The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal SeeSweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
History
The Cathedral Church of Peterborough: A Description Of Its Fabric And A Brief History Of The Episcopal See
Sweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
Peterborough Cathedral
One of the statues over the stalls, that representing S. Giles, has also
a figure of a hind; in the representation of S. Hugh of Lincoln on the
throne we see a swan. The hind was really a type of solitude and purity
of life, and as such is found in many ancient carvings and paintings
accompanying various Saints. There is also a legend specially connecting
this creature with S. Giles. In a retreat in a forest in the diocese of
Nismes, the recluse, with one companion, is said to have lived on the
fruits of the earth and the milk of a hind. Some dogs that were out
hunting pursued this hind, and she took refuge in the dwelling of the
Saint. The sportsman, Flavius Wamba, King of the Goths, treated him with
every mark of respect, and gave him land wherewith to endow a monastery.
Of S. Hugh's swan a long account is given in the "Vita S. Hugonis
Lincolniensis" published in the Rolls Series. A swan never before seen
at the place flew to the Bishop at his manor at Stowe directly after he
had been enthroned at Lincoln. He became passionately attached to the
bishop, but exhibited no liking for anyone else, he considered himself
bound to protect his master, driving other people away from him, "As I
myself," writes Giraldus Cambrensis, "have often with wonder seen,"
with his wings and beak.
[Illustration: The Pulpit.]
=The Organ= was rebuilt in 1894 by Hill and Son at a cost, including the
case, of £4,400, and at the expense of the late Mr. W.H. Foster of
Witley, Surrey, though his name, at his own wish, remained undisclosed
during his lifetime. The action is now controlled by electricity.
The Great, Swell, Solo, and Pedal Organ (except the two stops Bourdon
and Bass Flute of the last) are placed in four bays of the north
triforium of the nave; the choir organ and the two Pedal stops are in
the first bay of the north aisle, and the Console in the second bay
behind the stalls. There are 68 speaking stops and 4,453 pipes as
follows:
Great Organ (Compass CC to C in Alt.) 17 stops 1,342 pipes.
Choir " 11 " 671 "
Swell " 17 " 1,330 "
Solo " 11 " 720 "
Pedal " (Compass CCCC to F) 12 " 390 "
[Illustration: Apse and Canopied Reredos.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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