Doncaster Minster

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Doncaster Minster
The Minster and Parish Church of St George, Doncaster
St George's Minster, Doncaster
Map
53°31′32.88″N 1°8′7.44″W / 53.5258000°N 1.1354000°W / 53.5258000; -1.1354000
OS grid referenceSE 5742 0356
Location9 Church Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1RD
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad Church
Websitedoncasterminster.org
History
DedicationSt George[1]
Consecrated14 October 1858
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I listed[2]
Designated12 June 1950
Architect(s)George Gilbert Scott
Architectural typeGothic Revival
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1854
Completed1858
Construction cost£48,000
Specifications
Length169 feet (52 m)
Width91 feet (28 m)
Height170 feet (52 m)
Bells8
Administration
ProvinceProvince of York
DioceseDiocese of Sheffield
ArchdeaconryDoncaster
DeaneryDoncaster
ParishSt George Doncaster
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Revd David Stevens
Laity
Organist(s)Darren Williams

Doncaster Minster, formally the Minster and Parish Church of St George, is the Anglican minster church of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It is a grade I listed building and was designed by architect designer George Gilbert Scott. The church was built in 1854–1858 to replace an earlier building destroyed by fire. It is an active place of worship, and has a Schulze organ, a ring of eight bells, and a celebrated clock by Dent. The church is one of two parish churches to have minster status in South Yorkshire. The other is the minster church of Rotherham.

Pevsner described the church as being the most "cathedral-like" of all of Scott's parish churches.

History

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St George's Minster, Doncaster
Doncaster Minster as it appeared prior to 1853.

The original 13th-century Early English building burnt down on the last day of February 1853.[3] This fire resulted in the loss of the medieval library which was above the south porch.[4] The old church had some Norman remnants left over in the walls from the church previous to that, which also burnt down at the start of the 13th century.[5]

The current building was designed by architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1853, and the foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of York Thomas Musgrave on 24 February 1854.[6] Construction took between 1854 and 1858 at a cost of £43,126 4s 5d.[3] It was consecrated by the Archbishop of York on 14 October 1858.[7] Nikolaus Pevsner described the church as the "..proudest and most cathedral-like of this fabulously busy and successful architect's parish churches."[8] The church is laid out like a "massive cruciform" and has a central Perpendicular tower which reaches 170 feet (52 m);[9] the rest of the church is in the Decorated style.[10] The church extends to 169 feet (52 m) in length and is 65 feet (20 m) wide in the nave including the aisles.[11]

A time capsule was placed underneath the church containing documents, coins and other artefacts of the time. A vellum sheet was included with the names of various benefactors, the churchwardens and the clergy.[12]

One of the quirks of the old church that was carried on into the new building, was the ringing of the church bells during St Leger race at Doncaster Racecourse. The Reverend Vaughan ceased this tradition in the first year that the race was held during his tenure by locking the tower and going for a walk.[13]

The Minster today

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The Minster is one of Doncaster's most architecturally important buildings evidenced by its Grade I listing[2] and was described by Sir John Betjeman as "Victorian Gothic at its very best". It was given minster status as the Minster and Parish Church of St George by the Bishop of Sheffield on 17 June 2004.[14] It is an active place of worship with regular services and is also used for civic services, arts events and other celebrations.[15] The Minster is a member of the Major Churches Network, successor to the Greater Churches Network.[16]

Amongst its treasures are a clock by Dent (the designer of the Palace of Westminster Clock, more usually known as Big Ben)[3] and a spectacular five-manual organ by the renowned German organ builder Edmund Schulze (1824–1877).

The minster has eight bells with a tenor of 29 long cwt 2 qr 17 lb (3,321 lb or 1,506 kg).[17] The tower was repaired between 1925 and 1926 at a cost of £2,000, allowing the bells to ring again after being silent for a year.[18]

Vicars

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Organs and organists

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Organists and choirmasters

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1862 Schulze Organ

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Rising from the ashes

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The medieval Parish Church of St George possessed a fine Harris organ of 1739–40. This instrument was praised by John Stanley, who declared "every pipe in the reed stops to be worth its weight in silver".[43] It grew from an original specification of some 24 stops to one of 51 stops and was reputed to be the largest organ in England except for York Minster, due to the efforts of Jeremiah Rogers (organist 1835–1879), who paid for much of the work himself.[44] The organ had just been relocated from the west gallery to the chancel and its pedal extended to 32 ft pitch, when it was consumed by fire, along with the entire building, on 28 February 1853.

The leading architect of the day, Sir George Gilbert Scott, was commissioned to rebuild the church, a task which he completed in only four years. Consecrated in 1858, the new church is the most cathedral-like of Scott's parish churches and is crowned by a bell tower 170 feet high.

Jeremiah Rogers was desirous of commissioning an organ worthy of Scott's new church and set out to acquire "the best organ that could be obtained anywhere in the world".[citation needed] Rogers made many visits around Europe inspecting famous organs, often in the company of his friend E. J. Hopkins (organist of the Temple Church).

Specification

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The organ contains 93 speaking stops, five manuals, eight pedals, 12 combination pistons and eight combination pedals, detailed as follows;[45]

I Choir
1 Lieblich Bourdon 16
2 Geigen Principal 8
3 Viol de Gamba 8
4 Flauto Gamba 2 ranks 8
5 Gemshorn 8
6 Salicional 8
7 Flauto Traverso 8
8 Lieblich Gedackt 8
9 Flauto Traverso 4
10 Lieblich Flute 4
11 Geigen Principal 4
12 Quintaten 4
13 Flautina 2
II Great
14 Sub Bass (c) 32
15 Double Open Diap. 16
16 Bourdon 16
17 Open Diapason No. 1 8
18 Open Diapason No. 2 8
19 Stopped Diapason 8
20 Hohl Flute 8
21 Stopped Flute 4
22 Principal 4
23 Gemshorn 4
24 Quint 5+1⁄3
25 Twelfth 2+2⁄3
26 Fifteenth 2
27 Mixture V
28 Cymbal III-V
29 Cornet (c) IV
30 Double Trumpet 16
31 Posaune 8
32 Trumpet 8
33 Clarion 4
III Swell (enclosed)
34 Bourdon 16
35 Open Diapason 8
36 Terpodian 8
37 Echo Gamba 8*
38 Voix Celeste (c) 8*
39 Harmonic Flute 8
40 Rohr Flute 8
41 Harmonic Flute 4
42 Stopped Flute 4
43 Principal 4
44 Viol d'Amour 4
45 Mixture V
46 Scharf III
47 Cornet IV
48 Double Bassoon 16
49 Trumpet 8
50 Horn 8
51 Hautboy 8
52 Clarion 4
53 Vox Humana 8
Tremulant
IV Solo (enclosed)
54 String Gamba 8*
55 Harm. Claribel Flute 8*
56 Concert Flute 4*
57 Clarinet 8
58 Orchestral Oboe 8*
Tremulant
59 Tuba (unenclosed) 8*
V Echo
60 Tibia Major 16
61 Harmonica 8
62 Vox Angelica 8
63 Flauto Amabile 8
64 Flauto Traverso 8
65 Celestina 4
66 Flauto Dolcissimo 4
67 Harmonic Ætheria II
Pedal
68 Sub Principal 32
69 Major Bass 16
70 Principal Bass 16
71 Open Bass 16
72 Violone 16
73 Sub Bass 16
74 Major Bass 8
75 Flute Bass 8
76 Violoncello 8
77 Octave Bass 8
78 Quint Bass 10+2⁄3
79 Great Tierce 6+2⁄5
80 Quint 5+1⁄3
81 Fifteenth Bass 4
82 Tierce 3+1⁄5
83 Mixture II
84 Cymbal II
85 Contra Posaune 32
86 Posaune 16
87 Bombarde 16
88 Contra Fagotto 16
89 Trumpet 8
90 Horn 8
91 Fagotto 8
92 Clarion 4
Couplers
Solo to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Choir to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Solo to Choir
Swell to Choir
Solo to Great
Swell to Great
Choir to Great
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Liber Ecclesiasticus. An authentic statement of the revenues of the Established Church compiled from the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Revenues and Patronage of the established Church in England and Wales. London: Hamilton, Adams & Co. 1835. p. 59. OCLC 1064949647.
  2. ^ a b Historic England. "Minster Church of St George (Grade I) (1151447)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Doncaster Minster website Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Total destruction of Doncaster church by fire". Westmoreland Gazette. Westmoreland. 5 March 1853. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  5. ^ Jackson 1855, p. 6.
  6. ^ Jackson 1855, p. 134.
  7. ^ "Consecration of St George's Church, Doncaster". Yorkshire Gazette. York. 16 October 1858. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  8. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (2003) [1959]. Ratcliffe, Enid (ed.). The buildings of England, Yorkshire; the West Riding (2 ed.). London: Yale University Press. p. 181. ISBN 0-300-09662-3.
  9. ^ Simon, Jos (2011). The Rough Guide to Yorkshire. London: Rough Guides. p. 80. ISBN 9781405385732.
  10. ^ Sturgis, Russell (April 1900). "Doncaster". Architectural studies, international : a monthly publication. 1 & 2. Chicago: Architectural Studies Co: 109. OCLC 188531618.
  11. ^ TMT 1905, p. 372.
  12. ^ Jackson 1855, p. 135.
  13. ^ Brockwell, Maurice W. (10 September 1935). "The Doncaster bells and the St Leger". The Times. No. 47165. p. 13. OCLC 646880228.
  14. ^ "History and Heritage". www.doncasterminster.co.uk. Doncaster Minster. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Services and Events". www.doncasterminster.co.uk. Doncaster Minster. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Doncaster: St George – CHR Church". facultyonline.churchofengland.org. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Minster Ch of S George". dove.cccbr.org.uk. Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  18. ^ Dawson, George Geoffrey, ed. (22 November 1926). "Ecclesiastical news". The Times. No. 44435. p. 19. ISSN 0140-0460.
  19. ^ Jackson 1855, p. lxxii.
  20. ^ Morning Chronicle, 6 March 1822.
  21. ^ Mentioned as vicar from 1822 to 1859, the name John Sharpe given in Hull Packet, 17 March 1829, list of donations to York Minster
  22. ^ Leeds Mercury 18 August 1860, "Dr Vaughan, the new vicar of Doncaster..."
  23. ^ Derby Mercury, 15 September 1869 "Dr Vaughan, the vicar of St. George, Doncaster, preached his farewell sermon on Sunday September 5th"
  24. ^ Leeds Mercury 18 August 1869
  25. ^ a b Hull Packet, 15 October 1875, p. 6
  26. ^ a b Birmingham Daily Post 8 June 1886 "Canon Wright.. succeeded the Hon. and Rev. E. Carr Glyn at Doncaster in November 1878
  27. ^ And mentioned in Leeds Mercury, 14 August 1885
  28. ^ Derby Mercury, 16 June 1886
  29. ^ Bristol Mercury 23 July 1886
  30. ^ mentioned as vicar of Doncaster in Northern Echo 11 October 1894, and referred to as Bishop of Hull in Leeds Mercury 16 January 1895
  31. ^ (simultaneous with being Bishop of Sheffield) rootsweb YORKSGEN-L Archives Re: Bishop of Sheffield
  32. ^ www.doncaster.gov Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Mayoress's Drawing Room (refers to portrait of him)
  33. ^ Rees-Mogg, William, ed. (3 February 1969). "Rt Reverend Richard Brook obituary". The Times. No. 57475. p. 10. ISSN 0140-0460.
  34. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1989/90 (91 ed.). London: Church House Publishing. 1989. p. 329. ISBN 0-7151-8070-3.
  35. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1989/90 (91 ed.). London: Church House Publishing. 1989. p. 371. ISBN 0-7151-8070-3.
  36. ^ Crockford's 2007, p. 72.
  37. ^ "Retiring canon goes out with a bang". Yorkshire Post. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  38. ^ The Diocese of Sheffield Archived 26 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ Burke, Darren (6 February 2024). "City's top vicar steps down from Doncaster Minster with special retirement service". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  40. ^ a b c TMT 1905, p. 374.
  41. ^ a b c d Scowcroft, Philip. Some Yorkshire Organist-Composers (2001)
  42. ^ a b c d TMT 1905, p. 378.
  43. ^ Jackson 1855, p. 54.
  44. ^ "The Doncaster organ". The Musical World. 41 (46). London: Duncan & Davison & Co: 733. 14 November 1863. OCLC 317141877.
  45. ^ Radzinsky, Chas. A. (August 1904). "Great organs of the world no. II: the organ in the Parish Church of St George, Doncaster, England". The Church Music Review. 3 (34). New York: Novello, Ewer & Co: 522. OCLC 55701996.

Sources

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  • Crockford's Clerical Directory 2006/07 (103 ed.). London: Church House Publishing. 2007. ISBN 9780715110010.
  • Jackson, John Edward (1855). The History and Description of St. George's Church at Doncaster. J. B. Nichols and Sons. OCLC 229413913.
  • "A visit to Doncaster". The Musical Times. 46 (748). Berkhamsted: Musical Times Publications: 372. June 1905. OCLC 609886802.
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