Truro Cathedral School was a

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

school for boys in

Truro Truro (; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Cornwall, England; it is the southernmost city in the United Kingdom, just under west-south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is Cornwall's county town, s ...

, Cornwall. An ancient school refounded in 1549 as the Truro Grammar School, after the establishment of

Truro Cathedral The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Truro, Cornwall. It was built between 1880 and 1910 to a Gothic Revival design by John Loughborough Pearson on the site of the parish church of St Mary. His ...

in the last quarter of the 19th century it was responsible for educating the cathedral's choristers and became known as the Cathedral School. The school closed in July 1982 and the education of choristers was transferred to Polwhele House Preparatory School.

History

An ancient foundation, the school existed before the

Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

as the

chantry A chantry is an ecclesiastical term that may have either of two related meanings: # a chantry service, a set of Christian liturgical celebrations for the dead (made up of the Requiem Mass and the Office of the Dead), or # a chantry chapel, a b ...

school of St Mary's Church, Truro. In 1549, following

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...

's Dissolution of Colleges Act 1547 which suppressed all chantries, the school was refounded and took on a new identity as Truro Grammar School. However, as reported by

Nicholas Carlisle Sir Nicholas Carlisle, Royal Guelphic Order, KH, Royal Society#Fellows, FRS, Royal Irish Academy, MRIA, (1771 in York, England – 27 August 1847 in Margate, England) was an English people, English antiquary and librarian. In 1806, he became a c ...

in his survey of 1818, "The Grammar School at Truro owes its origin and endowment to some benevolent person, whose name is now not known."

, ''A Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England'', vol. 1 (1818)
pp. 144–145
/ref> The best evidence of the refounding of the school is an entry in the ''Journal of the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

'' dated 21 May 1689, which refers to the grammar school being founded by a deed, since lost, of the third year of King Edward VI. In 1767, the Rev. St John Eliot, a former Rector of Truro, founded two

Exhibitions An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibition ...

tenable only at

Exeter College, Oxford Exeter College (in full: The Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and the fourth-oldest college of the university. The college was founde ...

, worth £30 a year each, with preference to be given to boys from the school. In 1818 Carlisle reported that over the previous ten years the number of scholars had been about fifty and that In the early 19th century an "anniversary school meeting" took place on every second Thursday in September, being a gathering of the school's former pupils. Cyrus Redding, in his ''An Illustrated Itinerary of the County of Cornwall'' (1842) called Truro Grammar School "the most celebrated school in the county". With the creation of the

Diocese of Truro The Diocese of Truro (established 1876) is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury which covers Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and a small part of Devon. The bishop's seat is at Truro Cathedral. Geography and history The d ...

in 1876 from the Cornish part of the old

Diocese of Exeter The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of St Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Provinc ...

, the 16th-century parish church of St Mary's was designated as a cathedral. The church was then partly demolished and partly incorporated into the new

neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...

, built on the same site. The pupils of the old

grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a Latin school, school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented Se ...

had worshipped at St Mary's and became responsible for providing the new cathedral's choristers. It thus began to be known as the "Cathedral School". In 1906 the school was established as Truro Cathedral School by the Dean and Chapter as a Church of England public school.''Cornish Church Guide'' (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 326–27 By the early 20th century the school was a

private school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

and had a boarding house called Trewinnard Court. The buildings were designed by the cathedral architect F. L. Pearson and built in the precincts of the cathedral. In 1925 the headmaster resided at Trewinnard Court. At that time choristers paid no tuition fees and there were two Bray scholarships open to choristers worth £30 p.a. The Hawkins scholarship worth £80 p.a. was open to former pupils studying at a university and tenable for three years. By the 1920s the cathedral school's reputation had significantly increased. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the school took the junior boys evacuated from St Paul's, London, some of whom joined the Truro Cathedral choir. In 1949, the school was occupying Copeland Court,

Kenwyn Kenwyn () is a settlement and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The settlement is a suburb of the city of Truro and lies 0.5 mi (1 km) north of the city centre, within Truro parish, whereas Kenwyn parish covers an are ...

, formerly the bishop's palace known as 'Lis Escop'. Until 1960, the school had a large building in the Cathedral Close. In 1968 the school's age range was from seven to eighteen. There were 212 day boys and 109 boarders. Of these, twenty-two were cathedral choristers. In 1974 the school was teaching

Cornish wrestling Cornish wrestling () is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton people, Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"Phillipps, K C: ...

as part of its

physical education Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...

programme and was the only school in Cornwall to do so. In 1979 it was reported to provide "continuous education for boys from 7–18 either as boarders or as day boys".

Closure and aftermath

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' reported on 19 April 1982 that Viscount Falmouth, the chairman of the school's governing body, had written to parents to break the news that the school would close at the end of that year's

Summer term Summer term is the summer academic term at many British schools and universities and elsewhere in the world. In the UK, 'Summer term' runs from the Easter holiday until the end of the academic year in June or July, and so corresponds to the Easte ...

. The stated reason was "deteriorating finances", and Lord Falmouth said in his letter that the decision had been taken "with very great reluctance, after exploring all possible alternatives and after considering professional advice". John Wolters, the headmaster, wrote separately to parents to say that the school would help to find places for its boys in other schools. The other members of staff responded by issuing a statement on 18 April to say they were hoping the school could continue, "if necessary on a reconstituted basis". Reasons which have since been suggested for the closure include a lack of modern facilities, the economic downturn of the early 1980s, and the changing priorities of leaders of the Church of England, which owned the school buildings. George Eustice, an old boy of the school, has said he suspects the Church may have wished to close the school to raise funds for repairing the roof of Truro Cathedral. George Eustice
Who killed Truro Cathedral School?
dated 28 March 2011, accessed 8 April 2012 Polwhele House School - geograph

limited liability company A limited liability company (LLC) is the United States-specific form of a private limited company. It is a business structure that can combine the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of ...

called Truro Cathedral School Ltd was incorporated on 21 November 1960 and is still in existence. The school's task of providing the cathedral's choristers has been transferred to the neighbouring Polwhele House Preparatory School, and the number of choristers is now eighteen. The former school building in the Cathedral Close is now called "Old Cathedral School" and is currently an office building; it was used as such by the

Cornwall Council Cornwall Council ( ), known between 1889 and 2009 as Cornwall County Council (), is the local authority which governs the non-metropolitan county of Cornwall in South West England. Since 2009 it has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary ...

unitary authority A unitary authority is a type of local government, local authority in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Unitary authorities are responsible for all local government functions within its area or performing additional functions that elsewhere are ...

until the council gave it up. The building is still owned by the cathedral.Old Cathedral School, Cathedral Close
at propertypilot.co.uk, accessed 10 April 2012 The Cornwall Record Office holds the school's archives, including "lists of masters, pupils and benefactors" dating between 1612 and 1876 and the governors' cash books from 1882 to 1984.

Notable former pupils

:''See also People educated at Truro Cathedral School'' Those educated at the school are known as "Old Truronians" and include (in chronological order): * Sir Edmund Prideaux (died 1659), Roundhead, member of parliament for

Lyme Regis Lyme Regis ( ) is a town in west Dorset, England, west of Dorchester, Dorset, Dorchester and east of Exeter. Sometimes dubbed the "Pearl of Dorset", it lies by the English Channel at the Dorset–Devon border. It has noted fossils in cliffs and ...

, and

Solicitor General A solicitor general is a government official who serves as the chief representative of the government in courtroom proceedings. In systems based on the English common law that have an attorney general or equivalent position, the solicitor general ...

Richard Polwhele, ''The History of Cornwall, Civil, Military, Religious, Architectural, Agricultural, Commercial, Biographical, and Miscellaneous'', vols. 4–7 (Michel & Co., 1816)
p. 66
/ref> * Samuel Enys (1611–1697), Royalist and member of parliament for Penryn *Swete Nicholas Archer, High Sheriff of Cornwall, 1757 * Admiral Sir Richard Spry (1715–1775),

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

Commander-in-Chief,

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

and

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...

Samuel Foote Samuel Foote (January 1720 – 21 October 1777) was a Cornish dramatist, actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. He was known for his comedic acting and writing, and for turning the loss of a leg in a riding accident in 1766 to comedic oppor ...

(1720–1777), actor and playwright *

Thomas Haweis Thomas Haweis (c.1734–1820), (surname pronounced to rhyme with "pause") was born in Redruth, Cornwall, on 1 January 1734, where he was baptised on 20 February 1734. As a Church of England cleric he was one of the leading figures of the 18th ce ...

(1734–1820), clergyman * Thomas Wills (1740–1802), minister * William Macarmick (1742–1815), member of parliament and Lieutenant-Governor of Cape Breton Colony * John Vivian (1750–1826), Vice-Warden of the Stannaries of Cornwall * Jonathan Hornblower (1753–1815), pioneer of steam power *Colonel

John Lemon John Lemon (6 November 1754 – 5 April 1814) was a British Whig Member of Parliament. He was born in Truro, the second son of William Lemon by his marriage to Anne, the daughter of John Willyams of Carnanton House, and was the grandson of W ...

(1754–1814), Whig member of parliament for

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, Order of the Bath, GCB (19 April 1757 – 23 January 1833) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary W ...

(1757–1833), naval commander of the

Napoleonic Wars {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Napoleonic Wars , partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg , caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...

Carlisle (1818)
p. 151
/ref> * Francis Gregor of Trewarthenick (1760–1815),

knight of the shire Knight of the shire () was the formal title for a member of parliament (MP) representing a county constituency in the British House of Commons, from its origins in the medieval Parliament of England until the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 ...

for

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

*The Rev. Richard Polwhele (1760–1838), poet and topographer *

Pascoe Grenfell Pascoe Grenfell (3 September 1761 – 23 January 1838) was a British businessman and politician. Biography He was born at Marazion, in Cornwall. His father, Pascoe Grenfell (1729–1810), and uncle were merchants in the tin and copper business ...

(1761–1838), member of parliament * Thomas Tregenna Biddulph (1763–1838), clergyman *

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Vivian (1775–1842),

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...

commander * Joseph Batten DD FRS (1778–1837), principal of the

East India Company College The East India Company College, or East India College, was an educational establishment situated at Hailey, Hertfordshire, nineteen miles north of London, founded in 1806 to train "writers" (administrators) for the East India Company. It provi ...

Sir Humphry Davy Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet (17 December 177829 May 1829) was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and a very early form of arc lamp. He is also remembered for isolating, by using electricity, several Chemical element, e ...

(1778–1829), chemist and inventor * Henry Martyn (1781–1812), Anglican missionary *Fortescue Hichins (1784–1814) poet and historian * Thomas Turner (1793–1873), surgeon * Nicholas Michell (1807–1880), poet * Walter Hawken Tregellas (1831–1894), author * Francis Charles Hingeston-Randolph (1833–1910), clergyman and antiquary * O. W. Tancock (1839–1930), clergyman and author * Arthur Williams (1899–1974), Church of England clergyman * Gerald Hocken Knight (1908–1979), organist * David Mudd (1933–2020), Conservative member of parliament for Falmouth and Camborne * Christopher J. Turner (1933–2014), diplomat and Governor of Montserrat * Andrew Graham (born 1942), former Master of

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

* Peter Grimwade (1942–1990), television writer and director * Nick Darke (1948–2005), playwright * Roger Taylor (born 1949) drummer of the band Queen * George Eustice (born 1971), member of Parliament for Camborne and Redruth

Masters and headmasters

Until the nineteenth century, the school usually had only one professional

schoolmaster A schoolmaster, or simply master, is a male school teacher. The usage first occurred in England in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period. At that time, most schools were one-room or two-room schools and had only one or two such teacher ...

, called "the master". Once it needed more staff the title became "headmaster". *1600–1609: John HodgeCyrus Redding, ''An Illustrated Itinerary of the County of Cornwall'' (How and Parsons, 1842)
p. 231
/ref>Polwhele (1816)
p. 63
/ref> *1609–1612: Thomas Syms *1612–1618: Matthew Sharrock *1618–1620: Nicholas Upcot *1621–1635: Rev. George Fitzpen (or Phippen) *1635–1666: William White *1666–1685: Richard Jago *1685–1693: Henry Greenfield *1693–1698: Simon Paget *1698–1706: John Hillman *1706–1728: Thomas Hankyn & Joseph Jane *1728–1771: George Conon *1771–1804: Dr Cornelius Cardew (DD, Oxon)'Civil Promotions' in ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' dated August 1805
p. 769
/ref> *1805– : Thomas Hogg *1891–1896: Rev. Thomas Fisher Maddrell, MA (Cantab.) *1897–1901: Rev. Francis George Elwes Field, MA (Cantab.) *1937–1973: Max Stanley Mischler, MA (Oxon.) (1910–1995) *1974–1979: F. S. G. Pearson, MA (Oxon.) (1935–2012) *1979–1982: John C. Wolters, MA (Cantab.)

Old Truronians Association

An Old Truronians Association brings together former pupils of the school and continues to hold an annual dinner.

Notes

External links

Truro Cathedral School accessions
in Cornwall Record Office, indexed at nationalarchives.gov.uk
Truro Cathedral School, photograph of old building
at pcpki.com Defunct schools in Cornwall Educational institutions established in the 1540s Educational institutions disestablished in 1982 1549 establishments in England 1982 disestablishments in England Truro Cathedral schools Defunct Church of England schools {{coord missing, Cornwall