It’s been a long while since I was last in Truro (other than hospital visits) and I never did get around to writing about the cathedral. On my first visit I wasn’t very enthusiastic, but my second was better and I was more interested in looking around. At the time there was some kind of exhibition which was very attractive and which has reminded me that maybe I should make another trip to the city and cathedral.
Formerly the site of St Mary’s Church, the Cornish Diocese of Truro was formed in 1867 and St Mary’s became the cathedral church. In 1880 the Foundation Stones of the cathedral were laid by Edward, the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall. Work started on the cathedral under John Loughborough Pearson. Truro would be the first Anglican cathedral to be built on a new site since Salisbury Cathedral in 1220.
The architecture of the cathedral is often likened to that of Lincoln cathedral and French cathedrals like that at Caen: a mixture of Early English (Lincoln and Salisbury) and French Gothic. While the three simple spires are reminiscent of a French cathedral, Truro is only one of four cathedrals in the UK with three spires.
The light inside was wonderful on this day.
The Nave
Truro cathedral has three beautiful circular rose windows, part of the large and inspiring collection of Victorian stained glass created by Clayton and Bell.
God the Father: Truro’s west rose is the first of the sequence of three rose windows on the theme of the Holy Trinity. It is divided into the irregular number of seven inner and fourteen outer sections: this is to accommodate seven angels holding shields signifying each of the six days of creation and the seventh Day of Rest in the inner ring.
The statues of Bishops and saints are tinted, standing out amongst a sea of intricate wooden carvings. No misericords, unfortunately, nor are there any tombs in the floor of this Cathedral, far too young.
As usual, I wander around looking for quirky details, reflections, light, shadow, colours that appeal to me.
The Tinworth terracotta panel at Truro Cathedral is extraordinary. “Our Lord on His Way to Crucifixion” made by George Tinworth, master craftsman and chief designer at the Doulton company is one of only three surviving examples of his large-scale religious works and the only one still on public view.
I’ll be back next week with a look at a few of the stained glass windows that caught my eye.
TRAVEL WORDS 
The details are extraordinary, Jude. I found it quite an emotional journey, and the faces on the terracotta panel are so real!
Yes the details on that panel are extraordinary, even down to fingernails.
This had become one of my cathedrals to visit. It looks well worth a detour.
It’s a long detour!
One day …
Rather fabulous Jude. A great walk around to discover so much
I’m not sure why I disliked it on my first visit. Maybe this time I was keen to look at the art exhibition and in doing so was more aware of everything else. The windows are rather beautiful too.
When the mind is on other things, it can distract from being present
Your enticing photographs make me want to visit this place.
One could be forgiven for thinking the brass eagle will soon speak into the microphone.
Yes! I had to have another look. I should have chosen a different angle 🤔
The details are all beautiful and that lovely light really enhances them. The crucifixion panel is amazing in its intricacy, especially the facial expressions!
I was surprised how detailed that work is.
A very interesting post, especially the photos. We, too, might be making the detour.
Thank you. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Such an interesting cathedral. Thank you for the tour
More interesting than I remembered. Especially for such a young cathedral.
You really captured the light beautifully. You are clever! Mel
A lovely bright winter’s day!
Thanks for featuring all the best bits, and the small details too. When holidaying in Cornwall as a child we often went to Truro, but never inside the cathedral. My parents would have considered that ‘boring’ at the time.
Best wishes, Pete. x
Apart from shopping and the cathedral I can’t think of any reason to visit Truro.
Beautiful! In spite of the lack of misericords (!) it still feels very medieval, and much further away in time to, say, Coventry, than it actually is.
Yes, it has the medieval look and feel with quite modern mosaic flooring which I didn’t capture very well.