that  day,  Dr.  Cardew.  He  was  a  bright  boy,  and  made  good 
progress  in  his  studies,  and  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  gain 
a  scholarship  at  Oxford,  entered  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 
October,  1797,  the  former  University  losing  the  noble  alumnus  thai 
the  latter  gained. 

Here  he  was  most  successful,  being  first  of  his  year  in  the  college 
examination  of  1800,  and  Senior  Wrangler  1801,  while  still  under 
twenty.  His  spiritual  awakening  and  development  were  mainly  owing 
to  intercourse  with  the  Rev.  Charles  Simeon,  for  whom  he  ever  after- 
wards entertained  the  deepest  feelings  of  gratitude.  He  was  elected 
Fellow  of  St.  John's,  1802,  and  obtained  other  university  and 
college  distinctions.  His  mind  was  directed  to  the  foreign  mission 
work  of  the  Church,  partly  by  the  teaching  of  Simeon,  and  partly  by 
the  example  of  self-devotion  given  by  Dr.  Carey  in  India,  and  David 
Brainerd  among  the  North  American  Indians.  Henry  Martyn  was 
led  to  offer  himself  to  the  missionary  organisation  afterwards  known 
as  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  But  it  was  not  till  1S04,  when 
a  great  temporal  loss  was  the  occasion  of  his  determining  to  go 
abroad,  that  he  began  to  realise  the  idea  thus  formed.  In  1803  he 
was  ordained  deacon  at  Ely,  and  served  as  curate  of  Holy  Trinity, 
Cambridge,  under  ]\Ir.  Simeon.  A  year  later  he  offered  himself  as  a 
candidate  forachaplaincy  under  the  East  India  Company,  and  in  1805 
received  a  sudden  summons  to  leave  England  in  ten  days.  He  was 
ordained  priest  on  February  i8th  (his  birthday),  and  left  Cambridge. 
The  circumstances  of  his  farewell  to  England,  his  agony  at  partini: 
from  friends  and  his  beloved  Cornwall,  form  a  most  touching  narra- 


398  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

tive.  His  ardent  love  for  souls  made  him  *'  instant  in  season  and 
out  of  season "  on  board  ship  during  his  voyage  out  to  India  in 
"preaching  Jesus  Christ,"  both  by  earnest  word  and  a  holy  and 
self-sacrificing  example.  His  labours  among  his  own  countrymen  in 
Calcutta,  and  among  the  Hindus  and  Mohammedans  at  Dinapore, 
Cawnpore,  and  elsewhere,  cannot  be  dwelt  upon  here.  He  made  a 
long  journey  into  Persia  and  Armenia  for  the  purpose  of  making 
thorough  and  complete  translations  of  the  Bible  into  the  languages 
of  these  countries,  and,  after  severe  fatigue  and  privations,  fell  a 
victim  to  fever  at  Tokat,  October  i6th,  1812.  His  lofty  char- 
acter greatly  endeared  him  to  the  native  Christians,  and  even 
the  Mohammedans  of  those  countries,  and  he  was  buried  with  all 
respect ;  Dean  Stanley  goes  so  far  as  to  say,  with  all  "  the  honours 
due  to  an  archbishop."  His  remains  were  afterwards  translated  to 
a  new  cemetery,  and  an  obelisk  placed  over  them  bearing  an  in- 
scription in  English,  Armenian,  Persian,  and  Turkish,  in  memory 
of  one  who  "was  known  in  the  East  as  a  man  of  God."  It  lies 
"  on  a  broad  terrace  overlooking  the  whole  city,  and  shaded  by 
walnut  and  other  fruit  trees  and  weeping  willows."  The  following 
words  of  Henry  Martyn  deserve  to  be  noted  and  made  known 
among  his  fellow-Cornishmen :  "  Even  if  I  never  should  see  a 
native  converted,  God  may  design,  by  my  patience  and  continuance 
in  the  work,  to  encourage  future  missionaries." 

For  fuller  particulars  of  Henry  Martyn's  life,  character,  and 
labours,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Life  and  Letters  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
Martyn^  by  the  Rev.  John  Sargent,  Rector  of  Lavington,  and  to 
a  very  interesting  and  instructive  article  on  "  Henry  Martyn,"  in 
the  Church  Quarterly  Reviezv,  October,  18S1,  by  Canon  Mason. 

It  is  most  devoutly  to  be  wished  that  the  memorial  baptistery 
may  be  not  only  a  perpetual  monument  of  the  life  and  labours  of 
a  holy  man,  who,  in  an  age  when  Englishmen  of  education  and 
talent  rarely,  if  ever,  thought  of  devoting  their  gifts  to  the  mission 
work  of  the  Church,  led  the  way  for  others  who  have  since  followed 
the  same  noble  career,  but  also  an  incentive  and  example  to  our 
own  day.  Cornwall  has  in  recent  times  sent  many  workers,  men 
and  women,  to  distant  fields  of  work  in  Japan,  China,  India,  South 
Africa,  and  elsewhere.  May  the  number  of  these  be  greatly  en- 
larged. Every  year,  on  the  anniversary  of  his  death,  a  special 
service  with  sermon  is  held  in  the  Cathedral. 


APPENDIX    V 

The  following  lines  were  written  by  Canon  A.  J.  Mason,  d.d. 

O  Christ,  the  Saints  rejoice  to  own 
Their  glories  clue  to  Thee  alone, 
And  when  Thine  Advent  light  we  see, 
Thou  in  them  all  admired  shalt  be. 

Our  home-born  Saint  shall  manifest 
Thy  praise  among  the  first  and  best. 
Who  led  the  way  to  Gospel  war 
On  Indian  and  on  Persian  shore. 

He  left  the  learned  ease  of  home. 
High  place,  and  true  love,  forth  to  roam  ; 
And,  fain  to  lean  on  human  friend. 
His  lonely  life  had  loneliest  end. 

The  sighing  heathen  fill'd  his  heart. 
But  Thou  didst  give  the  harder  part, 
In  alien  lands  to  turn  again 
To  God  his  twice-dead  countrymen. 

If  he  the  preacher's  joy  would  ask, 
Thou  gavest  him  the  penman's  task, 
To  sow  in  tears,  and  fall  asleep 
Leaving  to  other  hands  to  reap. 

O  Lord,  our  God,  raise  up  within 
This  Cornish  Church,  his  kith  and  kin, 
A  zeal  like  Henry  Martyn's  own. 
To  preach  Thy  word  through  every  zone. 

Give  us,  like  him,  our  sins  to  see, 
And  look  away  from  self  to  Thee  ; 
And  for  our  trespasses  to  take 
Revenge  by  work  for  others'  sake. 

Grant  him,  O  Lord,  the  joy  to  know 
How  his  example  makes  us  glow  ; 
And  may  his  powerful  prayers  be  heard 
In  aid  of  all  who  spread  the  Word. 


399 


APPENDIX   VI 

SCHEME   FOR    THE   STATUARY 
TRURO    CATHEDRAL 


I. — The  West  Porch 

Here  there  are  two  series  of  niches,  in  an  upper  and  lower  tier, 
fifteen  in  each  series,  in  five  buttresses.  It  is  proposed  to  fill  the 
upper  tier  of  niches  with  figures  of  Kings,  in  chronological  order, 
representative  of  epochs  in  history,  especially,  in  certain  cases,  with 
reference  to  the  West  of  the  Island. 


a. — In  the  centre  Inittress. 
{Middle  space) 
{Side  spaces) 

b. — Buttresses  to  the  North. 


c. — Buttresses  to  the  South. 


King  Edward  VII.i 

Queen  Victoria  {N.).'^ 

Queen  Alexandra  {S.). 

Arthur. 

Egbert. 

Alfred.i 

Athelstan. 

Cnut. 

Edward  the  Confessor. 

10.  William  the  Conqueror.^ 

1 1.  Edward  I.^ 

12.  Henry  V.^ 

13.  Henry  VIII.i 

14.  Elizabeth.^ 

15.  Charles  I.^ 

It  is  proposed  to  fill  the  loiver  tier  of  ?iiches  with  figures  of 
Bishops,  in  chronological  order,  representative  of  epochs  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  of  England,  especially  in  the  Western 
dioceses. 

'  Already  given. 
400 


APPENDIX  VI 


401 


a  — In  the  centre  hiittress. 
(Middle  space) 
{Side  spaces) 

/>. — Buttresses  to  the  North. 


c.  Buttresses  to  the  South. 


I. 

Archbishop  Benson. 

2. 

Bishop  Gott  (.y.)- 

3- 

Bishop  Wilkinson  (5.), 

4- 

Kenstec. 

5- 

Conan. 

6. 

Leofric. 

7- 

Bronscombe. 

8. 

Ue  Grandisson. 

9- 

De  Stapledon. 

10. 

Coverdale. 

1 1. 

Hall. 

12. 

Trelawny. 

13- 

Gauden. 

14. 

Phillpotts. 

15- 

Temple. 

Over  the  Gables  there  are  twelve  niches,  three  in  each  of  the 
four  spandrels,  in  an  ascending  scale,  the  niches  diminishing  in  size 
as  they  rise  upwards.  It  is  proposed  to  fill  these  with  allegorical 
figures  of  the  Moralities,  a  subject  common  in  English  ecclesiastical 
sculpture,  admitting  of  much  picturesque  treatment,  and  impressing 
the  lesson  of  a  strong  moral  basis  for  all  true  religion.  (Compare 
Wisdom  viii.  7.) 

On  the  Parapet  at  the  apex  of  either  Gable  are  two  niches,  which 
it  is  proposed  to  fill  with  figures  appropriate  to  the  series  mounting 
towards  them  in  the  Gables.  The  series  will  run  thus  in  each  case, 
from  the  foot  to  the  summit  of  the  Gable. 


a.- 

— Northern  Gable. 

I.  Temperance.                     4.  Prudence. 

2.  Soberness.                         5.  Wisdom. 

3.  Chastity.                            6.   Knowledge. 

Meeting  in  Apex, 

7.   Humility. 

b.- 

—Southern  Gable. 

8.  Justice.                              II.  Fortitude. 

9.   Mercy.                                12.  Patience. 

10.   Faith.                                 13.  Veracity. 

2  IJ 


402  THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

Meeting  in  .\pex, 

14.  Concord. 
(Allusion  to  the  Cornish  motto,  "One  and  All.") 

Note. — The  figures  in  the  Northern  Gable  represent  the  Personal 
virtues.  The  figures  in  the  Southern  Gable  represent  the  Social 
virtues. 

In  the  Gables  over  either  arch  are  two  Panels.  It  is  proposed  to 
fill 'these  two  panels  with  two  historic  scenes,  illustrative  of  the 
figures  of  Humility  and  Concord  above  them,  and  embracing  also 
the  episcopate  in  Cornwall  from  Bishop  Kenstec  to  Bishop  Benson. 

a. — Northern  panel,  Humility. 

Submission  of  Bishop  Kenstec  to  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  a.d.  S65. 
b. — Southern  panel,  Concord. 

Bishop    Benson    at    the    laying    of    the    Foundation 
Stone,  A.D.  1880. 
Panels  in  the  Tympana  over  the  two  doorways.     It  is  proposed  to 
fill  these  with  representations  of 

1.  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount. ^ 

2.  The  Feeding  of   the   Five    Thousand,^    illustrative  of    the 

Ministry  of 

(1)  The  Word. 

(2)  The  Sacraments. 

II.— The  West  Gable  (  West  Front). 

a. — Here  are  Six  Niches  over  the  Arch.  These  are  filled  with 
six  figures  illustrative  of  the  planting  of  the  Church  in  Cornwall, 
namely,  SS.  Buriena,  Cybi,  Petroc,  Piran,  Meriadoc,  and  la. 

b. — And  two  quatrefoil  panels  over  the  Arch.  These  are  filled 
with  representations  of  the  building  of  the  Oratory  at  Perranzabuloe 
by  St,  Piran,  and  of  the  manumission  of  slaves  at  Bodmin 
(Petrock-stowe)  by  St.  Petroc. 

III. — The  South  Porch  {Nave). 
The  general  idea  of  the  sculpture  suggested  is  to  illustrate  the 
central  truth  of  the  Incarnation  of  our  Blessed  Lord  as  foretold  in 
prophecy,  fulfilled  in  His  Nativity,  and  taught  by  His  Church. 

'  Already  given. 


APPENDIX    VI  403 

a. — Sm.ill  Quatrefoil  Niche  in  the  Gable. 

Panel. — A  seated   figure  of   St.    Mary  the  A'irgin,  with  our 
Lord  standing  on  her  knees. 

b.  —  Two  N^iches  {beloiv)  above  the  doonvay. 

Panels. — Scene  of  the  Visitation  (St.  Luke  i.  40). 
I.  St.  Mary.  2.     EHzabeth. 

c.  —  The  Niches  in  the  Pinnacles  {at  the  angles)  of  the  Porch. 
There  are  eight  niches,  two  on  each  of  the  four  sides  of  either 

pinnacle.  Provision  is  made  for  figures  in  each,  the  fourth  group 
at  the  back  of  the  pinnacles  being  distinct  from  the  rest,  in  case 
these  niches  should  not  be  filled. 

^;^(^tv/.— Prophetic  figures,  each  holding  a  scroll  bearing  appro- 
priate words  from  Holy  Scriptures. 

1.  Eve.  9.   Daniel 

2.  Abraham.  10.  Micah. 

3.  Jacob.  II.  Habakkuk. 

4.  Moses.  12.  Malachi. 

5.  David.  13.  Balaam. 

6.  Isaiah.  14.  Solomon. 

7.  Jeremiah.  15.  Amos. 

8.  Ezekiel.  16.  Zechariah. 

d. — Four  Niches  {ttvo  o?i  either  side)  over  the  Arch. 
The  four  doctors  of  the  Western  Church,  each  with  a  scroll ;  the 
figures  subordinated  to  the  words  on  which  each  one  is  meditating. 

St.  Ambrose  St.  Luke  i.  38. 

St.  Augustine  St.  Luke  i.  46. 

St.  Jerome  St.  Luke  ii.  48. 

St.  Gregory  St.  John  ii.  4. 

e.  — Three  Pattels  {Central  Sex/oil  and  Side  Quatre/oils  over  door- 
way).    Three  emblematic  figures,  or  flowers. 


404  THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 

IV. — The  Front  of  the  Western  Gallery 
{Interior  of  the  Nave) 
In  the  spandrels  of  the  two  Arches  there  are  a  central  niche,  two 
large  side  niches,  and  four  small  niches. 


I. 

Central  Niche 

Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 

2. 

Large  Side  Niche  (S.) 

Moses. 

3- 

(N.) 

David. 

4- 

Small  Side  Niche  (S.) 

St.  Matthew. 

5- 

(S.) 

St.  Mark. 

6. 

(N.) 

St.  Luke. 

7- 

(N.) 

St.  John. 

V. — a.  The  Baptistery 
Three  Buttress  Niches.— Yx^wxe.?,  of  three  eminent   Missionaries 
connected  with  the  West  of  England  in  modern  times. 
Henry  Martyn  (India). 
Bishop  Patteson  (Melanesia). 
Bishop  Smythies  (Central  Africa). 

b.  The  South  Transept  (Phillpotts')  Porch 
Eight  Buttress  A7V/?if.r.— Figures  of  Founders  and  Benefactors  of 
the  See  and   Cathedral  of  Truro,   and   of   two  representatives  of 
Science  connected  with    Cornwall    have    been    suggested.      There 
have  been  proposed  for  selection  among  others  : — • 

Emily  Lady  RoUe.  Sir  Humphry  Gilbert. 

The  twelfth  Earl  of  Devon.  Sir  Bevil  Grenvil. 

Canon  Phillpotts.  Dean  Prideaux. 

Canon  Wise.  Sir  Humphry  Davy. 

Mr.  J.  L.  Pearson,  r.a.  Professor  Adams. 

And  others  now  living. 

Above  the  Porch  are  already  placed  figures  representing  the 
Annunciation  and  the  Nativity.  Within  it  is  a  large  figure  of  the 
Good  Shepherd,  and  in  the  panels  and  tympana,  our  Lord  in 
majesty  with  the  Twelve  Apostles,  and  other  saints  and  angels. 

On  either  of  the  Doors  are  represented  Elijah  and  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  with  scenes  from  their  lives,  as  great  preachers  of  repent- 
ance, and  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  the  great  builders  of  the  Church 
of  God. 


APPENDIX   VII 

GENERAL    SURVEY   OF   CHURCH  MUSIC 
IN  THE  DIOCESE   OF  TRURO^ 

At  the  request  of  the  General  Committee  of  the  Diocesan 
Choral  Union,  the  Precentor  of  the  Cathedral,  who  is 
also  the  Secretary  of  the  Union,  instituted  an  inquiry  as  to 
the  number  of  choirs  using  the  Gregorian  Tones,  with  a 
view  to  the  possible  establishment  of  a  Gregorian  Festival. 
The  question  of  Choral  Celebrations  having  also  recently 
been  before  the  Committee,  the  Precentor  thought  it  advis- 
able to  add  that  subject  to  the  inquiry,  and  eventually  the 
whole  scope  of  the  returns  asked  for  was  enlarged,  so  as  to 
include  as  much  information  as  possible  concerning  Church 
music  in  Cornwall.  The  kindly  co-operation  of  the  parochial 
clergy,  and  their  general  willingness  to  respond  to  the  ques- 
tions asked,  have  made  it  possible  to  present  a  fairly  exact 
and  certainly  interesting  account  of  what  Cornish  choirs  are 
doing,  so  far  as  figures  represent  that  work.  It  is,  however, 
almost  needless  to  add  that  statistics,  however  complete,  form 
only  a  partial  means  of  judging  the  real  state  of  Church 
music  among  us. 

Parishes  that  have  made  returns  (out  of  235)    .         .        219 

A. — Total  fiumber  of  Choirs  .227 

Of  which  the  surpliced  -  are  .         .  97 

Unsurpliced        .  .  ■  •■13° 

'  Presented  to  the  Diocesan  Conference,  1S95.  It  is  not  proposed  to  present 
a  similar  report  until  after  an  interval  of  ten  years. 

-  In  forty-two  of  the  churches  where  these  surpliced  choirs  exist,  there  are 
also  bodies  of  auxiliary  singers— men,  women,  and  children— unsurpliced. 

405 


4o6 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


B. — Total  number  of  Singers^        .  ... 

Of  which  there  are  in  surpliced  choirs,  930  boys, 

699  men  .  .  ... 

Unsurpliced  singers — men,  women,  and  children    . 

C. — To  fa/    number    of   Organists    (inckiding    players    on 
harmoniums,  etc.)  .  ... 

Of  whom  there  are  receiving  payment,  from  a  mere 
nominal  sum  up  to  salaries  of  ^30  or  ^40 

Unpaid  (including  many  wives  and  daughters  of 
clergymen) 

Uncertain  (probably  voluntary) 
D. — Instruments. — There  are  in  the  diocese,  Organs 

Harmoniums  and  American  Organs 

Number  of  parishes  using  orchestral  instruments 
varying  from  a  fairly  complete  band  down  to  a 
single  cornet  .  ... 

E. — Psalters. — 

"  The  Cathedral  Psalter  "   .  .is  used  by 

"  Psalter,  with  Chants  Ancient  and  ^Modern  " 
"Monk  and  Ouseley" 
"Mercer"' 

"Oxford  and  Cambridge" 
"  Helmore  " 
"  Elvey  " 

"  Ravenshaw  and  Rockstro  " 
"Redhead" 

"  Brown,"   "  James,"   "  Meadow,"   "  Westminster," 
"Paragraph"  .  •  each 

N.B. — In  a  few  choirs  no  Psalter  is  used. 


'  Comparing  these  figures  with  the  numbers  that  (i)  attended  the  Octave 
Services  in  November,  1887,  it  is  found  that  on  that  occasion  there  were  present 
from  the  twelve  Deaneries,  surpliced  choirs,  379  boys  and  311  men  =  690;  and 
unsurpliced  singers,  male,  587,  and  female,  770=1,457,  making  a  grand  total  of 
2,147.  (2)  Those  that  have  attended  the  Diocesan  Festivals  from  the  twelve 
Deaneries  number  1,054  surpliced  and  1,195  unsurpliced  singers,  making  a  grand 
total  of  2,249. 


1,629 
2,282 

249 
121 
114 

109 


CHOIRS 
136 

35 
12 

6 

5 
3 
2 
2 
2 


APPENDIX    VII 


407 


I'. 

—  Chants — 

CHOIRS 

Anglican  Chants  are  being  used  by    . 

205 

Exclusively 

I9S 

Gregorian  Tones  are  being  used  by    . 

35 

Exclusively 

14 

"  Greek  Chants  "  arc  returned  as  beintr 

0 

in  use  ir 

1    . 

2 

G 

— Hymn  Books — 

"  Hymns  Ancient  and  Modern  " 

used 

by 

2oy 

"  Church  Hymns '" 

)» 

8 

"  Hymnal  Companion  " 

>» 

4 

"Common  Praise" 

I 

Extra  Hyjmials — 

"  The  Office  Hymn  Book  " 

>> 

I 

"  The  Altar  Hymnal  " 

>» 

I 

"The  Children's  Hymn  Book" 

)> 

6 

"  ^^'ood\vard's  Hymn  Book  " 

>> 

2 

Mission  Hymn  Books — 

The  Durham  Mission  Book 

>> 

13 

The  London             „ 

>> 

5 

The  Truro                „ 

)> 

3 

Church  Parochial  Mission  Society's  Book 

>) 

5 

Church  Army  Mission  Book 

1) 

3 

S.P.C.K. 

)) 

I 

C.P.A.S. 

>> 

1 

Sankey's  "  Songs  and  Solos  " 

>) 

2 

H. — Niw.ber  of  Alusical  Services — 

i.  The  Holy  Communion  is  rendered  chorally 
On  Sundays  by  . 
On  Festivals  by  . 
Partially  on  Sundays  by 
Partially  on  Festivals  by 
Occasionally  by  . 

Hymns  are  sung  at  the  Holy  Communion 
On  Sundays  by  . 
On  Festivals  by  . 
Occasionally  by  . 


23 
32 


8 


4oS 


THE  BISHOPRIC  OF  TRURO 


Mattins  and  Evensong  are  rendered  chorally 
On  Sundays  by 
On  Great  Festivals  by 
Occasionally  by 
Partially  on  Sundays  by 
Partially  on  Great  Festivals  by 

-Anthems  are  sung 
On  Sundays  by 
On  Great  Festivals  by 
Occasionally  by 

"  Services  "  for  the  Canticles  are  sung 
On  Sundays  by 
On  Great  Festivals  by 
Occasionally  by 


CHOIKS 

64 

25 

3 

96 

3 


1 1 
81 
73 


16 
73 

50 


K.  —  Choir  Training. 

i.  Parochial. — In  a  large  number  of  cases  the  training  of  the 
parish  choir  is  in  the  hands  of  the  organist,  who  is  often  in  Cornish 
parishes  also  the  teacher  in  the  school.  Not  a  few  of  the  clergy 
train  their  own  choirs,  while  in  some  cases  the  clergyman's  wife  or 
other  member  of  his  family  undertakes  the  duty.  The  scattered 
character  of  many  country  parishes  makes  frequent  and  regular 
practices  difificult. 

ii.  Ruridecanal. — There  are  recognised  choir  trainers  who  visit 
those  of  the  parochial  choirs  that  desire  their  services,  in  ten 
deaneries  out  of  the  twelve  into  which  the  diocese  is  divided. 

iii.  Diocesan. — There  is  a  diocesan  choirmaster  who  visits  the 
deaneries  whose  choirs  come  up  in  turn  to  the  diocesan  festival. 
Each  year  he  holds  rehearsals  of  combined  choirs  in  about  six 
centres.  In  the  course  of  each  triennial  period  he  visits  about 
eighteen  or  twenty  centres  in  all  parts  of  the  diocese. 


APPENDIX  VII  409 

L. — Diocesan  Organisation.  ^ 

The  Diocesan  Choral  Union  was  founded  in  18S8.  It  has 
organised  and  held  seven  [fourteen]  festivals  at  the  Cathedral,  and 
no  choirs  from  all  the  twelve  deaneries,  numbering  2,250  voices, 
have  attended  these  festivals.  The  Precentor  of  the  Cathedral  is 
the  secretary,  and  the  Organist  of  the  Cathedral  the  choirmaster  of 
the  Union.  There  are  eleven  [thirteen]  ruridecanal  or  local  associa- 
tions in  the  twelve  deaneries  of  the  diocese,  ten  [twelve]  of  which 
are  affiliated  to  the  Diocesan  Union. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  Diocesan  Union,  15,350  [30,830] 
copies  of  the  festival  books  have  been  sold  throughout  the  diocese. 
Of  The  Diocesan  Choir  Book,  Part  I.  (containing  the  Versicles  and 
Responses,  and  Litany)  nearly  3,000  [4,830]  copies  have  been  sold. 

^  The  numbers  in  brackets  represent  the  total  brought  up  to  date,  1902. 


APPENDIX    VIII 

MEN  AND    WOMEN  FROM  CORNWALL 

WHO  HAVE  LABOURED   OR  ARE  LABOURING 

IN    THE   FOREIGN  MISSION  FIELD 

MEN 
Canada 
The   Most  Rev.  W.  B.  Bond,  d.d.,  Archbishop  of  Montreal, 
and  Metropohtan  of  Canada. 

Australia 
The  Right  Rev.  Gilbert  White,  Bishop  of  Carpentaria. 
The  Rev.  C.  Bice  (formerly  of  the  Melanesian  Mission), 

Newcastle  Cathedral. 
The  Rev.  C.  C.  Gillett,  Queensland. 
The  Rev.  R.  W.  Leigh,  Sydney. 
The  Rev.  F.  G.  Masters,  Adelaide. 

.'Vfrica 
The  Very  Rev.  F.  E.  Carter,  Dean,  Archdeacon,  and  Rector 

of  Grahamstown. 
The  Rev.  B.  E.  Holmes,  Rector  of  King  Williamstown,  R.D. 

J.  Gordon,  Grahamstown. 

D.  Ellison  ,, 

A.  H.  Harcourt- Vernon,  Bloemfontein. 

W.  W.  Bickford,  Pretoria, 

W.  L.  Vyvyan,  Zululand. 

R.  Prior,  U.  M.  to  Central  Africa. 

S.  J.  Peake,  Lebombo  (formerly  of  the  Corea  Mission). 

India 
Henry  Martyn,  Calcutta,  Cawnpore,  etc.  {deceased). 
H.  C.  Carlyon,  Cambridge  University  Mission  at  Delhi. 
G.  Hibbert  Ware,  Cambridge  University  Mission  at  Delhi. 
J.  H.  Collins,  j 


G.  R.  A.  Courtice, 
A.  H.  Langridge, 
S.  S.  Scott, 


Civil  Chaplains. 


410 


APPENDIX    VIII  41' 

Madagascar 
The  Right  Rev.  R.  Kestell-Cornish,  i>.i).,  Bishop  of  Madagascar 
(retired). 

Japan 
The  Rev.  L.  B.  Chohiiondeley,  St.  Andrew's,  Tokyo. 

Borneo 
The  Rev.  R.  Richards. 

New  Zealand 
The   Rev.   W.   A.    Pascoe,   Canon    of    Christchurch,   Vicar  of 
Avonside. 

West  Indies 
The  Right  Rev.  R.  Rawle,  d.d.,  Bishop  of  Trinidad  {deceased). 
The  Rev.  C.  E.  Meeres,  Rectory  of  St.  Mary's,  Nassau. 


WOMEN 

China 

Miss  Harriet  Rodd  (Church  of  England  Zenana  Mission). 

Japan 
Miss  Thornton,  St.  Hilda's,  Tokyo. 

India 
Miss  B.  Martyn,  Cashmere. 

Africa 
Miss  Barrett  (Sister  Louisa  Mary)  Bloemfontein  (deceased). 


INDEX 


Adams,  Professor  J.  Couch,  125 
Addington,  loi,  106,  17S,  264,  345 
Agar-Ellis,  Rev.  J.  J.,  247 
Aitken,  Rev.  R.,  18-20,  83 
Aitken,  Canon  W.  H.  M.,  20 
Alexandra,  Queen,  283,  400 
Alfred,  King,  367 
All  Hallows,  Barking,  88 
Altarnun,  209 
Alverton,  220 

Amendment  Act  (Bishopric  and  Chap- 
ter), 275 
Anna,  Sister,  217 

Archdeaconry  of  Cornwall  Act,  280  seij. 
Armorial  Bearings,  Truro,  55-7 
Arnold,  Miss,  71 
Arthur,  King,  3,  400 
Arundell,  Lord,  96 
Ashcombe,  Lord,  no 
Athelstan,  King,  5,  8,  367 
Aubyn,  St.,  Mr.  Piers,  117 
Austell,  St.,  337 

Baldhu,  16,  19,  20 

Baptism,  Holy,  24,  25,  85,  137,  176 
seq.,  213 

Barham,  Dr.,  156 

Benney,  Mrs.,  65,  98  seg. 

Benson,  A.  C,  51,  109,  173.  I79.  ^94 

Benson,  E.  W.,  i,  13,  15,  16,  17,  18, 
22 ;  early  life,  40 ;  Cambridge  career, 
41  ;  at  Rugby,  42  ;  at  Wellington, 
42-5  ;  at  Lincoln,  45  se(/.  ;  conse- 
cration, 52  sc\/.  ;  life  at  Kenwyn, 
58  sc'^.  ;  diocesan  plans,  63  scu/.  ; 
educational  work,  70  seg.  ;  mission 
work,  76  se(/.  ;   foundation  of  Cathe- 


dral, 103  Sdi/.  ;  diocesan  work,  129 
set/. ;  work  with  laymen,  149  seg.  ; 
kindliness  to  working  people,  161 
seg.  ;  dealing  with  social  problems, 
163 ;  temperance,  165  seg. ;  purity, 
169  seg. ;  grief  at  loss  of  eldest  son, 
172  seg. ;  Church  questions,  174  seg. ; 
correspondence  with  friends,  offer 
and  acceptance  of  the  Primacy,  178 
seq.  ;  farewell  to  Cornwall,  183  seq. 
enthronement  at  Canterbury,  186 
visits  to  Cornwall,  187  ;  death,  187 
funeral,  188  ;  estimates  of  his  work 
and  character,  188  set/.  ;  memorials 
at  Truro  and  Canterbury,  190  seq.  ; 
at  consecration  of  Cathedral,  243  .r^^.  ; 
sermon,  254 

Benson,  Father,  215 

Benson,  Rev.  R.  H.,  173 

Benson,  Martin  W.,  66,  172  seq. 

Benson,  Mrs.,  59,  70,  136,  193 

Bernard,  St.,  50 

Bible  Christians,  133 

Bickersteth,    Bishop    E.,    of    Exeter, 
267 

Bickersteth,  Bishop,  of  Japan,[2l5 

Birmingham,   King  Edward's  School, 
40 

Bishopric^^,     Additional,     Endowment 
Fund,  35 

Bishoprics,  new,  27  sec/. 

Bishopric  of  Truro  Bill,  36,  106,  235, 

273 
Black  Book,  105,  107 
Bodington,  Canon,  215,  263,  267 
Bodmin,  i,  8,  lo,  27,  29,  124,  130,  216, 

337 


41; 


414 


THE  BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Body,  Canon,  176,  215,  221,  288 
Bolitho,  Mr.  T.  R.,  158 
Borlase,  Rev.,  13 
Boscastle,  i 

Boucher,  Mr.  A.  R.,  158 
Bourke,  Canon,  287,  313,  341 
Bourne,  Colonel,  171 
Bradshaw,  Henry,  i,  105,  109 
Bramston,  INIiss,  70 
~  Bray,  Billy,  20-2 
Breock,  St.,  5 
Breward,  St.,  14,  62,  153 
Bright,  Right  Hon.  John,  203 
Brittany,  4 

Broadley,  Rev.  W.,  218 
Bromby,  Rev.  H.,  215 
Browne,  Bishop  E.    Harold,    16,   179, 

254,  263,  266 
Bryanites,  79,  96,  133,  207 
Bubb,  Mr.,  127,  128 
Buck,  Canon,  62,  144 
Bude,  138 
Budock,  St.,  5 

Burch,  Mr.  A.,  no,  252,  309,  310 
Burgon,  Dean,  24,  27 
Buriena,  St.,  4,  125 
Buryan,  St.,  4,  8,  359 
Bush,  Canon,  62,  186,  18S 

Callington,  %2  seq.,  139 

Calstock,  144 

Calvinism,  18 

Camborne,  62,  129,  139 

CamV^ridge,  41,  47,  68 

Canons,  Honorary,  104,  107,  125,  236, 

237,  296 
Canon  Missioner,  "jS  seq.,  104 
Canons,  Residentiary,   107,   237,  243, 

211  seq.,  296 
Canterbury,  97, 180,  188  scq.,  193,  228, 

346,  347  ;  St.  Martin's,  130 
Carantoc,  St.,  8,  129,  338,  359 
Carew,  historian,  1 1 
Carlyon,  Edmund,  33,  34,  158 
Carnmenellis,  218 
Carol  service,  287 


Carter,  Canon  F.  E.,  50,  81,  86,  88,  89, 
98,  loi,  145,  188,215,221,238,287 

Catechism,  174  seq. 

Cathedral,  The,  47,  103 

Cathedral  Commission,  30,  60,  105. 
109,  no 

Consecration  of,  245  seq.,  352 

Fittings,  100 

Offices  and  occupants,  382  seq. 

•  Truro,  33,  34,  46,  103  seq. 

Union,  282  seq. 

Census,  religious,  327,  372 

Ceolnoth,  Archbishop,  5 

C.E  T.S.,  147,  166,  169 

Chacewater,  339 

Chalice,  Bishop's,  232 

Chantries,  Cornish,  8,  9 

Chappel,  Canon,  62,  139,  188 

Chapter  Act,  Truro,  106,  109,  235  seq., 

273 
Chapter,   Truro,    104  seq.  ;    resolution 

of,    on    death    of  Archbishop,    192  ; 

patronage  of,  236 
Charles  I.,  King,  10,  400 
"Charlotte,  Mother,"  218 
Chilcott,  Mr.  J.  G.,  53 
Choral  Union,  269  seq.,  405  seq. 
Church,  Dean,  53,  178 

Defence,  357  seq. 

Society,  94,  95,  294 

Churches,  Cornish,  78,  337 

■ Mission,  9,  339 

Clement's,  St.,  66 

Clifden,  Viscount,  158 

Cocks,  Colonel,  123,  127 

Colenso,  Bishop,  44,  45 

Coles,  Rev.  V.  S.  S.,  81,  215 

Collegiate  Churches,  8,  159,  360 

Columb,  St.,  30,  31 

Commissioners,  Ecclesiastical,  26,  272 

seq.,  279 
Communion,  Holy,  97,  138,  213 
Community    of    the    Epiphany,     loi, 

219  seq. 
Conan,  Bishop,  5 
.Conference,  Devotional,  215  , 


INDEX 


415 


Conferences,  Diocesan,  \^o  seq, 

Ruridecanal,  151  seq.,  217 

Confirmation,  131  seq.,  213,  242 
Conge •d\' lire,  236,  309 
Constantine,  St.,  126 
Cornish,    Archdeacon,    80,    147,    148. 

153.  346 
Cornish  character,  ],seq.,  355  ^<?'/. 
Cornish,  Rev.  G.  J.,  16 
Cornish  saints,  3-5,  126,  127,  129,  130 

See,  27  seq. ,  366  seq. 

Cornish    Women's    Association,    100, 

22^  seq.,  347 
Cornwall,  Scenery  and  History,  i-ii, 

131,  212,  360 
Bishop  Benson's  farewell  to,  183 

seq. 
Cotehele  House,  164 
Cowie,  Dean,  279 
Cranmer,  Archbishop,  27 
Crediton,  Bishop  of,  5,  80 
Cross,  Brotherhood  of  the,  89 
Crowfoot,  Canon,  49 
Crowther,  Bishop,  97 
Cyprian,  St.,  44,  59 

Daubiiz,  Mr.  J.  C,  15S,  309,  312 

Da%'id,  St.,  4 

Davies,  Mary  Ann,  96  seq. 

Day,  St.,  65 

Dennis,  Mr.  J.  Ilawke,  354 

Devon,  Earl  of,  31,  55 

Disraeli,  Right  Hon.  B.,  35 

Dissent,  173,  208  seq. 

Dominic,  St.,  82,  S3,  87 

Du  Boiilay,  .Xrchdcacon,  139,  186,  1 88, 

250 
Duke   of   Cornwall's    Light    Infantry, 

250.  258,  333 
Dumbleton,  Prebendary,  25 

Eagar,  Dr.  A.  E.,  63 
Earle,  Archdeacon,  54 
Earthy,  Mr.  W.  G.  N.,  171 
Eaton  Square,  St.  Peter's,  195,  198^^1/., 
219  seq.,  252,  289,  293 


Edgcumbe,  Mt.,  Earl  of,  53,  113,  119, 
158,  191,227,246,  251,253,  278  5^/  , 
296,  312,  347.  348 

Edgcumbe,  Mt.,  Lady,  164 

Education,  Church,  340 

Edward  the  Confessor,  King,  5,  400 

Edward  VI.,  King,  9 

Edward  VII.,  King,  349,  400. 
See  Prince  of  Wales 

Egloshayle,  144 

Endellion,  8,  80,  S6,  90,  359 

Erth,  St.,  62,  79,  94,  134,  144,  155 

Essays  and  Reviews,  33,  45 

Eucharist,  daily,  98,  271 

Evangelicals,  45,  49,  143,  201 

Evans,  Rev.  L.,  71 

Everest,  Canon,  218 

Everitt,  Colonel,  171 

Exeter,  Bishops  of,  5-7,  23  seq. 
See  Appendix  I.,  366  seq. 

Exeter  College,  7 

Synod  of,  25 

Falmouth,  36 

Falmouth,  Viscount,  119,  135 

Field,  Miss,  281 

Fisher,  Rev.  T.,  13 

Fittings,  Internal,  Fund,  100,  229 

Flint,  Canon,  188 

Ford,  Prebendary,  25 

Foster,  Mr.  L.  C,  15S 

Mr.  R.,  158 

Foundation    stone   of   Cathedral,    118 
seq. 

Fowey,  337 

Fraser-Frizell,  Rev.  C.  F. ,  171 

Ganges,  II. M.S.,  135,  136,342 

Gardiner,  Canon  F.  E.,  166,  191,  24S 

German,  St.,  125 

Germans,  St.,  Earl  of,  30 

Germans,  St.,  8,  145,  187,  337 

Germoc,  St.,  125 

Gladstone,    Right    Hon.    W.    E.,    179 

seq.,  198,  286,  291 
Glasney,  8,  359 
Gluvias,  St.,  144 


4i6 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Gore,  Bishop,  215,  263,  266 

Gorham,  Rev.  G.  C,  24,  25 

Gatt,  Dr.  John,  141,  187;  early  life 
and  education,  curacy  at  Yarmouth, 
Vicar  of  Bramley,  305  ;  Vicar  of 
Leeds,  306  seq.  ;  Dean  of  Worcester, 
307  ;  elected  Bishop  of  Truro,  308 
seq.  ;  consecrated,  311  ;  enthroned 
and  installed  at  Truro,  312  seq.  ; 
activity  in  diocese,  315  ;  Pastoral 
Letter,  3175^(7.  ;  Primary  Visitation  of 
Cathedral  and  diocese,  321  seq.  ; 
Second  Visitation,  329  seq. 

Grammar  School,  Truro,  71 

Grandisson,  de,  Bishop,  7 

Gregory,  St.,  cf  Tours,  130 

Gwennap,  62 

Gwennap  Pit,  15 

Hammond,  Canon  C.  E.,  63 

Canon  J. ,  63 

Dr.,  171 

Harvey,   Fox,  Canon,    53,    104,    113, 

117,  250 
Hawker,  Rev.  Robert,  10 
Hayle,  79.  155 
Hedgeland,  Prebendary,  146 
Hedley,  Miss,  70 
Helston,  130 

Henry  VHL,  King,  9,  27,  400 
High  Cross,  100,  115 
High  School  for  Girls,  70  seq. 
Hingeston-Randolph,  Prebendary,  6 
Hobhouse,  Archdeacon,  30,  145,  146 
Hockin,  Canon,  14,  22,  62,  186 
Hodge,  Mr.  T.  H.,  177 
Holland,    Canon  Scott,  46,   190,  214, 

227,  265,  266 
Hope,    Beresford,  Right  Hon.   A.  J., 

no 
Hoskyns,  Canon  B.  G. ,  88  seq. 
Hostel,  The  Truro,  65,  70 
How,  Walsham,  Bishop,  266,  311 
Hugh,  St.,  44 
Ilullah,  Canon,  144 

Intercession  Services,  277 


Isabell,  Rev.  J.,  65,  Ot 
Issey,  St.,  4,  86,  90,  I 
Ive,  St.,  145 
Ives,  St.,  10,  62,  i6i 


66 

44 


Jago,  Rev.  W.,  56 

James  II.,  King,  10 

Jennings,  Rev.  H.  R. ,  69 

Jones,  Canon,  62 

Just,  St.,  in  Penwith,  13,  18,  24,  129 

Kalendar,  Diocesan,  9 

Kea,  16,  20 

Keating,  Dr.  J.  F. ,  69 

Keble,  Rev.  J.,  395 

Kenstec,  Bishop,  5,  125 

Kenwyn,  16,  58^-^^.,  66,  119,  161,  172, 

216 
Keverne,  St.,  8 
Kew,  St.,  90,  91 
Key,  Miss,  71 
Kilkhampton,  81,  138 
Kingsley,  Rev.  C,  44,  140 
Kinsman,  Prebendary,  13 
Kynance,  i 

Lach-Szyrma,  Rev.  W.  S. ,  13 
Ladock,  62,  140,  141,  345 
Lambeth,  186,  234 

•  Conference,  204,  205 

Lamorran,  13 

Land's  End,  16,  18,  124 

Lanherne,  i 

Launceston,    8,   10,    16,   81,   117,   124, 

337 
Lawhitton,  139 
Lay  work,  149  seq. 
Lee,  Bishop  Prince,  40 
Leofric,  Bishop,  5 
Levan,  St.,  157 
Liber  Niger,  105,  107 
Library,  Bishop  Phillpotts',  25 
Liddon,  Dr. ,  353 
Lightfoot,  Bishop,  40,  53 
Lincoln,  46  seq. 
Lincoln  Judgment,  285  seq. 


INDEX 


417 


"Lis  Escop,"  59,   172,  216,  225,  2S9, 

294,  314 
Liske;ird,  i 
Lizard,  the,  124 

Lloyd,  Dr.  C.  H.,  254,  256,  261,  284 
Longley,  Archl)ishop,  32 
Lostwithiel,  St.  Faith's,  217,  221 
"  Luce  Magistra,"  72 
Ludgvan,  13 
Luxulyan,  129 
Lyfing,  Bishop,  5 
Lyonesse,  3 
Lyte,  Rev.  J.  Maxwell,  214,  277 

Maclagan,  Bishop,  200 
Maclean,  Sir  J.,  157 
Madagascar,  Bishop  of,  119 
Magheramorne,  Lord,  199 
Malan,  Rev.  A.  H.,  209 
Mann,  Rev.  C.  N.,  83,  91 
Martin,  Dr.  G.,  14,  62,  153 
Martin,  Rev.  R.,  62,  146,  153,  154 
Martyn,    Henry,    122,   125,  228,   266, 

397  seq. 
Mason,   Dr.  A.  J.,  49,  61,  62,  63,  64, 

65,  77  seq.,  98,  101-4,  110,  160,  186, 

1S7,  207,   229,   250,   254,  263,   267, 

398 
Maurice,  Rev.  F.  D.,  44,  395 
Mavvgan-in-Pydar,  St.,  80,  96 
Methodists,   12,  14  seq.,  86,    133,  201 

seq.,  209 
Mewan,  St.,  4 
Michael's  Mount,  St.,  8 
Michael,  Penkivel,  St.,  129 
Mills,  Rev.  A.  H.,  8,  62,  94,  144,  155 
Miners,  Cornish,  124,  161,  362 
Missioner,  174 

Mission  Preachers,  Lincoln,  49,  51,  89 
Mission  work,  76  seq.,  210  seq.,  287 
Missions,  foreign,  335,  336,  410,  411 
Missions,  itinerant,  89-92 
Mithian,  16 

Monk,  Dr.  M.  J.,  270,  285 
Moor,  Canon  A.  P.,  66 
Moore,  Canon  J.  H.,  239  seq. 
2    E 


Morison,  Miss,  71 

Morwenstow,  4,  129,  157 

Murley,  Rev.  J.  J.,  65 

Music,  Church,  in  Cornwall,  405  seq. 

Mylor,  5 

Nankivcl,  .Miss  A.,  281 
Nave  of  Cathedral,  345  seq. 
Newbolt,  Canon,  215 
Newlyn  St.  Peter,  13 
Newlyn,  St.,  139 
Newman,  Cardinal,  43,  202 

Rev.  F.  W.,  64,  66 

Newquay,  i,  340 

Nix,  Mr.   A.   P.,    120,   15S,  228,  247, 

345 
Non-Residence,  17,  38 
"  Novate  novale,"  48,  49,  77,  89 

Octave  services,  262  seq. 
Ordination,  216,  267 

Padstow,  91,  230 

Palmerston,  Lord,  30,  31 

Parish  Priest  of  the  Toivii,  304,  306 

Parker,  Rev.  F.,  25 

Parkyn,  Major,  228 

Pastoral  Letters,  Bishop  Gott's,  318 

Bishop  Wilkinson's,  242,  298 

Paul,  Chancellor  R.  M.,  188,  246 

Paul,  parish  of,  5 

Paul's,  St.,  Cathedral,    III,   112,    199, 

252,  352  seq. 
Pearse,  Rev.  Mark  Guy,  22 
Pearson,  Mr.  F.  L.,  348 
Pearson,  Mr.  J.  L.,  118,  230,  348 
Pedler,  Miss  A.,  28 1 

Mr.  E.  II.,  281 

Pendeen,  18,  19 

Penwith,  142 

Penzance,  St.  John's,  146 

St.  Mary's,  146 

Perran-ar-Worthal,  130 
Perranporth,  I 
Perranzabuloc,  4,  130 


4i8 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Perrin,  Rev.  G.,  80,  102 

Perrin,  Mrs.,  102 

Petroc,  St.,  125,  130 

Phillack,  62 

Phillpotts,  Archdeacon,  144,  254 

Bishop,  23  seq.,  30,  32,  104,  143 

Canon,  104,  112,  117,  122,  159 

Pinnock,  St.,  130 

Piran,  St.,  4,  125,  130 

Polwhele,  Rev.,  13 

Porthleven,  63 

Port  Isaac,  98  » 

Poughill,  138 

Poundstock,  339 

Prayer  for  Cathedral,  268 

for  Cathedral  Builders,  128 

for  Cathedral  Workers,  222 

for  St.  Mary's  Parish,  241 

for  White  Cross  League,  171 

Price,  Mr.  E.,  348 

Primacy,  the,  178  seq. 

Prince  Consort,  the,  42 

Probus,  8,  337 

Prothero  Smith,  Sir  P.,  159,  160 

Lady,  159 

Prynne,  Mr.  G.  F.,  337 
Psalter,  Recitation  of,  108  seq. 
Puller,  Rev.  Father,  215 
Pusey,  Dr.,  24 

Qttor>n,  Daniel,  22 

Randall,  Dean,  267 

Rashleigh,  Mr.  J.,  53 

Reading,  Bishop  of,  311 

Redruth,  139 

Reeve,  Rev.  J.  A.,  61,  82,  172,  214 

Repair  and  Services  Bill,  277  seq. 

Residence  of  clergy,  23,  38 

Residentiary  Canons,  107 

Retreats,  215  seq. 

Revivals,  78,  79,  92,  93»  I33>  i34,  169 

Robartes,  Lord,  158,  347 

Robinson,  Canon  C.  IL,  69 

Roche,  13 


Rogers,  Canon  J.  J.,  156 

Canon  S,  104 

Rolle,  Lady,  35 

Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall,  156  seq. 

Rugby,  42,  47,  70 

Sacraments,  17,  18,  206,  357 
Sampson,  Canon  G.  V. ,  89  w. 
Schoke  Cancellarii,  Lincoln,  48  seq.,  51 

Truro,  63  seq.,  282 

Scilly,  27,  130 
Scott,  Dean,  62 
Sedding,  Mr.  E.,  337 
Sennen,  St.,  4,  65,  85 
Shaftesbury,  Earl  of,  30 
Shuttleworth,  Canon,  144 

Professor,  144 

Sinclair,  Dr.  G.  R.,  250,  252,  261  seq., 

270,  284 
Sisterhoods,  217  seq. 
Smith,  Lady  Prothero,  159 

Sir  P.  Prothero,  159 

Right  Hon.  W.  H.,  235,  291 

Social  Questions,  162  seq. 

Sowell,  Rev.  C.  R.,  63 

Speechly,  Bishop,  290,  291 

Staff,    Pastoral,  Bishop  Benson's,    51, 
228 

Stafford,  Bishop,  7 

Stannaries  Court,  36 

Stapledon,  Bishop  de,  7 

Statistics,  342 

Statuary,  Scheme   for,  Appendix  VI., 
400  seq. 

Statutes,  Lincoln,  47,  105,  107 

— —  Truro,  47,  104  seq. 

Steele,  Rev.  E.,  240 

Stephen's,  St.,  by  Launceston,  8 

Sunday  Closing,  165,  166 

Swain,  Mr.  R.,  128,  228,  251 

Tait,  Archbishop,  52,  119,  l^'iseq.,  188 

Tamar,  3,  124 

Tatham,  Prebendary,  30,  33 

Teilo,  St.,  4 


INDEX 


419 


Temperance,  165  seq.,  360 

Temple,  Archbishop,  33-5,  52,  53,  1 10, 

119,  200,  259,  260,  254,  346 
Thomas  a  Kcmpis,  50 
Thomas,  Master  F.,  261,262 
Thornton,  Canon  F.  V.,  139 

Miss  S.,  233 

Thynne,   Canon  A.  C,  81,   104,    186, 

250,  346 
Tintagel,  i,  13,  124 
Torpoint,  87 
Tractarian  Movement,  23,  24,  28,  43, 

350 
Training  College,  Truro  Diocesan,  22, 

73,  74,  147,  341 
Transept,  Benson,  227 
Trelawny,  Bishop,  10,  1 1 
Trema)Tie,  Colonel,  158 

Mrs.  A.,  233,  354 

Trenython,  314 

Tresco,  8 

Trevalga,  138 

Truro  Cathedral,  33,  34,  46,  99  seq., 

103  seq.,  177,  190 

St.  George's,  16,  64,  220,  341 

St.  John's,  16,  66,  216,  248,  341 

St.  Mary's,  36,  53,  59,  65,  112, 

114  seq.,    122,    128,   200,    220,   235, 

2Z^seq.,  247,  283,  341 

St.  Paul's,  166,  220,  248,  341 

Rectors  of,  379  seq. 

Tyacke,  Canon,  94 
Tywardrealh,  8 

Vautier,  Canon,  104 

Veryan,  80 

Victoria,  Queen,  42,  179  seq.,  285,  354 

Tower,  354 

Visitation,    Bishop   Benson's    Primary, 
320 

Bishop  Gott's,  321  seq. 

Vivian,  Lord,  116,  125 

Wales,   Prince  of,  118,  119,  159,  242, 
245  seq.,  251,  2S1  seq.,  346,  349 


Wales,  Princess  of,  233 

Walker,  Dr.  E.,  30,  31 

Rev.  S.,  11-13 

Walpole,  Rev.  G.  II.  S.,  63,  65,  69 

Wantage,  St    Mary,  217 

Webb,  Bishop,  289,  290 

Week  St.  Mary,  129 

Wellington  College,   42  seq.,   70,   193, 
228 

Wesley,  Charles,  14 

Wesley,  John,  9,   12,   14-17.  SS,  202, 
223 

Wesleyans,  86,  203  seq.,  223 

Wcstcott,  Bishop,  40,  55 

Whitaker,  Canon,  61,  63,  65,  68,  98, 
no,  186 

White  Cross  League,  147,  170  seq. 

Whitley,  Mr.  H.  M.,  9 

Whittingstall,  Rev.  l\.  O.  F.,  69 

Wickenden,   Prebendary,  55,  56,  105, 
107,  no 

Wilberforce,  Bishop  E.,  265,  266 

Bishop  S. ,  27 

Wilkinson,  BishopG.  IL,6i,  loi,  133, 
180,  187,  194  seq.  ;  Chaplain  and 
Canon,  197  ;  consecration,  199 ;  en- 
thronement, 200 ;  relations  with 
Methodists,  201  seq. ;  mission  work, 
210  seq,;  sermons,  224;  diocesan 
business,  225  ;  building  and  conse- 
cration of  the  Cathedral,  227  seq. ; 
efforts  for  endowment,  271  seq.  ; 
ill  health,  290  seq.  ;  absence  from 
Cornwall,  294 ;  resignation,  294 ; 
farewell  to  diocese,  298  seq.  ;  re- 
covery, 299 ;  elected  to  St.  Andrews, 
300 ;  reunion  work  in  Scotland,  301 
Williams,  Mr.  Michael,  340 

Rev.  T.  L.,  63 

Willyams,  Mr.  A.  C,  158 
Winchester,  Bishop  Harold  Browne  of, 
16,  179,  254,  263,  266 

Bishop  Davidson  of,  no,  183 

Windows,  stained  glass,  387  seq. 
Winnow,  St.,  126 
Wise,  Canon,  62,  344 


420 


THE   BISHOPRIC   OF  TRURO 


Women's  Work,  216,  seq. 
Wordsworth,  Bishop  Christopher,   31, 
32,  46,  52,  105 

Bishop  T-,  266 

Canon  Christopher,  105,  no 

Workhouses,  154 


Working  people,  161  seq. 

Worlledge,  Canon  A.  J.,  49,   57,   63, 

69,  188,  193,  306 
Wylde,  Rev.  J.,  215 

Young,  Rev,  D.  E.,  221 


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