Coming of Age

The Life and Times of Chelmsford Cathedral 1914-2014

A population explosion in Thames-side Essex earned the County its own Diocese in 1914. The wealthy worshippers of St. Mary's, Chelmsford lost a bitter battle to retain private pews but won another against six rivals to become the cathedral. Forty years of war and austerity saw plans for a new building shelved. New churches in East London came first. Worshippers wanted to keep the Diocese at arm's length. No one knew what a cathedral was for. Even looking and sounding good proved difficult. Eventually visionary leadership gave Chelmsford Cathedral an identity as servant and not just ornament of the Diocese.