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Concordia Winter 2022

Merchant Taylors’ and Winchester Cathedral: A Rich History

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David Farthing (1953-1957) lives in Winchester, the ancient capital of England and the centre of royal power in Anglo-Saxon and Norman times. The City’s long history may be traced in the art and architecture of the Cathedral, where David has been a guide for almost 20 years. On a recent visit to Sandy Lodge he was minded to reflect on the many connections between the Cathedral and Merchant Taylors’.

In Mulcaster, Lancelot found a teacher whose educational ideas were centuries ahead of his time. Mulcaster taught not only Latin and Greek, but also Hebrew, oriental languages, and the art of declamation. His curriculum incorporated music, drama, and physical education, including what he named “footeball” with organised team games, involving referees, player positions and coaching. He also emphasized the potential of English even over Latin and Greek, saying “I do not think that anie language, be it whatsoever, is better able to utter all arguments, either with more pith, or greater planesse, than our English tung is, if the English utterer be as skillful in the matter, which he is to utter”.

Lancelot Andrewes: 1555-1626 Lancelot Andrewes (OMT 1571) became Bishop of Winchester in 1619. His intellectual promise was evident early on. Born in 1555 in All Hallows, Barking, he initially attended Cooper’s Free School in Stepney, where the Head Master, Dr Thomas Ward, immediately detected a potential scholar. Aged six, Lancelot became one of a hundred poor scholars at the newly founded Merchant Taylors’ School. The school laid stress on the opportunities offered by learning, and the Master, Richard Mulcaster, pushed Lancelot to excel. Lessons began at 7am, though Lancelot would have been at his books since 4am – something that became a lifelong habit. In fact, so congenial did he find study that he had to be ordered to take recreation.