Amazing greats!
Nowadays, almost every day of the year seems to have a special tag attached to it, and today is Giving Tuesday. Starting in 2012, it’s a day set aside to celebrate generosity and help good causes.
Which made me think about the many, many people, rich and poor, who gave their enthusiasm, love and resources to make the cathedral what it is today. Here is a small sample of our Victorian forebears, in tribute to their great work and dedication -
Tom Phillpotts was the Vicar of St Feock until 1874. An old Etonian, he spent his retirement on church building and improvement schemes, starting with his own church and then moving on to Truro. Reverend Tom worked tirelessly to raise money to build the new cathedral, even paying for the South Porch personally. His statue can be seen there, in the centre niche just opposite Cathedral Lane.
Women also played a pivotal role. Led by Emma Tremayne of Carclew, they formed twelve fundraising committees in 1884, one for each rural deanery. Together, they raised an astonishing £15,000 (over £1.5 million in today’s money). As the Royal Cornwall Gazette of 16th November 1905 reflected, “Mrs Tremayne’s name will ever stand out as the one woman who was able to rally round her the women of Cornwall in raising their contribution to the Cathedral - its handsome internal fittings.” There is a splendid photo of them gathered to celebrate their success in 1911 – a vast sea of ladies in wide brimmed hats. Stone tablets recording the deaneries’ involvement can still be seen in the retro-quire.
Stained-glass windows are jewels in the crown of the cathedral, and their history is also the history of our community. Many are dedicated in honour of local people, like the businesswoman Sarah Pollock Benney, who put a penny on the fares of the Truro-Falmouth steamship to raise money for chairs for the new cathedral. Two years after she died in 1897, she received a unique tribute – she is portrayed as Eunice, mother of St Timothy, in a window in the North Quire Aisle.
Not many of us will be able to make quite such a great impact on the causes and places close to our hearts, but every penny donated and every minute spent in supporting them makes a difference. So hats off to all those unsung individuals, past and present, who have had a heart for this cathedral and have shared their passion, time, skills and finances to cherish and sustain this very special place.
Judith Field
Fundraising Lead
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