‘One of the most outstanding composers of his generation’
Chichester Cathedral is a quiet, cultural place. Nothing untoward ever happens there, and it’s always been like that. Right? Wrong, actually. If we set aside the spectacular collapse of the cathedral’s spire in February 1861, there’s a most unusual story from the 17th century.
As for the spire, it fell, miraculously, while all the workmen engaged on supposed improvements were at lunch. A few miles away, the gardener who worked for the vicar at South Bersted came indoors, complaining that he ‘couldn’t see objects’, and fearing a bad heada ache. It turned out that there was nothing wrong with his sight because the spire which he ‘couldn’t see’ was no longer there.
The 17th century story concerns Thomas Weelkes, who moved to Chichester in 1601 or 1602 to take up the post of organist and ‘instructor of the choristers’, but developed drink problem. The whole choir was often in trouble with the cathedral authorities for poor behaviour, and possibly Weelkes was a bad influence. Anyone researching him does not have to wait long before coming across the most extraordinary stories. For example, music publisher Stainer & Bell reports that he was fined for ‘urinating on the Dean from the organ loft during Evensong’. Had the Dean offended with a particularly long sermon?
Joking apart, it is difficult, especially from secondary sources, to work out exactly what happened when. Music scholar J. Shepherd points out that Weelkes’ drunken behaviour is not mentioned until 1613. However, after that date, it was a sufficient problem for him to be dismissed in 1617, a year after being reported to the Bishop as a drunkard and ‘notorious swearer and blasphemer’.
That might have been the end, but here is the most curious thing: Weelkes was reinstated and retained, even though his behaviour did not improve. Why? Because he was one of the most outstanding composers of his generation. None of his 10 Anglican services survives complete, but he has left us 41 anthems and over 100 madrigals. In the 21st century, Peter James has reconstructed some of Weelkes’ fragmentary works, which Classic FM has described as ‘Terrific choral listening’. If that’s not your thing – V2 Radio offers terrific local listening!