THE CATHEDRAL ‘OPEN AND FREE’ ii The dean in his renovated cloister garden, c. 1928 THE CATHEDRAL ‘OPEN AND FREE’ Dean Bennett of Chester ALEX BRUCE LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY PRESS iv Liverpool Historical Studies First published 2000 by Liverpool University Press 4 Cambridge Street, Liverpool L69 7ZU Copyright © 2000 Liverpool University Press British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A British Library CIP record is available ISBN 0 85323 ??????? Typeset by Frances Hackeson Freelance Publishing Services, Brinscall, Lancs. Printed in Great Britain by Contents Series editor's note vii Acknowledgements ix Preface xi Illustrations xv I The new dean 1 II Parish priest: apprentice to master craftsman 26 III Through Welsh Disestablishment to English deanery 58 IV The nation’s cathedrals adopt the Chester model 74 V The cathedral restored 100 VI The nature of a cathedral 122 VII The New World: ‘cathedrals and other things’ 143 VIII Robust theology, educational philosophy, ecclesiastical politics 170 IX Harmony and discord: a dean and his two communities 204 X Private lives, last lap, and journey home 232 Epilogue Today 244 Appendix Was Bennett ever considered for a Bishopric? 258 Bibliography 265 Index 269 vi Series editor's note Alex Bruce died while this book was in press. A retired headmaster, living in Chester, he maintained a wide range of public and church interests and commitments, as well as a consuming interest in history. He published many articles on local history, and a nationwide guide, Monuments, Memorials and the Local Historian (1997). We had not discussed a dedication for the present book, but had he lived and agreed to frame one, I believe it would have acknowledged the support of his family during his long researches, and so would have been addressed to his wife, Margaret, and his son, Alasdair. P. E. H. H. viii Acknowledgements Over the dozen years in which I have been researching the life and career of Dean Bennett, I have been assisted by a large number of institutions and indi- viduals. I have been encouraged by the courtesy shown in the former to me in person or in reply to my often extended postal inquiries, and by the kindness and patience of the latter, many providing me with oral or written recollections or seeking out material of relevance. I name the following, although there are oth- ers who did not name themselves to me, and to all express my deep indebtedness. Miss Melanie Barber; J. W. Barker; The Rt. Revd. Allen L. Bartlett, Jr.; Miss C. M. Baxter; The Revd. Guy Bennett; Dr Nicholas Bennett; Robert Bennett; E. G. W. Bill; Ms E. V. Bligh; Ms Claire Breay; A. Brien; Dr A. C. Bruce; R. J. Childs; Mrs Gordon Clark; Jeff Clew; Mrs Caroline M. Cloutte; Clive W. Cornell; Dr M. W. Cornish; Miss Vanessa Corrick; Ms Sarah Costley; Professor J.S. Cunningham; Ms Jay Curtis; Geoffrey Dryland; Mrs Deirdre Dunn; Brian Dutton; Miss D. Dyer; Mike Eddison; Canon T. E. P. Edwards; Miss Suzanne M. Eward; Ms Cathy Franks; Dr Richard Gem; R. J. Goulden; Canon T. R. K. Goulstone; J. A. S. Green; Canon J. Harris; Simon Harrison; Canon S. Higham; S. D. Hobbs; Ms Brenda Hough; Nevil James; Gwyn Jenkins; Marian Keyes; Ms Alice Laird; The Revd. D. J. Lanel; Arthur Leggatt; Mrs Margaret Lewis; Marilyn Lewis; Charles S. Longley; C. L. Marsden; Mrs Christine Mason; R. McDonald; Miss Sally McInnes; The Revd. Lyn Morris; Richard Mortimer; Ms Christine Mosser; Yoshitaka Nishimiya; Roger Norris; Miss Anne M. Oakley; Miss Sharon Orton; Dr D. M. Owen; Richard Palmer; Jonathan Pepler; Miss E. L. Pettitt; D. T. W. Price; The Venerable T. W. Pritchard; Professor Keith Robbins; Canon J. Rogers; D. M. M. Shorrocks; Eileen Simpson; Dr David Smith; R.J. Stratton; Peter S. Thring; Hamish Todd; Jeffrey Veysey; Canon K. Walker; David Wall; Miss R. Watson; Dennis Whiting; J. S. Williams; R. R. Williams; The Revd. Graham Wolfenden. I am grateful to the Publications Committee of the Department (now School) of History for including this work in the series of Liverpool Historical Studies, and to Liverpool University Press and its Secretary, Robin Bloxsidge, for organ- izing its publication. I am indebted to Dr Sheridan Gilley of Durham University x for the extremely valuable suggestions and recommendations he made when act- ing as outside reader for the series. The final preparation of copy has been under- taken by the Editor of the Series, Emeritus Professor Paul Hair, with whom I have discussed many issues in the career of Dean Bennett, and whose guidance and care in detail have much improved my text. Alex Bruce 1 August 1998