60-685: John de Grandisson (1292 – 16 July 1369), also spelt Grandison , was Bishop of Exeter , in Devon, England, from 1327 to his death in 1369. Several works of art associated with him survive in the British Library , the British Museum and the Louvre in Paris. Grandisson was born in 1292 at Ashperton near Hereford , the second son of five of Sir William Grandisson (died 1335). Sir William
120-751: A diptych made in England in the 1330s for private devotion and inscribed with the emblems of John Grandisson as Bishop of Exeter. One of them, now known as the John Grandisson Triptych , held at the British Museum in London, is considered a masterpiece of English mediaeval carving. The diptych is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. An important psalter known as the Grandisson Psalter , owned by Bishop Grandisson, survives in
180-576: A church to how it might have looked during the " Decorated " style of architecture which existed between 1260 and 1360, and many famous architects such as George Gilbert Scott and Ewan Christian enthusiastically accepted commissions for restorations. It is estimated that around 80% of all Church of England churches were affected in some way by the movement, varying from minor changes to complete demolition and rebuilding. Influential people like John Ruskin and William Morris were opposed to such large-scale restoration, and their activities eventually led to
240-445: A great uprising of ecclesiastical zeal, coinciding with a great increase of study, and consequently of knowledge of medieval architecture has driven people into spending their money on these buildings, not merely with the purpose of repairing them, of keeping them safe, clean, and wind and water-tight, but also of "restoring" them to some ideal state of perfection; sweeping away if possible all signs of what has befallen them at least since
300-508: A number of problems including debt, hostility from his chapter , and poor relations with Hugh de Courtenay , later to become Earl of Devon. However, his registers record his forceful personality which exhibited itself in his diligent enforcement of discipline, the suppression of abuses and punishment of offenders. On the other hand he took great care for the education and religion of the laity , encouraging interest in St Sidwell and urging
360-720: A reaction against the Puritan ethic manifested in the Gothic Revival , and a shortage of churches where they were needed in cities, the Cambridge Camden Society and the Oxford Movement advocated a return to a more medieval attitude to churchgoing. The change was embraced by the Church of England which saw it as a means of reversing the decline in church attendance . The principle was to "restore"
420-572: A third factor, the Industrial Revolution had resulted in many people living in cities that had few churches to cater for their religious needs—for instance Stockport had a population of nearly 34,000 but church seating for only 2,500. The rise in dissenter denominations , such as Methodism and the Religious Society of Friends , was seen as further evidence of this shortfall. To fulfil this need, between 1818 and 1824
480-431: Is nearly 80% of all of them – were restored in some way between 1840 and 1875. There were 150% more people identified as professional architects in the 1871 census than in 1851 – it is known that established architects passed small restoration jobs on to their newly qualified colleagues, since such work provided good practice. The retention of original material (carving, woodwork, etc.) tended to be of little importance to
540-889: Is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury . The current bishop is Mike Harrison , since 2024. From the first bishop until the sixteenth century the Bishops of Exeter were in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church . However, during the Reformation the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, at first temporarily and later more permanently. Since
600-591: The British Library in London. It records Grandisson's death and the fact that he bequeathed it to royalty. When Grandisson's looted tomb was reopened in 1956, a small enamelled gold ring was discovered. It shows the Virgin and child and has similarities with enamels created in Paris around the 1330s. It has been suggested that as it is too small to be worn over a glove it may have been one of his most treasured possessions, probably worn hidden from view on his little finger. Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Exeter
660-463: The chaplain and friend of Pope John XXII , who mentored him and sent him on diplomatic missions . The Pope rewarded Grandisson by making him prebendary at York, Wells, and Lincoln, and, in October 1310, Archdeacon of Nottingham . When his elder brother Peter died in 1358 without an heir, John became the head of the family. Grandisson was nominated as Bishop of Exeter on 10 August 1327 and
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#1732776624899720-416: The minstrel's gallery . In 1335 Grandisson founded a College of Secular Canons at Ottery St Mary in Devon, as a choir school for eight boys and a Master of Grammar, which survives today as The King's School . However, his largest project – in which he took a great personal interest – was the rebuilding and establishment as a collegiate church of the church at Ottery St Mary . Taking ten years from 1337,
780-415: The "correct" style. "To restore," The Ecclesiologist declared, "is to revive the original appearance ... lost by decay, accident or ill-judged alteration". They did later admit, though, that such "restoration" might create an ideal state that the building had never been in. Church restorations were also strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement , which advocated moving the centre of importance in
840-417: The 19th century by James Wyatt , the ornate west front (pictured above) was restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott . It includes many ornate carved figures of kings, queens and saints, created from original materials where possible and new imitations and additions when the originals were not available. Wyatt's choir-screen had utilised medieval stone-work which Scott in turn used to create the clergy's seats in
900-540: The Anglo-Saxons and was part of the diocese of Bishop of Winchester , covering the whole of Wessex. In around 705 The diocese was divided in two and Aldhelm was appointed the first Bishop of Sherborne , covering eastern Devon. Over the next two centuries western Devon was conquered. In about 909 the diocese of Sherborne was divided and the Diocese of Crediton was created to cover Devon and Cornwall . Crediton
960-628: The Cambridge Camden Society that Decorated Gothic was the only correct style, and by the Oxford Movement's theories concerning the nature of worship, a spate of "restoration" was soon under way. Some figures give an idea of the scale. A total of 3,765 new and rebuilt churches were consecrated in the forty years up to 1875, with the most active decade being the 1860s in which there were more than 1,000 such consecrations. Over 7,000 parish churches in England and Wales – which
1020-611: The Confessor , which was established as his cathedral city in 1050. At first the Abbey Church of St Mary and St Peter , founded by Athelstan in 932, rebuilt in 1019, etc., finally demolished 1971, served as the cathedral. The bishop of Exeter signs his name as his Christian name or forename followed by Exon. , abbreviated from the Latin Episcopus Exoniensis ("Bishop of Exeter"). The present cathedral
1080-553: The French manifestation. My first church dates from the same year with the foundation of the Cambridge Camden Society, to whom the honour of our recovery from the odious bathos is mainly due. I only wish I had known its founders at the time. George Gilbert Scott , Recollections, p. 86. One of the main driving forces for the restoration of churches was the Cambridge Camden Society (CCS), which
1140-502: The Government had granted £1.5 million for building new churches. Known as Commissioners' churches , most of them cost only £4,000 to £5,000 each to build, and dissatisfaction with their indifferent design and cheap construction provoked a strong reaction. Equivalent movements existed in most of Europe, especially northern Europe, with the French architect and architectural historian Eugène Viollet-le-Duc especially associated with
1200-716: The Reformation, and often since dates much earlier. Despite his opposition, though, it is known that Morris profited greatly by his firm's provision of stained glass to many restoration projects, and it has been noted that his criticism only started after his firm was securely established as a supplier to these projects. But after 1880, in line with SPAB principles, the firm refused to accept stained glass commissions for historic ecclesiastical buildings. Further opposition came from evangelical Protestants , who believed that "ornamental carved work, decorative painting, encaustic tiles, and stained glass were foolish vanities which lead
1260-640: The Reformation, the Bishop and Diocese of Exeter has been part of the reformed and catholic Church of England. The bishop's residence is The Palace, Exeter . Roman episcopal organization survived the fall of the Roman Empire in south-western Britain, which became the British kingdom of Dumnonia . In about 700, Aldhelm , abbot of Malmesbury wrote a letter to King Geraint of Dumnonia and his bishops. However, by this time eastern Devon had been conquered by
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#17327766248991320-409: The area. The diocese contained 604 parishes grouped in four archdeaconries: Cornwall , Barnstaple , Exeter , and Totnes . There were Benedictine, Augustinian, Premonstratensian, Franciscan and Dominican religious houses , and four Cistercian abbeys. This wealthy diocese was forced to cede land during the reign of Henry VIII, when Vesey was obliged to surrender fourteen of twenty-two manors, and
1380-492: The church from preaching to the sacrament of the Eucharist : from the pulpit to the altar . Consequences of this included moving the pulpit from a more central position to the side of the church, replacing box pews with open pews, creating a central aisle to give a better view of the altar, and the removal of galleries. Another consequence was that a larger chancel was required for the associated ritual. Persuaded by
1440-434: The church in a uniform early style, sometimes on the evidence of just one remaining early feature. There were opponents. The Reverend John Louis Petit was a staunch and well-respected opponent from his first book, Remarks on Church Architecture (1841), until his death in 1868. The Archaeological Society was founded in 1845 by antiquarians anxious to bring the love of old buildings to a wider audience. Although John Ruskin
1500-462: The current bell bears the inscription "EX DONO IOHANNIS GRANDISON EPISCOPI EXON GVLIELMVS EVANS FECIT 1729". During his episcopacy, he faced a number of anticlerical movements in Devon. For example, the Order of Brothelyngham —a fake monastic order of 1348—regularly rode through Exeter, kidnapping both religious and laymen, and extorting money from them as ransom. He also outlawed a popular cult that
1560-433: The diocese have been: Victorian restoration The Victorian restoration was the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria . It was not the same process as is understood today by the term building restoration . Against a background of poorly maintained church buildings,
1620-426: The diocese, always enjoyed considerable independence, and the see was one of the largest and richest in England. The remoteness of the see from London prevented it from being bestowed on statesmen or courtiers, so that over the centuries the roll of bishops possessed more capable scholars and administrators than in many other sees. The result was a long and stable line of bishops, leading to active Christian observance in
1680-461: The dividing walls of two chambers at the west end. On the exterior of the church, Butterfield removed the crumbling stucco that had been added in 1820 and re-faced the church walls with flint flushwork . At Lichfield Cathedral , the 18th century had been a period of decay: the 15th-century library was pulled down, most of the statues on the west front were removed, and the stonework covered with Roman cement . After some structural work early in
1740-403: The early restorers: appearance was all, and much good old work was discarded to be replaced by modern replacement in the chosen style. Different architects had different degrees of sympathy with original material, and as the century progressed greater care was generally taken; this was at least partly as a result of the increasingly louder voices that were raised in opposition. As an example of
1800-530: The formation of societies dedicated to building preservation, such as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings . In retrospect the period of Victorian restoration has been viewed in a generally unfavourable light, though it did result in the rediscovery of some long-lost features and some churches that would otherwise have fallen into disrepair were saved. A number of factors working together led to
1860-460: The heart astray", and from others who were concerned about the cost: "For the cost of one stone church with a groined roof, or even an open timbered roof, two might be built in brick with plaster ceilings; and who could dare to say that worship in the plainer building would be less devout or sincere than that which was offered in the other?" Not all Catholics were in favour either: late in his life Cardinal Wiseman made it clear that his preference
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1920-414: The lives of Cornish saints to be recorded. His principal residence was on his manor of Chudleigh and he was evidently an unwilling traveller, only rarely leaving his diocese to attend parliament or an ecclesiastical convocation . From Bishop Stapledon, Grandisson inherited a partly-rebuilt Cathedral . In December 1328 he consecrated the high altar and then started raising funds from the diocese to complete
1980-434: The nave, of which only the first bay had been completed. He was assisted by master mason, Thomas Witney , who had been working on the cathedral since about 1313. After Witney's death, c.1342, the work was continued by William Joy . Grandisson's main interests for the cathedral were his own chantry chapel, some of the roof bosses (especially the one depicting Thomas Becket 's murder – a particular interest of his), and probably
2040-452: The only "correct" form for a church building was the "middle pointed" or " Decorated " style, in which churches had been built during the hundred years centred on 1300. Ecclesiology obviously struck a chord in society: it was closely linked with the ongoing interest in medievalism and the Gothic Revival . The CCS's firm insistence on one style being correct proved to be a beacon for those who were no longer able to judge for themselves what
2100-414: The problem was demonstrated when the spire of Chichester Cathedral suddenly telescoped in on itself in 1861. In addition, ever since the mid-17th century Puritan reforms, which were typified by a minimum of ritual and decoration and by an unambiguous emphasis on preaching, there had been an ongoing removal of any emotion or colour from English religious services as a means of distancing itself from what
2160-491: The rebuilding was contemporaneous with work ongoing at Exeter Cathedral and its construction mirrors several features of the cathedral. Grandisson's younger brother Otho helped fund the church and family heraldry appeared widely throughout the building, much of which has been later destroyed or restored away . Grandisson donated the tenor bell in the south tower of Exeter Cathedral. Named "Grandison" and re-cast at least three times, most recently in 1902 by John Taylor & Co ,
2220-417: The roof and the floor of the chancel, raising the roof of the south transept to its original pitch, removing the vestry, incorporating the south porch into the south aisle and removing the door, re-flooring the nave, installing new oak benches and replacing an earlier gallery. Butterfield also installed clear windows in the clerestory, allowing more light to enter the nave. He extended the aisles by knocking down
2280-453: The sanctuary. A new metal screen by Francis Skidmore and John Birnie Philip to designs by Scott was installed, as was a Minton tile pavement stretching from choir screen to altar, inspired by medieval tiles found in the Choir foundations. Famous architects such as George Gilbert Scott , Ewan Christian , William Butterfield and George Edmund Street became enthusiastic "restorers" and
2340-528: The spate of Victorian restoration. From the time of the English Reformation onwards, apart from necessary repairs so that buildings might remain in use, and the addition of occasional internal commemorative adornments, English churches and cathedrals were subjected to little building work and only piecemeal restoration. This situation lasted for about 250 years with the fabric of many churches and cathedrals suffering from neglect. The severity of
2400-637: The time in Devon were included in this diocese as they had always been within the Archdeaconry of Cornwall ). The diocese covers the County of Devon . The see is in the City of Exeter where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter which was founded as an abbey possibly before 690. The current incumbent is Mike Harrison. Among those who have served as assistant bishops of
2460-424: The transept towers and the choir, containing much early stained glass. There is also an episcopal throne , separated from the nave by a choir screen (1324) and a stately West front. In a comparison with certain other English cathedrals, it is perhaps disadvantaged by the absence of a central tower and a general lack of elevation, but it is undoubtedly very fine. The bishops of Exeter, like the general population of
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2520-444: The type of work undertaken in one church, in 1870–71 the Church of St Peter, Great Berkhamsted , was the subject of a restoration programme by William Butterfield , whose other works included churches such as All Saints, Margaret Street in London. Butterfield's restoration involved the removal of some original features, including the obliteration of paintings on the pillars. The most substantial structural changes involved raising both
2580-452: The value of the see was reduced to a third of what it had been. Vesey, despite his Catholic sympathies, held the see until 1551, when he finally had to resign, and was replaced by the Bible translator Miles Coverdale . Following the accession of Mary, in 1553, Vesey was restored, but died soon after in 1554. He was succeeded by James Turberville , the last Catholic Bishop of Exeter. Turberville
2640-559: The wave of restoration spread across the country so that by 1875 something like 80% of all churches in England had been affected in some way. In 1850 Scott wrote a book A plea for the faithful restoration of our Ancient Churches , in which he stated that "as a general rule it is highly desirable to preserve those vestiges of the growth and history of buildings which are indicated by the various styles and irregularities of its parts". However, he did not follow this principle in practice, generally sweeping away all later changes and reconstructing
2700-399: The whole church to the best and purest style of which traces remain". The Society wholeheartedly recommended the second option and since virtually every medieval church had at least some small remnant of decorated style, maybe a porch or even just a window, the whole church would be "restored" to match it. If the earliest portions were too late, then it was a candidate for a complete rebuild in
2760-559: The work done. In the introduction to his book The Gothic Revival (first published in 1928), Kenneth Clark wrote "The real reason the Gothic Revival had been neglected is that it produced so little on which our eyes can rest without pain". Clark also reckoned that Decorated Gothic was the worst of the three possible styles that could have been adopted—the others being Early English which had "very little detail which an ordinary craftsman could not manage", and Perpendicular which
2820-571: Was William Morris who campaigned against the proposed restoration of St John the Baptist Church, Inglesham , in the 1880s and started the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1877 when he heard of the proposed restoration of Tewkesbury Abbey by Scott. The principles espoused by SPAB took some time to attract support, but the policy of putting "Protection in place of Restoration" eventually took hold, and are adhered to today. Morris also wrote in 1877: But of late years
2880-524: Was "good" in architecture—the certainties of the Vitruvian rules having lost their power during the Romantic movement that had been in vogue since the middle of the 18th century. The CCS stated that there were two possible ways in which a church could be restored. As Kenneth Clark put it, they said that one could "either restore each of the various alterations and additions in its own style, or restore
2940-541: Was "infinitely the most adaptable of medieval styles". Clark pointed out that Decorated was the most difficult to execute, not least because of the complicated window tracery that set it apart from the other two Gothic styles. However, not all restoration work was purely negative: a side effect of a number of restorations was the rediscovery of long-lost features, for instance Anglo-Saxon carving that had been incorporated into Norman foundations, or wall-paintings that had been whitewashed over, as at St Albans Cathedral . It
3000-657: Was begun by William de Warelhurst in 1112, the transept towers he built being the only surviving part of the Norman building, which was completed by Marshall at the close of the twelfth century. The cathedral is dedicated to St Peter. As it now stands, the cathedral is in the decorated style. It was begun by Peter Quinel (1280–1291), continued by Bytton and Stapeldon, and completed, much as it has since remained, by John Grandisson during his long tenure of 42 years. In many respects Exeter cathedral resembles those of France rather than others found in England. Its special features are
3060-426: Was being promoted by a house of canons at Frithelstock Priory . Grandisson died at Chudleigh on 16 July 1369 and was buried in the chapel on the south side of the central doorway of the west front of Exeter Cathedral , a chapel that he had caused to be built. The chapel, dedicated to St Radegund , was defaced and his tomb was destroyed, probably early in the 16th century. There survive two ivory triptychs and
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#17327766248993120-408: Was chosen as the site for its cathedral possibly due it having been the birthplace of Saint Boniface and the existence of a monastery there. In 1046, Leofric became the Bishop of Crediton. Following his appointment he decided that the see should be moved to the larger and more culturally significant and defensible walled town of Exeter . In 1050, King Edward the Confessor authorised that Exeter
3180-499: Was consecrated on 18 October 1327 at Avignon. His enthronement at Exeter was on 22 August 1328. He then differenced his paternal coat of arms by substituting a bishop's mitre for the central eaglet on the bend. The Diocese of Exeter was in some disarray after the murder of Bishop Stapeldon in 1326 and the two succeeding short-lived bishoprics of James Berkeley and John Godeley . On his arrival in Exeter, Grandisson encountered
3240-549: Was for Renaissance art, as might be expected of a religious order of Italian origin. The Church's Restoration In eighteen-eighty-three Has left for contemplation Not what there used to be. From Hymn by John Betjeman , parody of The Church's One Foundation (traditional tune settings include "Ellacombe" and "Aurelia"). From a 20th-century perspective the process of Victorian restoration has often been viewed unfavourably, with terms such as "ruthless", "insensitive" and "heavy-handed" being commonly used to describe
3300-654: Was founded in 1839 by two Cambridge undergraduates, John Mason Neale and Benjamin Webb , as a club for those who shared a common interest in Gothic church design. It rapidly became popular: its membership increased from 8 to 180 in its first 12 months. Although initially a society for recording and discussing medieval church features, the members of the CCS soon began to expostulate in their journal The Ecclesiologist and particularly in their Few Words to Church-builders of 1844 that
3360-494: Was generally in favour of new buildings in an early Gothic style, in 1849 he wrote in The Seven Lamps of Architecture that it was not possible "to restore anything that has ever been great or beautiful in architecture". The Society of Antiquaries of London urged in 1855 that "no restoration should ever be attempted, otherwise than ... in the sense of preservation from further injuries". A later vociferous opponent
3420-527: Was removed from the see by the Reformist Elizabeth I in 1559, and died in prison, probably in or about 1570. Henry Phillpotts served as Bishop of Exeter from 1830 to his death in office in 1869. He was England's longest serving bishop since the 14th century. The diocese was divided in 1876 along the border of Devon and Cornwall, creating the Diocese of Truro (but five parishes which were at
3480-469: Was seen as the excesses of Catholicism but towards the end of the 18th century the burgeoning Gothic Revival and interest in medievalism encouraged people to seek more interest in their religious services. The popularity of the Gothic Revival was seen by Church officials as a way to reverse the decline in church attendance, and thereby start to reassert the Church's power, prosperity and influence. They therefore pushed for massive restoration programs. As
3540-740: Was the heir of Otto de Grandson (died 1328), close personal friend of King Edward I , and head of the English branch of a family that was based at Grandson Castle , now in Switzerland . His mother, Sybil (died 1334), was a younger daughter and co-heir of Sir John de Tregoz. He studied at Oxford in 1306, then from 1313 to 1317 he studied theology at the University of Paris under Jacques Fournier, who later became Pope Benedict XII . He returned to study at Oxford 1326–7. Later in Avignon he became
3600-453: Was to be the seat of the bishop for Devon and Cornwall and that a cathedral was to be built there for the bishop's throne. Thus, Leofric became the last diocesan Bishop of Crediton and the first Bishop of Exeter. The two dioceses of Crediton and Cornwall, covering Devon and Cornwall, were permanently united under Edward the Confessor by Lyfing 's successor Leofric , hitherto Bishop of Crediton, who became first Bishop of Exeter under Edward
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