Date: 7th January 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS
The Artspace in Bradford Cathedral programme opens with a photographic exhibition of
archive photographs and images to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the new
East End of the Cathedral.
Bradford Cathedral is one of the most unusual but least known cathedrals in England and contains major
work by one of the twentieth century’s most underappreciated English architects, Sir Edward Maufe (Ed –
see below). The Parish Church of St Peter, Bradford was elevated to Cathedral status with the creation of
the Bishopric of Bradford by Act of Parliament in February 1918, with the first Bishop being appointed by
Letters Patent in January 1920.
The elevation of a parish church to cathedral status need not automatically necessitate extension but a
desire to create a grand building embodying the ‘Cathedral ideas’ of similar cities led to several rather
grandiose plans which come to nothing - due to their cost, and to the decision of the newly-founded
diocese to focus on its community mission by supporting its poorer benefices – until Edward Maufe was
appointed and, in 1940, produced a striking pencil sketch of his proposed extensions to provide new offices,
vestries, and a Song Room at the west end.
Quite apart from the issue of fundraising which continued throughout the 1940s and 1950s, building work
could not start until the early 1950s as a result of post-war austerity measures. The execution of Maufe’s
designs was supervised locally by Eric Morley, a Bradford architect with premises in Swan Arcade and whose
work included the Civic Theatre (latterly the Priestley Theatre and the Bradford Playhouse). The principal
contractor was Michael Booth and Sons of Akam Road, Bradford.
Work started with the laying of the foundation stone for the Song Room in May 1953 and was finally
completed in 1965 although the East End was completed in October 1963 and dedicated in November
1963. It seems fitting then, that the Artspace programme celebrates the arts, crafts and materials that play
their part in creating this beautiful building. (Ed – programme attached).
The exhibition will be formally opened following the 10.15am service of Choral Eucharist on
Sunday 13th January and remain until Saturday 9th February. The Cathedral is open Monday to
Saturday from 8.30am until 4.30pm; Sundays and Bank Holidays open for services only. Entry
is free with donations appreciated. If anyone has any images from the extension works, the
Cathedral would like to hear from you and the exhibition is returning on 16 th August when it
is hoped to include many more images.
END
Edward Brantwood Maufe (1883-1974)
Maufe (pronounced ‘Morf’) was born Edward Muff. He was a local man, born in Ilkley in December 1883 to a
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linen draper and the niece of Sir Titus Salt, the founder of Saltaire. He was educated locally before beginning a
pupillage with the London architect William A Pite in 1899 and then going up to St John’s College, Oxford. He
changed his name to Maufe in 1909 and became an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
a year later. He came to prominence in 1924 as a medallist at the Empire exhibition.
Maufe’s early work (such as Kelling Hall, Norfolk) demonstrates Arts & Crafts overtones, something which
remained evident in the style of his later work (the ‘Tudorbethan’ windows of the western wings at Bradford
recall Lutyens’ Castle Drogo for example) as well as his devotion to craftsmanship. By the 1920s however, he
had become interested in contemporary Swedish architecture for its subtle reconciliation of past precedent and
novelty. This balance was a constant theme in his work. Though a traditionalist in some respects, Maufe was
open-minded and much of his work demonstrated a ‘polite’ modernity which combined modern influences with
classical and Gothic principles.
Maufe was especially well-known for his religious work, writing and lecturing extensively on church design (the
introduction to his Modern church architecture of 1948, a catalogue of pre-war European churches, was the
summation of twenty-five year’s thought and practice) and his win of the commission to design Guildford
Cathedral in 1931 was a project which brought him much attention. Other prominent work came as Chief
Architect and Artistic Adviser to the commonwealth War Graves Commission, notably the air Forces Memorial
at Runnymede.
2
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Bradford Cathedral, Stott Hill, Bradford, BD1 4EH
T: 01274 777720 F: 01274 777730