

Gloucester Cathedral is one of many Anglican Cathedrals to have employed Cathedral Constables. There is mention of Mr Bryan, Constable of the Cathedral precincts in 1842. He assisted Gloucestershire Constabulary Constables Harding and George Bridgewater in the arrest of several violent drunken individuals in May of that year.
As long ago as 1857, Mr Daniel Rodway was engaged to lay out the Gloucester Cathedral gardens under the supervision of Mr FS Waller, and some time between 1857 and 1867 he was appointed during the illness of the Cathedral Constable, Mr Samuel Dadge, to act as his deputy. Mr Dadge was Verger for 20 years at Gloucester Cathedral. The Gloucestershire Constabulary Constables at that time were not allowed to act within the Cathedral precincts.
Gloucester Cathedral Constable Daniel Rodway
When Cathedral Constable Dadge died, 28 June 1867, Mr Rodway was appointed Constable outside the Cathedral, and went to live in the Constable's house above the archway in St Mary's Street. He retained his position as gardener. In December, 1875, he was appointed Constable for the precincts of the Cathedral, and a Verger in March, 1876. Mr Rodway was pensioned from 28 May 1898.
By at least 1899, Gloucestershire Constabulary was authorised to operate within the Cathedral precincts. At the October 1899 Quarter Sessions an application was read from the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester requesting the appointment of an additional Constable to do duty within the Cathedral precincts, in accordance with 5 and 4 Vic., cap. 88, sec. 19 (County Police Act 1840). The application was recommended to be approved.
A few days later, on 20 October, in accordance with the permit granted at the Quarter Sessions on 17 October, William Jones was sworn in as Special Constable for the College Precincts. Special Constable Jones was assaulted while on duty in the Cathedral Gardens in August 1906. William Morgan, a man of no fixed abode, was found under a tree by Special Constable Jones, apparently asleep, while making the rounds of the gardens. Special Constable Jones touched him and he jumped up and went for him "like a madman". The Right Rev. Bishop Mitchinson, whose garden adjoined, heard the noise and went to the assistance of the Constable.

The former Gloucester Cathedral Constable's house above St Mary's Gate
The former Gloucester Cathedral Constable's house above St Mary's Gate

The former Gloucester Cathedral Constable's house above St Mary's Gate
The only Cathedrals to continue to have Cathedral Constables are Canterbury Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral and York Minster.
Sources
- Gloucester Journal, 14 May 1842, 29 June 1867, 21 October 1899, 14 December 1912
- Gloucester Citizen, 20 October 1899
- Gloucestershire Chronicle, 11 August 1906
- St Mary's Gate, Julian P Guffogg, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
- Glasgow Cathedral, 1800 - ancestryimages.com